Tag Archives: children’s art

Aug21

Change your Life with Art

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Art is for everyone! Yes, even you. I’m a firm believer everyone should live with and enjoy original art and sometimes that means “do it yourself” art.  Many people leave their walls blank because they are not sure how to fill them and feel it would be costly to do so.  If you have the funds, you won’t regret investing in art that moves you.  But you don’t need a big budget to enjoy beautiful art on your walls.

If you have children, have you framed or hung their art from school? This builds their confidence and adds joy and color to your home. Here’s another fun idea; head to your favorite art supplier, buy a canvas, and gather the family or friends around, each with one paint color and a brush.  Then have everyone begin painting the area in front of them until you all meet in the middle.  You will have a beautiful “under painting”. (image 1)  Now throw paint across it like Jackson Pollack (image 2) or collect objects to attach to the canvas.  Flowers from your garden or leaves make great stamps. You can dip the flowers and leaves into the desired paint color(s) and press them into your canvas (image 3).

Creating a collage is a favorite “do-it-yourself” project of mine because it’s personal.  Using your own photos, post cards, maps, and ticket stubs, you can create an piece of art that reminds you of some of your favorite memories. You will need canvas and “mod podge” (available at the local craft store) to attach your selected items.  First, paint the canvas with your favorite color(s).  Then tear the images you will be using along the edges or in half for an abstract look.  After the images are glued to the canvas in a pleasing arrangement, I like to apply some metallic paint to the areas in between in a random pattern using a sponge (image 4).  Try framing special documents, postcards, or architectural drawings as a way to put your personality in your space.

If doing it yourself doesn’t interest you, you can always consider purchasing art from local art fairs.  It doesn’t need to be costly to begin your own collection.  If you see something that inspires you, buy it! You won’t be sorry.  Whether you buy a finished piece or put it together yourself or with your family, I am confident that you begin to look at the walls as a place from which you can draw happiness through art.

Note: The images in this post are taken in Ethiopia where you can find me sharing my passion that art is indeed for everyone.
Article as seen in the August 2012 Women’s Lifestyle Magazine
Jul11

Kids, Summer, Art and Beethoven

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Children who know the difference between Beethoven and Bach have a higher IQ. That is something I read years ago in a book on the great artist and Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci was a big advocate for whole brain thinking; to him, using and teaching to only half the brain just didn’t add up. If you find yourself nodding in agreement and singing the phrase, “yes to the arts” silently in your head or out load, read on.

Summer is the perfect time to supplement your child’s inner artist, and hopefully yours at the same time! It’s easier than you might think to incorporate this great sunny weather and creativity. I’ll assume you’ve already brought yourself and your most precious ones to our great art museums, galleries, and Fredrik Meijer Gardens. If not, start by showing your children art and encouraging them to “see.” To notice that, yes, most leaves are green but look at the variety of greens; it’s never just one shade, and what happens to the leaves when the sun is shining vs. when they are in the shade? My favorite lesson in seeing is to look up: There is a party going on in the sky just about every day – one only has to look to notice.

What you will need for your day of art:

  • a sketch book to play with ideas
  • a set of paints (I like acrylics or watercolor but anything with color that leaves a mark will do)
  • paper or canvas on which to work
  • brushes, or just use your fingers, as I often do
  • a roll of paper towel (I like Viva for strength)
  • an old blanket
  • piece of white paper with a square or rectangle cut out of the middle, to use as a view finder

It’s summer and we want to soak up as much of that warmth and light as we can, so let’s take this party outside and paint plain air, as the impressionists did. Your own back yard could work, but to add to the adventure let’s go to one of the beautiful parks we have in West Michigan. Spread the old blanket out on the ground and pull out the white paper with a hole cut out. This is our viewfinder to help us decide what area we’ll be painting. Once you decide on our composition, pull out the paints and have fun. Keep in mind, for children there is no wrong in art. Give them freedom to express themselves in color and they will. A hot pink tree can be much more interesting than yet another green one, so encouragement of expression verses expectations of realist representation will yield better results. Moms and dads, be sure to join in the fun. Kids learn by example and we don’t want our wee ones thinking fun with art ends after childhood is over.

Article as seen in the July 2012 Women’s Lifestyle Magazine