Family Painting Time

 

Fall Projects

As we spring into Fall, my children and I created a pumpkin drawings. We looked at the pumpkin that we purchased the following week and each drew our own pumpkin patches. We talked about overlapping and changing the size of our pumpkins to reinforce the idea of them being in a pumpkin patch. Then we drew black lines using a marker to outline our pumpkin and draw lines to reinforce the shape of the pumpkin. We then went on to color our pumpkins with pastels using various colors to create shadows and highlights. This was a great art project for all ages. My kids are 5, 8 and 10.

Family Arts Night: Collage!

This was the third art activity that we did during the family arts night. This project really brought out the personalities of the families. As they flipped through magazines deciding on what images to include, conversations arose about places the family had been together or where they wanted to go someday. As the family members placed pictures of themselves throughout the image, funny conversations became more apparent. One family really enjoyed cutting the heads of their family members off and placing them on different bodies. I think the families really enjoyed this project as it was simple but yet encouraged imaginative thinking. Each family had a different approach that they agreed upon as a family. I noticed them talking about how they wanted their image to look and so they had to problem solve together. This project was really a collaborative effort as some members found the images, others assorted them and cut them, while some took turns pasting them on the final paper.

This can be a really fun project to do with your family and encourages very creative thinking. This collage is made of magazine images and cut up photographs of my family members. The idea is to create a surreal image, one in which your family is integrated into a image in unique ways that may be dreamlike or unrealistic. The imaginations of the family is what contributes to the overall image. We had so much fun with this one as we decided where we could place everyone. We created our own vacation filled with activities that only we could do in our imaginations! I can still feel the droplets of pristine water falling on my face as I watched my son jump off an enormous cliff (something he would never do in real life). This could also turn into an opportunity to create a great story!

Steps

1. Find some old magazines with lots of great imagery.

2. Begin finding images of neat scenery, plants, animals, bugs etc.

3. Gather all other materials- glue sticks or rubber cement, poster board or card stock paper, scissors

4. Find photographs of family members or print out digital copies. ( I made images fairly small so that we had more options).

5. Begin deciding what kind of image you want to make as you cut pictures of your family apart and place them within the context of your imaginary place!

Family Hand Prints

     Family Hand Prints

Weeks 1 & 2

    For the past two weeks, we have been working on our hand print painting. Five families attended the family arts night. As I showed them the steps to create this colorful painting, I started to notice the dynamics of the relationships between the family members. One family, for example consisted of two children, a mother and a father. They all created their hand print and added color, each encouraging one another and making comments about the color choices. Each of the family members created their square with a unique color and different textures emerged as well. They were all pleased with their final image and were excited to take it home. Another family consisting of a mother and a son, also discussed their styles and techniques. The mother was very positive and encouraging to her son who finished his hand print sooner than she. I heard comments such as "We are so different." He is more spontaneous than I am but I love it." Many parents seemed interested in why their children chose specific colors. Overall, the mood in the room was joyous as the family members shared this time and energy together. Some of the families chose to leave one square empty to allow a family member at home to create a handprint of their own.

Hand prints meet color! My whole family!

  This project is a great one that you and your family can do together. This was inspired by Andy Warhol's soup can prints. 

Process: First I gathered my family together, (I have six kids and a husband) and told them that we were going to do a family artwork. I explained that I needed each of their hand prints and that we were going to make a grid to fit all of our hands on the canvas. My middle son, Jude, helped me to draw and measure to make the grid the right size. After we had drawn the lines for the grid, I explained that I would have to paint one of their hands black and they would make a print on the canvas in their designated box. Then one by one, I painted their hands, they painted each others and soon we had all the prints except for my husband who despises getting dirty. We coerced him into letting us paint his hand and finally we got his hand print on the canvas. 

   When the black paint had dried, we started to discuss color options. We started mixing different colors together each on our own paper plate. Then two kids at a time, began painting around their own hand print. I discussed complementary colors and analogous color combinations that were visually appealing before they chose their specific colors. A few of the colors needed a few coats or needed to be retouched at the end. I was pleased to see the variety of colors and textures created by the kids and how the colors they chose expressed their personality. While we were working, it allowed for time to talk, and the kids enjoyed expressing their opinions about colors and which ones would look good next to one another. As each child finished their painting, they discussed how it added to the final piece until each hand print was complete. A few colors were altered after some discussion due to various visual observations. Here is an image of the final piece. Now I just have to decide where to hang it.

Mother

Daughter

Daughter

Mom

We had our first Family Arts Night at the library last night. Six families attended for our first evening of art making. The families seemed to be very pleased to be there. We began the evening with an introduction of what the family art was intended to be. Then we began a drawing activity in which each person received a piece of paper with a hole cut out of it. Each person had to draw an image from their imagination that utilized the hole in some way. As the families drew, the room was fairly quiet. Near the end of the session, some talking and conversing began to emerge. As we concluded the session, I spoke about the upcoming weeks and the projects.

Son

Family Drawing Time

Creating a family drawing time

  As parents we are always thinking of ways to encourage our children, nurture their growth and development and support all of their endeavors. When we nurture the artistic growth of our children, it can remind us of the creative spirit we have within us. I am inspired by my children as they learn and express themselves creatively. In fact sometimes I will watch my children as they are drawing a picture or making an object out of recycled materials and just stare in amazement at their curious minds that are so full of inquisitiveness. This is when I often feel like utilizing my own creative spirit. I think of all the time I used to spend drawing before having children and feel the urge to spend just a little time allowing myself to enjoy the power of art. 

During one of these moments is when I thought of the idea for a family draw time in which everyone in the family gets together to draw. I thought of it as a time when everyone draws together side by side enjoying the company of one another. 

A Family Drawing time for your family

Perhaps drawing isn't your thing. Even just a doodle could turn into something. In fact sometimes watching your child can help to inspire some ideas. Or perhaps you can look around and draw something in your house such as a plant or a pattern on a piece of clothing or furniture. When you set aside time to engage in drawing together these are some things to keep in mind.

Be Prepared- Gather all the paper and drawing utensils out ahead of time and then gather everyone together. Make sure it is a time when everyone is well fed and well rested.

Get inspired- Sometimes inspiration needs a little spark! Some things to have on hand include books, magazines, or photographs. Books about nature, plants, animals or bugs work well for beautiful imagery. 

Limit conversation- Depending upon the ages of your children, conversation vary depending upon the mood. However, drawing works best when their is a limited level of distractions. This sets the tone for a reflective drawing space where creative ideas can flourish. I personally enjoy playing soft music in the background as it encourages the family to just listen. 

Work together side by side- It works best when everyone works independently instead of doing a common project. The purpose of drawing time is to foster in depth thinking and creative thinking, each person for himself or herself. 

Spice things up some times- Every once in a while it can be fun to get some new drawing utensils such as colored pencils, pens, markers, or even stamps and printing type materials. Be creative! Always be on the lookout for other materials that could be used to make art with!

Be Flexible- At times you may find that drawing time is just not going well. Perhaps kids start arguing or someone is just not having a good day. If the mood gets disrupted, don't feel that you have to force everyone to continue. Family drawing time should be enjoyable for everyone.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. ---Albert Einstein

    The Importance of Creativity in Fostering Family Relationships

    Children are born naturally curious, with an abundance of creativity. Parents and caregivers play a significant role in fostering creativity within children that can lead to positive outcomes for both child and parent. Parents are a child's first teacher, the ones who will influence a child the longest. When parents encourage a creative mindset within their children and allow children access to activities that encourage imaginative play, creative expression and exploration, they are setting their children up for an enriching life that is indicative of proper development. 

   It is often in the presence of children that parents seek their own creative endeavors. Parents can learn from the creative spirit of their children by engaging in activities with their children. The process of the activity is the most important aspect, while generating ideas should be collaborative. Children should be encouraged to be the guide, the director or the teacher in order to give them the confidence and the desire to pursue novel ideas. 

    I am amazed and inspired by the imaginations of my children. They truly learn through play and when I give them the access to materials (art materials, materials in nature, everyday objects, cooking supplies etc.) they astound me with their unique ideas and compilations. When I encourage them to explore, ask questions, and make observations, they continue to thrive in their creative undertakings. It is this time that we set aside for creative undertakings, whether it be cooking together, making a collage together, painting a picture, picking out and planting flowers, or building a fort together that help to encourage and strengthen the relationships between family members.  

Family Art Night at the Maricopa Public Library

Spend an evening creating a work of art with your child and learn the power of collaboration in enhancing family relationships. Art supplies are provided.

Some exciting projects include:

Painting, ~ Collage ~ Drawing ~ Sculpture

Ages 5-12 with an accompanying adult.

Space is Limited! RSVP by Thursday May 28^th to priscillabeck16@gmail.com

    You will receive a confirmation by e-mail.

My daughter and I working on a project together in which she paints paper different colors, cuts them into flower petal shapes and then we assemble them into one big flower or several flowers.

This is a possibility for what a flower could look like. However, I let the children decide what kind of flower they would like to make. 

The Process of Creating a Family Art Night

I will be creating a Family Arts Night at the local library. This is a setting where families come to discover and learn through literacy. I have created a flyer that will be distributed at the library for the family arts night. The family arts night will be every Thursday evening from 5:30-6:30 starting June 4th 2015. I would like to include a variety of projects and activities with enough freedom that each age level and skill level will benefit from the program. With a tight budget, I will have to be creative. At each session, parents will also receive some educational information about how to integrate creative activities into their lives with their children. 

A little over two weeks until Family Arts Night!

    It is a little over two weeks until the Family Arts Night and I have been trying to finalize the projects that I will be using!

  Here are a few ideas for projects that I have.

  Family Hand Prints Painting

   The family members work together to make a grid that will fit a hand size shape in each box. Each member of the family has to put their hand in black paint and make a print in each box. When they filled up the grid with all their handprints, then they can each paint their surrounding shape around their hand different colors, blending two colors if desired.