September 26, 2010  by

Clay for 2s and 3s

For the first few weeks of a session, I like to keep the projects very sensory-based and experimental. This way, the children can get to know the materials and the open-ended style of the class before they learn new art techniques. Along with tempera finger painting, clay is a great medium for this type of introduction. I began by cutting each child a slab of clay from my block (they watched how I used a wire to cut through the moist clay). Initially, I offered the children only a few materials to work with, such as rollers, and modeling tools so they could really focus on the clay. Eventually, I began to add new tools to the table.After working with the clay for a bit, I explain to the kids that clay can dry out as they are working with it and that it’s helpful to use a little water and sponge to re-moisten the clay. Of course using a “little” water is just a suggestion. Most of the time, the children want to use the squeeze bottles to add much more than just a little water!




The children began to collect new materials to use with their clay: paints, glitter, toy cars, and even collage materials.







This week the children got more into using the acrylic easel as they moved around the studio.

As Kirsten scratched into her painting with a cotton swab, she said “look I made a design!” Then she used a piece of paper to make a print.

Atticus found a new way to use the Corian samples on the shelf.

An impromptu apple party after class!

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September 20, 2010  by

Color Mixing and Finger Painting

We began our fall session with various forms of color mixing. Some children started off with liquid water color, while others started with tempera paint. They first experimented with the primary colors, red, yellow, and blue to see what would happen when they mixed two colors together.


This project allowed the returning children to interact in a new way with the paints, while at the same time offered the new students a chance get to know the materials through finger and texture painting.




As the children continued to experiment with the paints, they discovered more tools and materials from the shelf to work with.

It was exciting to see the children move around the studio and explore new places to paint!

Towards the end of class, I brought the children outside to learn about color mixing with powered tempera paint. They each chose two of the primary colors to use, scooped out some powdered paint onto their paper, then used water to mix the colors together.

We had a beautiful, warm week for clean up and water play!

This is going to be an exciting session!

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September 14, 2010  by

Art and Wine Night

It’s back to school time so I decided to invite all of the moms from this upcoming session to indulge in a night of art-making and wine! Many of the moms have been watching their children here in the studio for months and I wanted to offer them a chance to finally participate in the creative process. It’s a way for them to get a taste of what their children are experiencing in art class and also get a chance to connect with other moms in the community. It was fun to hear how the children responded when their moms said “I’m going to art class tonight!”One child said, “but that’s my favorite class!” And another child said, “why can’t I go?” It’s wonderful that they feel a sense of ownership here in the studio :)We started off the night making monoprints with acrylic boxes (like we most recently did for Father’s day cards).



Then we moved on to collages with tissue paper and tempera paints (mixed with glue and water). This is a great project for anyone to jump right in, regardless of art experience- it’s simple and always beautiful!
Outside an easel was set up for a collaborative canvas painting. It now hangs in the art studio for the children to see :)
Thanks Mamas! Let’s do it again soon.

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August 9, 2010  by

Re-visiting old work and Monoprinting

Although our focus this week was on monoprinting, we began class working on unfinished projects from previous weeks. The children were first invited to use markers to add to their watercolor paintings from last week.




Another project to be continued was their salt dough sculptures that were finally dry and ready to be painted.

After re-visiting the old work, the kids were ready to get going on some monoprinting! We worked on two different types of monoprints, depending on the class. One type was done by paining directly on a plastic mat, placing a sheet of paper onto the painting, gently rubbing the back of the paper, and then peeling it up. Most of the kids have tried this technique on the acrylic easel, but it was a new experience to do it right on the table.



My niece, Naomi, demonstrated the printmaking for the kids. She may become my new assistant!
The second monoprint technique is a fun and very easy project to try at home. First I folded a large piece of paper (for each child) in half. They painted on one side of the paper, then unfolded it and refolded it the other way, so that their painting created a mirror image on the other half.
Eventually the glue, glitter, and all kinds of things came out- and the children led the way from there!








The children are getting more interested in using the scissors lately- what a hard skill to learn!


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July 19, 2010  by

New Session- Finger/Texture Painting

It’s a new session with some new faces, so I decided to revisit the basics… toddler painting 101. We started off scooping paint with a spoon and using our hands to smear it around the paper. Then I brought out a variety of tools and objects to paint with- such as toy cars, necklaces, and combs. This is a great way to introduce tempera paint (the texture, colors, and movement) as well as the concept of process-oriented art. The kids learn that the studio is a place for messy exploration and creative fun!

After a while, the children began collecting different materials from the shelf. Interesting brushes, rollers, and glitter made their way back to the table- along with our new squeeze paint bottles.

The children eventually wandered over to the easels which were set up with brushes, whisks, and scrubbers.

After lots of messy work, each class moved outside to continue their exploration of squeezing, scooping and pouring.

See you next week!

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July 13, 2010  by

Finger Painting with Grandma!

Over the weekend, I held a special art class for tots and their grandmothers. Karuna’s Grandma (my mom) organized this class with some of her friends so they could enjoy a messy art experience with their grandchildren.
Here, Karuna and Grandma wait outside for the others to arrive.As an introduction to the studio, I started the kids off with finger painting as I do with all new students.
Eero was a little reluctant at first to get his fingers in there.
Ofelio, on the other hand, just dove right in!

After a little experimentation with our fingers, I brought out some toy cars, necklaces, and brushes to use with the paint.

Pretty soon, the kids discovered the easels and began to move around the studio.

Beatrice learned how to make a monoprint of her painting on the acrylic easel.
Anna got exited about printmaking too!


Clean-up time becomes a whole new activity when you add squirt bottles and cups!

We ended the morning with yummy snacks under the shade…
and of course a little more playing around the yard.
Bye-Bye!

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July 11, 2010  by

Our School

Last week, Liam (from the older group) brought a large piece of cardboard to class. I asked him what we should do with it, and he said we could cut it and make things out of it. We didn’t end up using it that day with our clay work, so I decided to bring it out this week to see what we could do. I also happened to have a few more large boxes lying around, so I created a simple (doorway-like) structure as a starting point for the kids.
Here, Karuna checks out the structure before the others arrive. I propped up more cardboard against the easel for additional construction and placed ribbon, yarn, tape, and recycled materials on the table.
When the kids arrived they immediately began adding more panels to the structure, as they discussed what they were building. They eventually agreed that it would be a school. I asked them if they wanted me to use my box cutter to make windows and they showed me where they should go.
They decided that the school needed things in it, so they began to bring materials from the shelf into the structure. When it got crowded with baskets and containers, they moved to the table to make decorations for the walls.


Anna found some cardboard rolls and decided to make binoculars. She wanted them to go in the window, so I helped her figure out how to hang them with yarn.

The spray bottles have been in high demand lately!

When the next group of kids arrived, they began to explore the school.
After a little bit of exploration, I offered them paint to help decorate the school.


To expand on our clay leaf printing from last week, I showed them how to make a similar leaf print with paint. The kids then experimented with this technique in their decorations for the school.


For the third class, I decided to put the yarn, tape, and other decorative items on a side table so it didn’t crowd their work. I also moved the “school” to the back of the studio to give the kids a little more space around the table. When the children came in to class, they sat right down to paint and didn’t even notice the structure. Instead they went to the shelf to get some of their favorite materials… cars and glue.


Once they began to take interest in the structure, I showed them what the other classes had made, and offered them a plate of paint and rollers to use on the walls.



Logan requested a spray bottle and used it to spray the plate as he mixed the paint with the roller.
Kirsten made a leaf print on the easel!
At the end of the week I moved the structure outside to the garden. Here is the finished school!
If you’re curious about the squash, the binoculars are perfectly situated to do some plant observation!

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May 27, 2010  by

Last Class of Spring Session

For the last class of the session, we worked on finishing our projects to get ready for the art show. The children began class by adding to their sculptures with more scrap materials, paint, and glitter.


When they were ready to move around the studio, the children worked more on the large group painting to get it finished for the art show.

I recently found a low bench (a friend was giving away) and thought the kids would have fun painting it. I asked them to help me paint it so that we can put it in the garden when it’s finished. Soon, I’ll coat it with an exterior sealer and add it to the kids area outside.

Hard at work to prepare for the show!

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May 18, 2010  by

Sculpture Building

This week, for a 3-D experience, we worked on sculpture building using re-purposed items. I offered the children a base for their work, glue, and various 3-D materials that I got from SCRAP (Scrounger’s Center for Reusable Art Parts) in San Francisco. This is a great project to do when you have a bunch of random items around the house that you would otherwise throw away (wood scraps, broken jewelry, old keys, bottle caps, etc.)
The toddlers work is more flat like a collage, but as they get older they will begin to experiment more with stacking and building.



For most children, the gluing is the most exciting part! In these early stages of art class, I try not to limit their use of glue because it is part of their creative learning experience. As they continue to use and learn about glue they will eventually learn how to self-regulate as well.


After most of the building was done, I offered the children smaller collage parts and glitter to add to their work.



In two different classes the children discovered the scissors and became very interested in cutting.



The older class missed out last week on the floor mural, so I brought it outside towards the end of class for them to work on.
For the next two classes, I hung the mural on the wall and offered the kids rollers and scrub brushes to paint with.


With each class, the canvas gets more and more interesting!
I hope to see you next week at the spring art show!

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May 11, 2010  by

Floor Mural and Mother’s Day Gifts

Finally… a full week of warmth and sunshine! I took advantage of this beautiful weather and held our classes outside this week. We began class with a group floor mural, which we painted using some exciting new techniques. I first demonstrated the “bouncy nylon brushes” (hosiery filled with dried beans and rice) that make interesting prints when bounced on the canvas.The children dipped the bouncy nylons onto the plates of paint, then bounced them like a yo-yo to paint the canvas. This was a little tricky for the toddlers, but still a lot of fun!



After introducing the bouncy nylons, I offered the children other tools to use with the paint: Large scrub brushes, whiskers, paint rollers, balls- and trucks of course!



Along with the mural, I placed an easel outside for a different painting experience.




Being outside meant that the sand and water tables were accessible- and therefore very enticing!
To finish our Mother’s day projects from last week, I brought out a tub of organic potting soil, the finished pots, and a selection of flowers. Each child retrieved a shovel from the sand box and got started planting their flowers.

After potting, I gave the children a squeeze bottle to water their flowers.



Squeezing the bottles became an extended activity!
Some of the finished flower pots…


Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas out there!

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