MORE Awesome Abstract Art!

Art Campers going into 4th and 5th grade created assembled abstract art that incorporated four individual pieces of art and one common element: a circle. Students were encouraged to use one or more different media and techniques in each of the four sections. Then they arranged and assembled the final piece:

Success!

Awesome Abstract Art!

Abstract art is about play!

All of this week's art projects involved experimenting and playing with shape, pattern, color, form, and various media. Mostly, though, it was about having FUN with art!

on white paper

Our kinder / 1st grade Camp created large (3' x 4') collaborative prints. Each group planned and created two paintings, one on white paper and another on black (which they painted black with rollers first).

on black paper 

2nd grade Campers created these abstract prints.

They worked together, deciding which colors to use, which stamping shapes to use, where to put what, and when to stop. This was a lot of work for 5- and 6-year-olds! The artwork was pretty goopy and wet, so we decided to give it a whole week to dry!

During another session, the children colored heavily on white paper, then painted over their work with watery temperas (using cake temperas - like giant watercolor trays) for a crayon resist result. Again, these were non-objective, random shapes, colors, and patterns:

Children find great satisfaction in going back to the "scribbling" stage, with no pressure from themselves or others to create representational art. 

2014 Summer Art Camp

This year the Blackfoot Art Center is hosting a ten-week Summer Art Camp for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade. The art center is also hosting a middle school Art Camp for kids entering 6th through 9th grades. All camps will run June 9 through August 15, 2014 on Mondays and Thursdays starting at 1:00 pm;  specific days and times are shown below.*

K-1st grade       Thursday, 1-3 pm (two groups)
2nd grade         Monday, 3-4 pm
3rd grade          Monday, 2-3 pm
4th-5th grades   Monday, 1-2 pm
6th-9th grades   Thursday, 3-4:45 pm

* Subject to change without notice, please call 785-8022 to confirm days and times.

Weekly themes include lessons or projects unique to each age group. Sample themed artwork will be featured on this weblog as the summer progresses.

Children may be registered for Art Camps through the Blackfoot Community Center. Please see the BCC website for camp fees and other details. Other exciting summer camps are also available, and all are included with registration in the BCC's 10-week Summer Day Camp program. You can register at any time. Please call 785-8022 for more information.

New Blackfoot Art Center Facility

The Blackfoot Art Center now has its own facility at 157 W. Sexton (corner of Sexton and Ash). This facility is devoted entirely to art and crafts classes - to be utilized by the SHARK After School Club, SHARK Summer Day Camp, and community art classes.

SHARK Summer Day Camp begins June 11, 2012 and will include lots of fun art classes.

In addition, an ongoing home school studio art class is held every Wednesday morning 10:30-11:30 am, open to homeschoolers ages 5 through 14. Cost is only $20 per month ($5.00 per class).

An adult level studio art class is held every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm. Students bring their own projects and focus on areas of their own interest with help from the instructor. Current projects include acrylic canvas painting, beginning drawing, and colored pencil projects. Cost is $10 per class or $40 per month. Community art classes  and workshops for all ages are being planned now for the summer months. Stay tuned!

2009 Winter / Spring Art Classes

This past winter has been an exciting time for the Blackfoot Art Center! Our classes have been very successful, with lots of fun projects and creative activities for everyone. Our popular SHARK Art class is especially suited to the youngsters attending the Community Center's SHARK after-school club, but other children are invited as well (space permitting). This class is held on Mondays, running 3-4:30 pm.

"Giraffe" by Mitchell (12) Oil Pastel on Paper

In addition to monthly drawing lessons, the children paint, sculpt, construct, and create in a variety of media. They have a great time while developing small muscle skills, creativity, good work habits, self awareness, and respect for individuality. SHARK Art is $25 monthly.

On Tuesdays, 4:00 to 5:30pm we have Drawing, Painting, and More... This class, for ages 8 to 12, is for students who have a solid interest in art and want to develop basic skills while trying new techniques and media along the way. We practice our drawing skills regularly, while working in a variety of drawing media such as graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, soft pastels, and colored pencil. We also paint, sculpt, and construct. This past month we created papier mache' animals, which the children found to be a lot of work: formulating an idea, constructing the underlying structure, layering the papier mache, painting, and sealing. However, each step was FUN, and now they have wonderful animal sculptures to take home!

Finally, our Tuesday evening Adult Art Class has been working in watercolor painting since summer. In February we reviewed basic drawing techniques, especially for the benefit of our newer students - but always a good idea for everyone! April 7, 6:30 to 8:30pm, we will begin painting, both in the studio and plein aire, throughout the summer months. The majority of our current students will be working with acrylics, but oil painters are welcome as well. After "brushing up" on color theory and color mixing, we will find ways to loosen up and learn how to find inspiration; and then try our hands at some "no-stress" abstract painting. Abstract??? Don't worry... it'll be great fun!

We are always open to new class ideas too. Does your homeschool group want to meet for weekly art classes? We can arrange it. Let us know your best time and day. Do you know a few preschoolers that would love to do some messy art projects? We can do it here (and nothing for you to clean up)!

Our summer art class schedule will be posted here soon. Special note: we will have weekly Summer Art Day Camps during the month of June 2009.

2008 Summer Art Classes

Following is the Blackfoot Art Center's 2008 Summer Class Schedule. You'll find all of our most popular classes plus an exciting new mosaic-making class! If you haven't taken classes with us since summer 2007, please note that our classroom / art studio is now located at the Blackfoot Community Center, 157 W. Sexton (at Ash). We have a spacious classroom and look forward to a terrific summer.

Summer classes begin the week of June 9 and continue through August. As always, click on the registration form link to the right to download your registration form, and mail to the Art Center at 146 S. Meridian Street; or bring it into the Community Center and take a look around!

Let’s Draw & Paint!
Monday 11:00 to 12:00 pm · $25 / Month
Kids ages 6 to 8 will improve their drawing skills while exploring and combining media such as tempera, watercolor, crayon, pastels, and more.

Craft it!
Monday 1:00 to 2:00 pm · $25 / Month
A hands-on arts & crafts class for young children ages 6 to 8. Kids will explore exciting techniques using interesting materials such as textiles, wire, string, wood, foam, & more.

Make a Mosaic (& Other Great Crafts)!
Monday 3:00 to 4:30 pm · $30 / Month
Your child will make a beautiful tile mosaic in this unique craft class for older kids, ages 8 and up. Later, participants may make additional mosaics or try another great craft project.

Art is Fun!
Tuesday 1:00 to 2:00 pm · $25 / Month
Unique, open-ended art exploration activities especially suited for 4- and 5-year-olds.

Let’s Paint!
Tuesday 3:00 to 4:30 pm · $35 / Month
Explore painting techniques and media including tempera, watercolor, & acrylics. For kids 7 to 12.

Teen Art Exploration
Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00 pm · $35 / Month
Teens 12 - 17 will improve drawing skills and explore a variety of art media including colored pencil, ink, pastels, tempera, watercolor, and acrylics.

Learn to Draw (June)
Nature Drawing (July)
Drawing in Color (Aug)
Wednesday 4:00 – 5:30 pm · $30 / Month
An introductory drawing class for kids 8 to 12. Learn a whole new way of seeing and thinking artistically. Participants will learn to access their creative side and discover their own unique drawing style.

Art Adventures!
Thursdays 11:00 to 12:00 pm · $25 / Month
Exciting, hands-on art exploration for kids ages 6 to 10. They’ll experience a variety of art forms, media, and techniques - something different every week!

Adult Art Class & Open Studio
Tuesday 6:30 to 8:30 pm · $40.00 / Month or $10.00 per class session
An open art studio / class for adults. Interact with other local artists while exploring a variety of exciting exercises, techniques, and media.
Ongoing class sessions, some out of doors, weather permitting. Attend whenever and as often as you wish. Jun-Aug: watercolor / acrylics.

Fall/Winter Classes

As the Blackfoot Art Center celebrates our spacious new classroom at Blackfoot's new community center, we are pleased to offer several popular art classes on an ongoing monthly basis. These include our children's painting and art exploration classes (now held during after-school hours); a preschool art exploration class, and art class/open studio times for homeschool groups and for adults:

Art is Fun! Ages 4-5
A preschool art class with unique, open-ended art exploration activities especially suited for 4- and 5-year-olds.
Mondays 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

$25.00/Month

Shark Art! Ages 5-12
A fun art exploration class for children K through 6th grade. This art class is included in The Center’s after-school SHARK program and is also open to non-SHARK participants depending upon space availability.

Tuesdays 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

$25.00/Month

Homeschool Art Exploration! Ages 7 & up
A hands-on art exploration class. Students, ages 7 and up, will learn the basic elements of design through painting, drawing, collage, and other fine art forms, media, and techniques. There will be plenty of studio time to work on projects while enjoying the company of other homeschoolers! Tuesdays or Wednesdays 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

$30.00 Month

Let’s Paint! Ages 7-12
Children will explore painting techniques & media including tempera, watercolor, and acrylics.

Wednesdays 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

$35.00/Month

Art Adventures! Ages 7-12
Exciting, hands-on art exploration where kids will experience a variety of art forms, media, and techniques - something different every week!
Thursdays 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

$25.00/Month

Adult Art Class & Open Studio
An open art studio for just for adults. Explore color theory, learn to draw, share ideas, and interact with other local artists while experiencing a variety of exciting exercises, techniques, and art media. Class sessions are ongoing, so you may attend whenever and as often as you wish.

Thursdays 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

$40.00/Month or $10.00 per class session

To register for a class, simply download the appropriate Registration Form by clicking on one of the links in the right side bar (just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines). Print and fill out the form, and mail or deliver with class fees to the Blackfoot Art Center at 146 S. Meridian St., Blackfoot, ID 83221 OR drop off at our classroom facility at The Center, 157 West Sexton in Blackfoot during after-school or class hours. By the way, you are welcome to come by for a tour of our new facility - come by during the above hours or give us a call first at 785-8022 or 785-0828.

. . .

The artwork shown above is a papier mache' sculpture, Cartoon Giraffe, by Ashley, age 8.

Art Center Update - We've Moved!

SO SORRY for my long absence!

The trouble with teaching art classes during the summer months is I get so busy planning and teaching classes that I rarely have time to even turn on my computer, much less post regularly on my blogs! (Maybe I have bitten off more than I can chew?)

Our summer art classes were so successful, I had to split a few of them into two or more classes due to my very limited space. I was thrilled that so many kids wanted to take art classes, but because I could teach only four or five students at a time in tiny little classroom, I spent many more hours teaching the same classes two and three times each week.

Guess what? All of that has changed!

As of October 1st 2007, the Blackfoot Art Center has relocated to The Center, a new community and recreation center in downtown Blackfoot. Our new classroom is spacious and roomy, with plenty of table space and elbow room. It is well lit, and has an attached restroom, lots of storage space for supplies and ongoing projects, and plenty of wallspace to display student artwork.

If you live in the Blackfoot area and have taken art classes with us or would like to do so, it's time to get excited! You will love our new facility, and we are excited about offering it to you. More great news: class tuitions for all classes will remain the same. How do we do it??? Well, just never mind about that. You'll still be getting terrific, fun art classes for all ages (4 and up), with most or all supplies and materials included; and now at a beautiful, centrally located facility -- and class fees are just as affordable as ever. Wow!

Take a look at our most current art class offerings at any time by clicking the Current Class Schedule link in the right sidebar of this page - just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines. You can also download class registration materials and instructions by using the appropriate links. (These are pdf files, so you need Adobe Reader to download them.) By the way, I'll post our Fall/Winter class descriptions in my next post.

The Center is located at 157 West Sexton in Blackfoot, Idaho. Phone is 208-785-8022. The Blackfoot Art Center contact phone is 208-785-0828. Note: private and semi-private art lessons will still be available at our original location at 146 S. Meridian Street in Blackfoot.

The artwork above, Snapdragons with Lemon, is tempera on paper, painted by 8-year-old Eden in our "Let's Paint!" summer art class.

Spring / Summer Art Classes - Sign Up Now!

Welcome to the Blackfoot Art Center's Spring and Summer 2007 Art Classes! We are celebrating our One Year Anniversary with three exciting new Art Classes, including a children's painting class, a color theory class for adults, and a homeschool art class just for teens! We are also continuing to offer our most popular children's art classes, and another basic drawing course for adults - now available online!

Upcoming class sessions are:

Spring Session: May 15 through June 2 (3 weeks)
Summer Session 1: June 4 through June 30 (4 weeks)
Summer Session 2: July 2 through July 28 (4 weeks)
Summer Session 3: July 30 through August 25 (4 weeks)

Here is a brief outline of what's coming up:

Art is Fun! Ages 4-6
Unique, open-ended art activities exclusively suited for 4, 5, and 6 year olds.
Mondays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
Tuesdays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$25.00 (Spring - $19.00)
...
Let’s Paint! Ages 7 – 12
Explore painting techniques & media including tempera, watercolor, acrylics & more!
Tuesdays 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$30.00 / Session ($23.00 / Spring)
...
Art Adventures! Ages 7 - 12
Hands-on art exploration through a variety of art forms and fun art activities.
Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
$35.00 / Session
Note: Session 2 for this class is three weeks in length due to the July 4 holiday.
$28.00 / Session 2
...
Art Exploration for Teens Ages 12 - up
Explore painting and drawing techniques and the basic elements of design – line, shape, space, form, texture, color, and value - through a variety of media and art forms.
Thursdays 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$35.00 / Session
($27.00 / Spring)
...
Homeschool Art Classes Ages 5 - up
Hands-on art exploration through a variety of art experiences, study of master artworks, and fun arts & crafts activities.
Fridays – openings after 1:00 pm - OR contact us for your best day and time. Sessions are ongoing monthly.
$25.00/ month
$35.00/ month - teens, ages 12 – up
...
All About Color! Adults 16 - up
An introduction to color theory through a variety of exciting exercises and art media,including paint, colored pencils, put paper, and pastels. Sign up for one or all sessions!
Thursdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
$40.00 / Session

You may download our Spring/Summer 2007 Class Schedule, print, and make copies to post or share. (pdf, one page.)

Current downloadable class registration materials can now be found in the right sidebar of this page - just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines. (These are pdf files, so you need Adobe Reader to download them.) Simply print and fill them out - then mail or bring to the Blackfoot Art Center with your payment. Be sure to ask about our Anniversary Discount! New students only - valid for May and June 2007 classes.

Classes are small, so to avoid disappointment, sign up now!

The artwork shown above is a short-line pen and ink drawing, Tree Squirrel, by Alicia B. at age 16.

Try Salt Dough Art

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I had a great craft idea for my classes - salt dough art!

Dough art was very popular during the 1980's when I was raising my children. This very plain salt-and-flour, cookie colored dough is fun to manipulate and work with, and it dries rock-hard. We used to make all sorts of fun craft items, from Christmas ornaments to wall plaques to woven bread baskets (remember those?).

Dough art seems to have fallen by the wayside for polymer clay (like Sculpey). By the way, if you would like to learn more about polymer clay, you'll find plenty of ideas and resources here. But right now we're talkin' salt dough, which I like best for kids because you make it yourself and it's practically free! Here's the recipe:

Heirloom Ornament Salt Dough

4 cups white flour

1 cup plain salt

1 1/2 cups water

Mix with a wooden spoon, then knead until soft and plyable. Add more flour if too sticky, more water if too dry. Place creations on upside down cookie sheet and allow to dry at room temperature. For larger items or for quicker drying time, place in oven at 250 F and check often. Projects should be hard and golden - not brown!

My plan for this project was simple enough. We would make the salt dough together. I would show a few sample Christmas ornaments (shown above), demonstrate a few techniques, then set the kids loose so they could make their own ornaments. Some did just that, but a few little tykes had their own ideas!

We ended up with a beautiful mermaid (cookie sheet size) with strategically placed seashells, a handprint "in the sand" with more seashells, and a soaring eagle. We learned that tiny seashells make great accessories for salt dough projects.

Oh well, that's what open-ended art is all about.

The next week, after the projects were hard and dry, we painted them with CeramCoat acrylic craft paints, then applied an acrylic gloss finish. (Use brush-on or spray-on finish.)

A word of caution. Your canine friends will think these are wonderful, hand-made doggy treats and will EAT them. Keep out of pets' reach.

This recipe is just one of 75 craft recipes you can find in our ebook, 75 Craft Recipes for Kids: Crafty Concoctions Your Children Will Love! You'll also find recipes for making your own paints, crayons, chalk,bubbles, play dough, paste, silly slime, hand-made paper, and much more. Great fun!

December Craft Workshops

Here is our December workshop schedule.

After-School “Make-a-Gift” Workshop:
‘Naturally’ Framed Watercolor Painting
Monday, Dec. 4 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm ● Cost: $15.00
Create a watercolor painting, then place it in this clever picture frame made from all natural materials. A great gift for Dad, Grandpa, or a favorite uncle!

Traditional Folk Art Christmas Ornaments
Saturday, Dec. 9 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm ● Cost: $20.00
Get into the Christmas spirit! These traditional folk art ornaments were created in rural areas after the Civil War, using spare materials and a little ingenuity. Your child will re-create several of these homemade folk designs while learning about our early American folk art history.

Holiday-Themed Evergreen Wreath
Saturday, Dec. 16 – 1:00 to 4:00 pm ● Cost: $15.00
Choose a holiday theme (snow, nature, candy, stars, angels, etc.), and create a lovely embellished evergreen wreath, perfect for indoor or outdoor decorating. Bring your own evergreen cuttings and embellishments, or choose from ours.
(This workshop is for children and adults, ages 9 and up.)

Workshop fees include all supplies, materials, and a snack!For more information, contact the Blackfoot Art Center at 785-0828 or by email. You can download our Workshop Registration Form here.

Let It Snow!

We've had a bit of snow here in southeastern Idaho, but according to the kids, not enough! So, we made it snow indoors; we made these beautiful 3-D sparkly snowflakes and hung them from the ceiling. The children made more at home and hung them over their beds for a beautiful wintery snow storm.

Here's how to make your own lovely snowflakes. Start with a piece of regular white copy paper.


Cut it in half the long way. Fold up the end of one of the halves about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Continue to fold the paper accordian style to the other end. Hold the folded paper flat and fold in half. Unfold and cut two notches along the center fold, one on each side, as shown.

Cut your design into one side of the folded paper, using curvey, pointy, and rounded cuts. Don't be afraid to cut deeply for more interesting designs, and be sure to cut off one or both corners. Try using a hole punch too. When finished cutting, fold the paper over and, using your previous cuts as a guide or a pattern, cut the other half of your folded paper. Open, and tie one end of an 18-inch piece of string around the center notches of the paper, and knot tightly. Apply glue to one side of the paper (we use glue sticks), and lay the longer length of string over the glued side (so the snow flake won't hang horizantally like a flying saucer). Fold the opposite side over, and press down. Now simply glue the bottom two sides together, forming the completed snowflake, and hang from the ceiling!

To make them sparkly, we sprayed our flakes lightly with spray glue, then sprinkled with glitter. Be sure to do this in a shallow box so you can pour the extra glitter back into the bottle. Pretty messy business, and not really vital for this project.

Note: A much larger snowflake can be made in exactly the same way from two full sheets of paper that are taped together along the short ends to make one long sheet of paper.

November Children's Craft Workshops

We have scheduled Monday and Saturday Children's Craft Workshops throughout the month of November. Be sure to sign up early; classes are small and space is limited.

Handmade Greeting Cards
Saturday, Nov. 4 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Learn to make uniquely personal greeting cards using a variety of materials and techniques.

Santa’s Workshop 1
Monday, Nov. 6 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Make a unique gift for Mom, Auntie, or Grandma that she’s sure to love!

Dough Art Fun: 2-day Workshop
Saturday, Nov. 11 – 1:00 to 4:00 pm & Monday, Nov. 13 - 2:30 to 4:30 • Cost: $25
Salt dough creations will include Christmas ornaments and gifts. On Day 1 children will learn techniques and create dough art. On Day 2 they will paint and complete hardened dough art projects.

Thanksgiving Fun
Saturday, Nov. 18 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Get your child involved in your holiday preparations! We’ll make an impressive Thanksgiving centerpiece, napkin rings, and unique place cards to dress up your holiday table.

Santa’s Workshop 2
Monday, Nov. 20 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Decorated hinged wooden boxes – beautiful and fun to create.

Traditional Folk Art Christmas Ornaments
Saturday, Nov. 25 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Get into the Christmas spirit! These traditional folk art ornaments were created in rural areas after the Civil War, using spare materials and a little ingenuity. Your children will re-create several of these homemade folk designs while learning about our early American folk art heritage.

Santa’s Workshop 3
Monday, Nov. 27 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Create a watercolor painting, then frame in this clever picture frame, made from all natural materials. A great gift for Dad, an uncle, or Grandpa!

Workshop fees include all supplies, materials, and a snack!

For more information, contact the Blackfoot Art Center at 785-0828 or by email. You can download our Workshop Registration Form here.

New for Fall! Children's Saturday Craft Workshops

Three new children's workshops have been scheduled at the Blackfoot Art Center:

New Date! Monday, October 23 - Spooky Halloween Crafts - fun Halloween-themed projects, (not scary)! 1:30-5:00 pm

Saturday, October 28 - Fun Leaf Projects for Kids - great things to do with all those beautiful fall leaves! 1:00-5:00 pm

Saturday, November 4 - Handmade Greeting Cards - we'll use a variety of art media and techniques to make our own very special greeting cards. 1:00-5:00 pm

All workshops are designed for children ages 7 to 12. Location is at the Blackfoot Art Center, and times are 1:00 to 5:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Cost includes all materials and supplies, a snack break, and lots of fun! If you would like to sign your child up for any of these workshops, please don't wait. For even more fun, bring a friend!

Classes are small and space is limited.

Cost is $27 per child. You may download and print out a workshop registration form (pdf) here, or contact us at blackfoot_artcenter@yahoo.com.

Homeschool Art Classes Start Mid-September!

Are you looking for quality art experiences for your homeschooler(s)? If you live in the Blackfoot area, contact us about setting up a private ongoing weekly art session for your homeschool group!

Just provide your first and second choices of days and times and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you do not have a group to meet with, we have the following homeschool sessions set up with openings available :

Monday - (reserved for all-day or half-day workshops, beginning in October)
Tuesday - 2:00 to 3:30 pm, ages 8 - 11, FULL
Wednesday - 11:30 to 1:00 pm, ages 5 - 7, two openings
Thursday - 1:00 to 2:30 pm, ages 12 - up, four openings
Friday - 10:30 am to 12 pm, FULL (afternoon is open - suggest a time for your group)

If none of these days / times work for you, or if you would like a separate time slot for your own group of five to six children, please contact us.

Homeschool art classes are similar to our summer Art Adventures series. Projects are planned according to the needs and interests of the children. Art activities might include exploration of drawing and painting media (colored pencil, watercolors, pastels, etc.) or mosaic work, collage, nature art, papier mache', holiday crafts, and mixed media.

Homeschool art sessions are five weeks long. Most will begin mid-September (right after Fair Week). Cost is $25 per child per session, and includes most materials and supplies.

To sign up for a homeschool art class, download, print, and complete our Class Registration Form (pdf), indicating the day and time you have selected. Submit with payment to the Blackfoot Art Center to secure your child's place in class. (Be sure to call first to confirm that openings are still available on your selected day and time.)

I look forward to meeting you and your homeschoolers as together we begin our adventures in art!

Good, Old-Fashioned Play Dough!

One great open-ended art activity is good, old-fashioned play dough: a perfect example of the value of process vs. end result. Our play dough activity sessions have never produced any "end results," unless you count a plastic bag full of colorful squished up blobs of dough.

Play dough, unlike clay, is just what it says: a lovely, soft doughlike substance that you simply play with. Clay is hard and takes time to manipulate, giving the impression that it is to be made into something permanent. Oil based clay, although it lasts, is hard for young children to work with, and it smells. Self-hardening, oven-baked, and kiln hardened clays have a purpose - to design or create something that will be completed, painted or glazed, and displayed.

With play dough nothing further is expected, no end-result required. Simply give each child three or four balls of play dough, each a different color. Even the colors are just an added attraction, really. The children are far more interested in the texture of the squishy dough in their hands and between their fingers. They like to manipulate it and to see what they can do with it. I give them a plastic knife for cutting, a cardboard tube for punching holes, and a rolling pin for flattening. Then, I sit quietly at one end of the table and I play with my dough (I get some too). As I work, sometimes they watch what I do, but mostly they come up with their own playful ways of working the dough and using tools. I don't "instruct" them because I want them to explore the material themselves. You can see in these pictures that they are doing just that.

We use a wonderful recipe that takes only a few minutes to make. I make four batches, one each of red (or pinkish), yellow, blue, and green. This dough is not sticky, doesn't smell, and doesn't dry out during use. It will remain soft and flexible after several weeks if stored properly. Here is our recipe:

BETTER-THAN-STORE-BOUGHT PLAY DOUGH

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoon cream of tarter
Few drops of food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a pan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and becomes a large ball. This takes just a minute. Do not over cook. Quickly remove from pan and knead on kitchen counter until smooth. This can be stored in a re-sealable bag in the refrigerator for several months. Note: Double or triple recipe to create several colors.

If you would like more great childrens' craft recipes, you are invited to get your own copy of our ebook, 75 Craft Recipes For Kids: Crafty Concoctions Your Children Will Love! All proceeds from the sale of this ebook go directly to the Blackfoot Art Center, allowing us continue to offer quality art classes and workshops, as well as step-by-step art activities right here in this weblog.

Mosaics of Beans, Seeds, and Pasta

There are many different ways to create a mosaic. With young children, the idea is still the same: provide them with an art activity that is fun and open-ended. Mosaic activity ideas might include furnishing small pre-cut paper squares (no more than one by one inch) of various colors to be glued to a piece of paper; or it might be providing three-dimensional materials to be glued to a stiff backing. These could be man-made objects such as tiles, cut linoleum, or seaglass; or natural objects such as seeds, bark, twigs, seashells, pebbles, and leaves. We decided to create three-dimensional mosaics using dried beans, seeds, and uncooked pastas; such as the one above created by five-year-old McKenzie. Our four- to six-year-olds thoroughly enjoyed this project, so your youngster may enjoy trying it too.

Materials:

Precut corrugated cardboard squares, about 8 x 8 inches each
Seeds, dried beans, and interesting macaroni products, such as:
white beans, black beans, small read beans, pinto beans, black
eyed-peas, split green peas, white rice, spaghetti, Wacky Mac
veggie-shaped pasta
Muffin tin
Meat tray, cleaned and dried
White glue poured in plastic covered container
White glue in original bottle
Water in open container
Small sponge brushes, one for each child
Moist rags (for wiping hands)
Paint smocks or old shirts
Newspapers

Preparation:

Cover table with newspaper. Set out separated seeds and dried beans in muffin tin, pour pasta into meat tray, and place white rice in a disposable cup (for pouring). Place all in center of table. Add one part water to three parts white glue in plastic containers and stir. Place on table (one can be shared by two children) with additional glue in original bottles. Place water container on table for cleaning brushes. Place a piece of cut cardboard and a sponge brush at each child’s place. Put moist rags nearby.

What to do:

1. Talk for a few minutes about the materials on the table. Name the different types of beans and seeds on the table, and talk about the various colors and the differences in size and shape, as well as the various types of macaroni shapes. Introduce “mosaics,” and talk about how can make them using various materials to “paint” pictures.

2. Demonstrate various ways to do this: You can use one type of item (such as black beans or pasta) and a line of glue to outline shapes. You can glue on spaghetti to make straight lines (long or very short). You can fill in areas with glue and a poured material such as split peas or rice. You can glue interesting items around the outer edges. As you can see, six-year-old Lindy used most of these techniques in her mosaic creation.

3. Once the child has a basic understanding of the project, put on paint smocks and let him begin to apply the glue and place the mosaic materials on his project board. Monitor the glue and the other materials. He may use too much glue or simply pour the beans in piles onto the project. Help him to think about what he is doing and remind him that the materials need to be glued on in a single layer so they will stay on when you turn the cardboard sideways (which you should help them do every so often, then re-use any fallen materials).

4. Once your child decides he is finished, make sure he has covered all of the wet glue with mosaic materials. Allow the project to dry. If he would like, let your child select another sheet of cardboard to make another mosaic.

5. Once the mosaic is completely dry, it can be sprayed or painted with a clear glossy acrylic finish.

Pop-Up Book Workshop and More!

Make a Pop-Up Book, our last children's one-day summer workshop, is just around the corner. Scheduled for Monday, August 14, this workshop will be great fun for kids interested in making their very own bound pop-up book. They will learn several different paper-folding techniques, as well as other interactive methods to surprise and involve the reader. They'll develop a theme or a story-line, build the pop-ups into the book design, and bind the completed book.

This workshop will take place on August 14 from 1 to 5 pm for kids age 7 and up, and will include an energy snack and all supplies and materials. Cost is only $27.00!

Click here to download our Summer 2006 Class Schedule for information about our final session of 2006 summer classes and workshops. This is a PDF file, so you'll need Acrobat Reader to download it. Our Class Registration Form can also be downloaded and printed out. Simply complete and mail or bring it to the Blackfoot Art Center with your class or workshop tuitions.

Session 3 classes begin the week of August 7, so hurry!

Little Painters

Children love to paint. Painting is messy, adventurous, and bold. One uses a brush instead of a fine-pointed writing instrument; strokes are broad and free. In fact, it's the process of painting that is important for young children; it's the playfulness; the motion of the brush dabbing and swirling pigment. The child may attempt to paint a picture, or she may just play with color and design. Painting is great fun!

The availability of easels, smocks, paint palettes, and a variety of brushes allows young children to recognize that they are viewed as trusted, capable artists. At the Blackfoot Art Center, here is how we prepare an open-ended painting activity for four- to six-year-olds:

Materials:

Heavy sketching, drawing or watercolor paper 11 x 14 or larger
Table or child height floor easle
Flat, smooth board such as masonite or sanded plywood (larger than the paper)
Masking tape
Tempera paints, each color in its own covered plastic container
Palettes (we use old pie tins)
Assorted brushes
Large water container
Plastic knives (palette knives)
Paint smock
Paper towels
Newspaper

What to do:

Spread newspapers on the table. Place water container on the table.
Tape all four sides of the paper to the board. (The paper will wrinkle when painted, but will flatten back out when dry.) Place the board on the easle, which should be set at eye-level when the child is standing.

Scoop the primary paint colors (red, yellow, and blue) onto the child's palette, and briefly explain how to create new colors by mixing them together using the plastic knife or a brush. Also show the child how to clean the paint brush between colors and dab off excess water on a folded paper towel. Provide any additional colors that the child requests, such as purple, orange, or green.

Now, just let your child paint!

The painting will likely start out timidly with small, distinct areas of color here and there. Then, as the child become more adventurous, colors will begin to fill the paper in great strokes and swirls. This is often accompanied by verbal cues, such as "Here's some green!" or "Whoa, look at all this pink!." Eventually, most of the colors will likely be blended together to make a nice army green.

Most of your youngster's first works will consist of random strokes of color that represent the playful experience of painting, such as in these pieces by two 4-year-olds, Billy and McKenzie. Then at a certain point (only the child knows exactly when), the painting will be "done." If the child wants to try another, carefully remove the completed work from the board and set it aside to dry. Wipe the board down, and tape on another piece of paper. This time your child may do exactly the same type of thing, or he may attempt to paint apply color in a specific design or even a representational piece.

Below, 4-year-old Erik's first painting (left) was obviously an experiment in playful design and color-mixing. The second painting (center) was a bit more deliberate in design and color selection. Erik's final painting illustrates planning in both the use of color and subject representation. In fact, he entitled this piece "Beehive in a Tree."


Isn't it amazing what young children can do when given encouragement and the proper materials?

Open-Ended Art for Young Children

Besides being great fun for young children, quality art experiences are essential to healthy creative and mental growth. When presented properly, pre-school art experiences provide multiple opportunities to explore art processes and manipulate media, all while having fun. Freely investigating both new and familiar materials is always encouraged. This can include squishing, pounding, pouring, splattering, squeezing, swirling, stacking, cutting, rolling, scribbling, chopping, and pasting.

Pre-school art can be a messy business!

It is important to understand that young children are far more interested in the art process than in the end result. In fact, the completed "work of art" is often forgotten by the end of the art session. The highlight of the class session may have been cutting up paper to bits, pounding and rolling clay, or swirling multiple colors of paint into a lovely army green.

Art for preschoolers is about playful exploration. Pre-designed, all-alike projects in which each child is expected to cut on - or color within - the lines, paste specific parts together, and produce an expected end result do not allow for playful exploration and are not truly "art" for the young child. In fact, when do pre-designed all-alike projects promote creativity and playful exploration for anyone?

That's why we provide open-ended art projects for our young students at the Blackfoot Art Center. At the beginning of each class session, the children are introduced to the medium and given minimal instructions, such as how to mix paint colors on their palettes and clean their brushes, or how to use the glue sticks to attach paper shapes to a collage. They are not expected to "paint a house" or work around a particular theme unless they want to. They are encouraged to explore the materials, play with them, and, above all else, have fun!

In the first photo above, four-year-old Billy is working on a collage. The children were given pre-cut shapes of construction paper, randomly cut photos from magazines, scissors (for more cutting), a large sheet of heavy white paper, and glue sticks. They first explored the materials, often cutting up the shapes into "better" ones. They then collected the shapes and picture cutouts they liked best, and moved them around on the paper. (This was play, of course, like doing a puzzle.) Finally, with just a bit of prompting, they began the task of gluing their shapes onto the paper.

In these two collages (created by four-year-olds), we can see the playful nature of the creative process as well as the inherent ability of young children to create a balanced composition.

To sign your child up for an art exploration class, take a look at our Summer 2006 Class Schedule (PDF). Space is still available, and you may sign up mid-session for most children's classes (tuition will be pro-rated). You can download our Class Registration Form here (PDF). Simply print it out, complete it, and mail with class tuition to the Blackfoot Art Center.