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It turns out that many of the major, modernist painters of our time, including Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, were influenced by the art of children.
The NY times spoke of Paul Klee and his place in "modernist tradition that sought refuge from academic constraints in the somewhat mythical paradise of an untrained eye that sees the world afresh, a childlike hand still unshackled by habit and skill."This is an article worth reading.
Flying cotton balls? Splatting stockings? Tire swing painting? Some art projects were just made to be done with the whole body. If the typical art project is akin to a tea party with crayons, these high-velocity, active, and messy art explorations are the trampoline. They engage the big motor muscles, developing eye-hand coordination, balance, hand and wrist strength, agility, and motor planning. For parents who like to stay active, it just takes paint, paper, and a few common household items to create a head-to-toe art experience for your fast-moving child.Cotton Ball SplatAges: 2–10You’ll need:Bag of cotton ballsLarge sheet of easel paperLiquid watercolor paint* mixed with water (or food coloring mixed with water until it works like paint)Bowls for paintSplat AwayTape or pin the easel paper to an outdoor fence or wall. You can also leave the paper on the ground, but the effect is a bit less dramatic.Fill your bowls with liquid watercolor/water or food color/water mix. Stand back from the paper about 2–6 feet (younger children closer). Your child will dip the cotton ball in the paint and throw it at the paper. Try different colors, different styles of throwing, and different quantities of paint. The resulting mural will be a colorful, abstract, and glorious exploration in color, movement, and physics.Modification: Fill some spray bottles with paint and water and spray away! Liquid watercolor paint is available at Discount School Supply.
I love this website/e-zine. It's a lovely little corner of the internet about thoughtful ways to parent, cook, purchase, and all while taking care of the environment. Great content, cozy design. It's a winner.
At Clementine Studio, an art space for children in Boulder, CO, I often set up an art activity called ‘Anything Goes.’ I arrange a six foot table with the most inviting materials I can find: colorful paper and wooden shapes, tubes, cubes, spools, and baskets overflowing with embellishments; bright pom-poms, bendy pipe cleaners, funky buttons, sparkly glitter shakers, glue, scissors, and vibrant bowls of creamy tempera paint.
Much of the time, children approach the table tentatively, look longingly at all of the inviting materials, and turn to ask:
“What am I supposed to make here?”
“Well my friend, what do you want to make? You can make anything.”
After I watch the child’s face light up in anticipation of the possibilities in the word ‘anything,’ very often, I watch it fall again when the child realizes that there are no directions for making ‘anything,’ and self-doubt sets in.
This moment is the magical, possibility-filled moment of the day. I call it the creative edge; a defining element of both art and the creative process. When a child is inspired by the challenge to create something new, she has met her creative edge.
A child engaged in the creative process feels challenged because every area of her brain is engaged. The creative process develops both right and left brain abilities to dream, plan, brainstorm, problem-solve, synthesize, interpret, express, and execute an original vision.
As a parent, you are likely interested in helping your child develop her creative abilities. When choosing art activities for your child, you’ll want to make sure that the activity you provide has the potential to support the development of real creativity.
A child’s creative edge is a magical place. When encouraged to explore this place in their own way, children learn to think creatively. The act of creation is natural, joyful, nourishing, and developmental for children. When you provide opportunities for your child to engage in creative thinking, stand back and be prepared to watch her glow, hum and shine.
Look for this article in Mindful Mama magazine. www.mindful-mama.com
This documentary is about a child artist, who, at the age of 4, was painting wonderfully, masterfully complex abstract works that gained the attention of art dealers, collectors and the national media. Do you think she had help? Watch this thought provoking movie and decide for yourself. Click My Kid Could Paint That to watch the trailer.
You won't believe what ended up on the top 10 toxic toys list for 2008! Alex Crayons! I've always thought that since art supplies are labeled non-toxic, then that label must be accurate. Nope!Alex crayons have extremely high levels of mercury. Exposure to toxic levels of mercury can lead to neurological disorders. Scary, and who knew? Click on Top Toxic Toy headline to read the list!
Bev Bos is one of my heroes. She is the director of the Roseville Community School in California and she has been teaching, leading workshops and otherwise transforming people who work with children for many years. Her life is about encouraging children to play, play, play. She sets up incredible environments for children - nothing is too elaborate (She has been known to 'build' forests, castles, and imported snowdrifts on her playground in California). She is the author of books on play, music, art and cooking with preschoolers (Together We're Better and Don't Move the Muffin Tins), and is considered by most to be the (very warm) mother of the process art movement. Check out her 'Good Stuff For Kids Workshop' in CA. It's a yowser!
It turns out that many of the major, modernist painters of our time, including Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, were influenced by the art of children.
Flying cotton balls? Splatting stockings? Tire swing painting? Some art projects were just made to be done with the whole body. If the typical art project is akin to a tea party with crayons, these high-velocity, active, and messy art explorations are the trampoline. They engage the big motor muscles, developing eye-hand coordination, balance, hand and wrist strength, agility, and motor planning. For parents who like to stay active, it just takes paint, paper, and a few common household items to create a head-to-toe art experience for your fast-moving child.
I love this website/e-zine. It's a lovely little corner of the internet about thoughtful ways to parent, cook, purchase, and all while taking care of the environment. Great content, cozy design. It's a winner.
At Clementine Studio, an art space for children in Boulder, CO, I often set up an art activity called ‘Anything Goes.’ I arrange a six foot table with the most inviting materials I can find: colorful paper and wooden shapes, tubes, cubes, spools, and baskets overflowing with embellishments; bright pom-poms, bendy pipe cleaners, funky buttons, sparkly glitter shakers, glue, scissors, and vibrant bowls of creamy tempera paint. 
Bev Bos is one of my heroes. She is the director of the Roseville Community School in California and she has been teaching, leading workshops and otherwise transforming people who work with children for many years. Her life is about encouraging children to play, play, play. She sets up incredible environments for children - nothing is too elaborate (She has been known to 'build' forests, castles, and imported snowdrifts on her playground in California). She is the author of books on play, music, art and cooking with preschoolers (Together We're Better and Don't Move the Muffin Tins), and is considered by most to be the (very warm) mother of the process art movement. Check out her 'Good Stuff For Kids Workshop' in CA. It's a yowser!
