Long, hot summer days can lead to boredom and inactivity. Why not channel your energy (and that of your kids) into creating art with supplies you probably already have around the house? Look around and see what you have from the list below and unleash your inner artist. You might be shaking your head while reading these opening statements and saying to yourself, “I’m no artist.” You don’t even need to be able to draw in order to achieve great looking prints
Basic supplies:
- Flat tray or cookie sheet as paint container
- Small brush (could be a basting brush or a paint brush) about one inch wide
- Paper towels or rags to absorb spills and excess paint
- Any type of paper to print on: inside of old gift wrap, tissue paper, copy paper, notebook paper, card stock, watercolor paper, etc.
- Food color, tempera, acrylic or latex paint left over from work around the house or in small tubes
- Powered sugar or dry tempera paint
- Apple, orange, potato, corn on the cob, cabbage, cantaloupe
- Knife to cut designs and to halve food printing blocks
- Radio or favorite music on CD (background music often inspires creativity)
Ideas:
- Cut a cabbage in half and dip into paint or food coloring that has been spread out in a flat container. Use designs to create backgrounds, skies, or fields with simple pressing. Create swirling watery designs by using it as a brush or gently twisting it while you paint.
- Cut apples or pears in half and then carve designs by removing bits from around your design to create a stamp shape. This idea is great for repeating patterns or mirror image patterns.
- Cut oranges or lemons in half to expose seed and vein patterns. If fruit is too moist, try dusting it with powdered sugar or dry tempera paint. Create boats, palm trees, or fish by simple stamping.
- Use entire corn cobs with the corn attached to create backgrounds and texture patterns for your artwork by rolling the cob into the paint and then onto the paper of your choice. Remember to roll lightly or you will squash the kernels. Once you are finished with the cob or it gets mashed in too many places, cut all the corn off and experiment with just the cob to get even more designs.
- Roll a cantaloupe in the paint tray and use its rind to produce texture designs that are visually appealing to the eye. Later you can wash the cantaloupe off to change colors and then cut it into shapes to get individual design stamps.
As you can see, you can easily create very interesting designs and art works for your friends, family, and home. Once you have mastered the use of these tools, try making your own gift cards and tags, wrapping paper, book covers, etc. Challenge yourself or your kids to recreate existing artworks using the tools in this guide. You could create lively posters for garage sales, movies you have seen, or self-portraits. During the school year, let your kids experiment with these tools to do book report or science fair illustrations. Frame the best work or, for smaller works, use self-adhesive magnets to create gifts for grandparents or refrigerator decorations. You are only limited by your own imagination.
Art is all around you…whether you like viewing it or creating it – it doesn’t need to cost a lot or use expensive materials in its creation. The least of this adventure will be spending either alone time or quality time with the kids, and who knows, you just might create a masterpiece!
