Oil Pastels

We use these Micador Oil Pastels at the Steiner School I work at, and I also love using them for the kids at home. The colour range is huge and they don't seem to break while drawing like other oil pastels and the colours glide on beautifully smooth and strong. 

They work very well when using an ink wash over the top, creating a resist painting, or using on top a black/dark coloured paper (to create a space or night scene). 

Clay

I had not used clay as an art material with the children for quite a while- and was inspired by Kate at the Reggio Emilia inspired playgroup we attend. 

After leaving the children with a few balls of recycled clay on the art table in the garden-
this is what I came back to..

It look Finn a little while to get used to the different texture of clay and at first wasn't sure what to do it with (which is why he pressed sticks and leaves into it). I modeled myself making a little creature using a pinch pot technique, adding limbs, ears and tails.

The lovely thing about clay is if you seal it properly back in the bag at the end of every clay session it will last for years.

hotel transylvania

 Inspired from watching the trailer for Hotel Transylvania, this was Finn's interpretation of the hotel, complete with sign and staircase.



I found these little coloured matchsticks, and blocks in a 'hot dollar' shop.  As an educational tool you can discuss colours, shapes and patterns.  We used PVA glue underneath and stuck them on to card stock. Adding a touch of food colouring to the glue helps to show the children where they have applied it.

Art vs Craft

I get so frustrated with prescribed art and craft activities for children. Recently at a local group the children were presented with photocopied ladybirds, and each child was given four black dots, two googly eyes and two antenes. This kind of activity seems pointless to me- really it's just busy work.  The leader was confronted when Finn declared he didn't want to make a ladybird but wanted to make a lion, but I was beaming at him with pride.

It is so easy to give children a variety of materials in different colours and textures and from there, the children can decide where their project goes. Even choosing what materials from they use from the selection is a creative process in itself.



At two Evie loves declaring- "I made it all by myself", rather than someone telling her what she has to do, and how she has to do it. Children should be able to let their projects take them to where-ever their imaginations want them to go. They should be able to tell a story, dream, design or just experiment with textures, colours, glue, tape, clay, pencils and paint.

Not everything has to look like something that adults recognise, sometimes it's just fun to play and create.

Wood Work

Inspired by a lovely book called Beautiful stuff, I thought it was about time I do some woodworking with my children. We do lots of wooden block building, and lego construction at home, but by using a hammer, nails and glue the children could plan and build a more permanent three dimensional objects with wood. Finn decided on making Batman's house with a secret bookshelf that reveals his Bat Cave.



We found some scraps and offcuts of wood and I bought them a little 'tack hammer' from a hardware shop (light enough for small hands to use) and some PVA wood glue.

I gave Finn a selection of nails, and thumb tacks so he could practice using the hammer.



He then pasted on the glue and left in the sun to dry.  In the next few days he may want to come back and put some more nails into the construction to make it more sturdy and I will give him access to paint if he wants to add detail or colour.

I also had some rubber bands available in a box and Finn enjoyed creating points on his blocks with nails for the rubber bands to stretch across.

In 'Beautiful Stuff' they extend woodwork projects by guiding the children to do observational drawings of their models.

Eyebrows, Ears and Eyes

I have decided not to fight it anymore.. and have let Finn experience the Ben 10 cartoon series like the rest of his preschool buddies. So, there is not so much talk about Robots in our house anymore, but more about superheros and Aliens. With his new keen interest... I took this opportunity to do some guided drawing with him while he was drawing Ben 10 from his pencil case. First he selected all the colours he needed for the image, then set about replicating what he was looking at. Towards the end of his drawing, I prompted him to look and draw smaller details (such as looking closely at the whole eye including the whites, iris and pupil, eyebrows, ears). Children often miss these details when they are first learning to draw, and it is helpful to prompt them to look at all body parts and facial features.

I just love this drawing. The energy and freedom in his lines, and of course the gorgeous expression. We quickly framed it and now it proudly sits on his bedroom wall.

My little Inventor

Finn has for a long time been talking about being an inventor when he is a 'big man'. I bought him his own inventions sketch book so he can jot down any ideas and look back on it  (and possibly invent) when he is older. He has spent hours and hours in this book over the past week busily working on his machines, robots and factories. He has also been taking it everywhere with him which has been great if I need to keep him occupied while at a cafe or waiting room. 

What I have to do now is go through his sketches and jot down what they are, otherwise we will both forget what they are meant to do! 

A Perfect Circle

Evie (who just turned two) is mastering her 'circles'. Currently her pages of drawings and paintings are filled with circles, and circles within circles. A beautiful little milestone to watch, and she does it with such concentration and patience. 

I have posted this link about children's drawing developmental before, but it's interesting for me to read again. http://www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html

Drawing Flowers

 Finn is so fascinated by robots and machines it is his main focus when it comes to drawing. We have sketchbooks full of elaborate robots and machinery which come with lots of descriptions and stories.
Today at preschool he was asked to draw a flower, and it was difficult for him to draw a flower as it was (without adding wheels and cogs). So we set about this afternoon focusing on drawing flowers, in it's true form, looking at the details and shapes.
So here we are- a beautiful flower with not a button or wheel in sight. A breakthrough in our little household.

Working from home..

Trying to work from home is never easy with two small children, but I've been trying to get them involved in my illustration project by giving them their own drawings to work on, and allowing them access to my watercolour paints and pencils.

It's a lovely feeling all working quietly and being creative together.

animal shapes

This activity is suitable for children 12 months and over, although younger can participate with assistance.

I cut up many different animal body parts from paper in several colours.  I arranged the shapes into different piles, such as heads, bodies, legs, ears/trunk/tails/beaks and asked the children to make a mixed-up animal or creature from the shapes they choose, and glue onto the white paper. 

I gave them a sheet of coloured dot stickers which could be used as eyes or spots. 

I gave them access to pens so they could add details or a background for their creature. Below are some examples of their wonderful creations. Older children may want to cut their own shapes.

Wax Resist Painting

My children and their friends love experiencing wax resist painting. It is such a simple activity to set up for them, and the results are instant and satisfying. All you need is a handful of wax crayons and an ink wash to paint over the top (I used edicol dye powder and water, but if you don't have access to that food colouring drops mixed with water is also fine).

Today the little ones were drawing with white and pale yellow crayons- almost blindly, when they added the ink wash they were excited and surprised to see their image magically appear.

Bookmarks

Finn has started reading chapter books before bed, and we can never find enough bookmarks around the house. So our solution was to make our own, and give any extras away as gifts.

I folded an A4 piece of paper four times and re-opened it. I asked Finn to draw separate images on the inside of each crease.

When he was finished we signed, named and dated the back of each image, cut them out and placed them through the laminating machine (I bought mine from the local newsagent for around $29). Finn also discovered if you can turn it into a puzzle by matching up the right parts of the drawing.

pre-pasted Paper

We used pre-pasted art paper today to create some interesting designs. Children only need to wet the paper with water, or lick the back of the shapes for them to stick down. It's great for traveling with small children as it is low-fuss and low mess.

cotton tips

As we are still unpacking after moving houses, I couldn't put my hands on any paint brushes, but then remembered how much children enjoy using cotton-tips to paint with. They are easy for them to handle and they create fine, delicate lines.

We used coloured dye for this activity, putting small amounts of dye (that I had mixed up from eticol dye powder) in glass jars. Food colouring drops mixed with a small amount of water would be just as effective.

For something different, Finn decided he wanted to use a sponge roller to dip in the dyes. It was much more difficult to handle, and the lines a lot chunkier- but it created an enjoyable painting experience for him.

collaboration

Sometimes I find children need a little kick start with their drawings, and so helping them start with a little shape, or body part can help them find inspiration.  Here I drew the pink circle with a hat and ears, and Finn finished it off, turning it into 'inspector gadget'.  

Drivers Licence

We are buying and selling properties at the moment, and spending a lot of times talking to mortgage brokers which Finn finds incredibly boring. During a recent discussion as an attempt to keep Finn entertained, I came across a photocopied drivers licence which had been enlarged about 300%, and had my face mostly blurred out. I asked Finn to draw me my portrait in the blank spot and this is what he came up with. 

Birthday Card

I woke up last saturday morning to find the best birthday pressie- a gorgeous drawing from Finn titled 'Mummy and The Robot'. 

Ashe had found a watercolour painting that Finn had previously made, and requested Finn to draw with ink over the top.  It created a lovely effect which I will be proud to hang on my wall.