February 12, 2010  by

Monoprinting

Just in time for Valentines Day!

For the third class in the painting session, we are focusing on printmaking. Valentines day is only a few days away, so we started off with red paint and white cards. Each child was given an acrylic box to paint on, a brush, a roller, and a tray of paint.

Then I offered cotton swabs to draw with on the trays. A cotton swab will take away paint from the surface, creating a design in the paint.

Then we pressed the paper (folded in half to make a card) onto the acrylic box, smoothed it out with our hands, and peeled it up to create a print.

Soon, the kids discovered the bubble wrap on the table and began experimenting with it. They painted it at first with the rollers, but quickly found out how it felt to slide their hands around the wet, slippery bubbles.
I added some bowls of new paint colors to the table. The girls were very interested in making pink and purple.
Here are some of the prints we made from bubble wrap
After printing an array of Valentines cards, I brought out the canvas boards from their previous class for the children to re-visit. They asked for some more tools to work with- the trucks necklaces and glitter of course!

Towards the end of class, Liam asked if he could bring the truck to the easel. Jordan joined him and they watched their painted wheels make tracks up and down the board.
Soon the whole class was driving the trucks up and down the easels!
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February 3, 2010  by

Valentines Monoprinting and Toddling

As an introduction to printmaking, we began today’s group with monoprinting on acrylic frames. The kids first used the brushes, rollers, and cotton swabs to create the design.


We then laid down a piece of paper onto the design, gently rubbed the back, peeled it up and… viola! A print!

These red and white prints will make great valentines cards!
For a different printing experience I taped large bubble wrap to the table for the kids to paint on.

This is how the bubble print turned out.

After a short time at the table, the kids began to move around the studio.
Sometimes toddlers just want to toddle.

Rogan shows Karuna a necklace he’s found on the shelf.

Logan and Austin are intrigued as Elizabeth demonstrates the watercolors that Logan found.


Rogan is checking out his most recent artwork (the yellow strokes on Karuna’s head).

What’s baby Will thinking about? Could it be brother Austin’s new hairdo?

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January 29, 2010  by

Printmaking

For the third class in this 4 week session, we’re learning about monoprints. Valentines Day is coming up so I decided that we could make use of our prints by turning them into cards.
Each child was given a small acrylic box frame as a base. They started off painting it with a brush and we made our first prints with these brush strokes as the positive space on the card.

Then they used the rollers to cover the surface completely and drew a design into the paint with cotton swabs (I got this idea from a truly inspiring blog called The Artful Parent).

Their drawings became the negative space in the design.

Kirsten was more interested in the easels today, so she took her brushes and paint and moved to a new workspace.

Karuna promptly joined her.

Our next printing exploration was with bubble wrap. I taped it to the table and gave the kids a few more paints.

Then we used the same printing process to make cards with bubble prints. Once the bubble wrap was covered in paint, we pressed the cards down into the design, gently rubbed the back with our hands, and then slowly peeled it away.


Kirsten and Karuna collaborated well and continued to move between the easels and table.

Kate and Grace sat at the table (for an entire hour) hard at work on their paintings.


It was a treat to clean up (and check out the garden) in the warm morning sun.

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January 28, 2010  by

Easels and Brushes

We had our mixed-age group back for their second class this week- exploring brush painting. They started off on the easels with round brushes and rollers.

My assistant Karuna offers Hanna a roller (notice her blue hands)

Then I began adding other brushes such as large flat ones, or these ones that look like toothbrushes!


Here Jordan is checking out Liam’s painting while he tells her about it

Meanwhile Clark and Karuna test out other surfaces to paint on


After easel painting, we moved to the table to paint on canvas boards.

Of course the trucks and necklaces had to come back!



When Jordan said she was done with painting I offered her the glitter- that kept her going for a while!

The sun came out this afternoon and we were able to clean up outside. The kids all wanted to help carry the tools and brushes out to the water.

Thanks for the help!

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January 27, 2010  by

Brush Painting

Our third group was back today for another paint extravaganza! The second class in the 4 week session is all about painting with brushes. I started the kids off at the easels with thick round brushes and a paint cup. This group was really interested in wandering around to all of the other easels and trading paint. They weren’t particularly interested in painting on the easels, but rather on painting other surfaces such as the floor or the tablecloth. Although when I brought out the rollers and larger brushes, there were some moments of easel painting. I love to see how children choose to explore the materials in different ways!


The easels were short-lived and soon it was time for some work at the table. I set out canvas boards for each child and added more brushes for them to use.

After a little experimentation with the brushes, I brought over the cars and necklaces from last week. They are always a hit.



After painting, the kids began to check out the goodies on the shelf.
Here is Austin with the jar of colored pom-poms that he brought back to the table.

We ended class with some water play and chalk board drawing

Rogan’s face says it all… (I’m not sure what his face is saying, but maybe there’s a little bit of a proud artist in there)

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January 22, 2010  by

Finger Painting With a New Group

Our third art group has finally begun! This group came right in and sat down, ready to get started. Of course, when they first touched the paint, they looked a little reluctant to dive in.

Well, most of them anyway…

Then they eyed my spoons (used for doling out the paint) and the finger painting moved into texture painting right away.


The toy cars were a big hit today

Austin and Karuna began to move around the room, making collaborative easel paintings

Meanwhile, Logan and Rogan were still hard at work on their texture paintings

Logan then collected as many cars and brushes that he could carry, and began to explore the studio.

What a day!

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January 21, 2010  by

Easels and Brushes

Our first group was back today for some more fun with paint. This week, I started them off at the easels to experiment with some different brushes. We first used thick round brushes dipped in the paint cups.

Then I added paint trays with rollers.

And finally, I offered them sponge brushes to dip in the paint trays.

Pretty soon the kids began to wander over to the table, looking for something else to work on. So I set out paper and a few more brushes (this time, small flat brushes) for them to use.

Kate wasn’t in class last week, so she was just as hesitant as the others on their first day. I thought she might like to start off with the toy cars and necklaces from our texture painting- and maybe even a little shaker of glitter :)

Kirsten wandered over to the shelf and began to pick out some very interesting objects to work with… wow, colored pom-poms, Styrofoam peanuts, and feathers!

And of course everyone else wanted to work with the colored pom-poms.
Here, Karuna is painting the pom-pom

Time to clean up- What great helpers!

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January 21, 2010  by

New Art Group

Today a new group of children started session 1- our painting exploration. I first invited them to paint with their fingers and, just like the last group, they were very hesitant to get their hands in there! So I offered them to do texture painting with objects like necklaces and toy cars, which got them to slowly slip their fingers into the paint- much less threatening! Eventually some of them were dipping there entire hands in the paint and even rubbing it up and down their arms.
Here, Liam eyes Jordan and her blue hands.
And then…

Two different approaches to painting with a comb

At the easel, Hanna danced in between her brushstrokes. I really wish I could have gotten it on video! This photo does not do her her dancing justice.

What fun!

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January 14, 2010  by

Session 1 Begins!

Our first group of session 1 met today. The theme for the 4 week session is: Exploring Paint. We are beginning with the most basic method… finger painting of course! This gives children the opportunity to get to know the qualities of paint with all of their senses (even taste, as a few of them decided to take a bite). Each week the activities will introduce new concepts and techniques of painting.
In the beginning of class the children were a little hesitant to get their hands messy. Here they are with some worried looks!

As class progressed, I added some objects for them to paint with- toy cars, necklaces, combs, sponges…

Collaborative painting at the easel

Grace decided to comb her hair- and ended up with some cool pink highlights!

So glad the sun came out today!

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January 9, 2010  by

Artgroups Start Next Week

Artgroup sessions begin next week! I’ll be starting with a few small groups and see where the journey leads. Hopefully, I’ll be adding more groups in the coming weeks.
In preparation, I have invited some of Karuna’s friends over to test out the studio. Here are the few pictures I managed to take.


Karuna discovers glitter (the entire bottle!)


Austin rolls out his paint for mono-printing

Sometimes washing hands is just as much fun as smothering them with paint!

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