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.