After thinking carefully about what I wanted to do with the inside of my home, it occurred to me that I really needed to focus on doing what I could to make my walls a little canvas. I started covering the walls with different art pieces, and it was absolutely fascinating to see how much more interesting my space felt. I know that not everyone can add art wherever they want inside of their home, but I want you to try to add a piece or two to your place to make things better. Check out these posts to find out more about indoor art.
Three Ways to Delight Your Little Art Lover
Most kids enjoy some form of art. There's nothing more fun than sliding your hands through finger paint, squeezing a ball of clay, or drawing a picture with crayons. But some kids have a particular aptitude for art, and parents who recognize that they have a budding Picasso on their hands can help nurture their child's talent and passion. Read on for three ways to delight the little art lover in your life.
Take a Class
Figure out what kind of art your child enjoys most. Is it process art? Does your child enjoy following instructions or creating something unique? Once you've answered these questions, you can find a class that will suit your child's needs. Some classes offer step-by-step instructions that lead the group through creating the same picture. Some kids thrive on that, while others find it painfully dull. Some classes have the goal of exposing kids to as many different media as possible, such as clay, paint, and papier mache. If your child enjoys the process of creating more than he or she enjoys the end result, this type of class could be a wonderful option.
Make It Real
Expose your child to other artists who have made a career out of creating so that your child realizes his or her talent could be more than just a hobby. Introduce your child to a children's book illustrator. Point out design work you encounter, like magazines, newspapers, or websites. Take your child to art exhibitions and point out the different styles of art on display. Some museums and galleries that have exhibitions occasionally have artist talks or classes that might pique the interest of your little artist.
Look into companies like US Art Map for more information about specific art exhibitions.
Art Party
Creating can be a solitary pursuit, but it doesn't have to be. Invite your child's friends over for an afternoon art party, or make it a theme for his or her next birthday party. Group art activities can be a lot of fun for little ones. Spread out a huge piece of paper on a large table. Set out crayons, markers, and different colors of paint, and let the kids each choose a section of the paper and get to work. When they're done, you can use their art as a tablecloth for cake or hang it up on a large wall so everyone can see the result. You also can incorporate games into this activity, like Simon Says (for example, "Simon" could say to draw an animal).