While we are constantly telling children to "use their words" when they express themselves, this can be very difficult. Children often lack the vocabulary and capacity to truly express their emotions, but through the use of art, they have a more abstract way to demonstrate how they are feeling. If you are looking for some fun art projects for kids, here are a few that will fit the bill.
Creating a bold work of art isn't difficult at all, especially when you download a mural of a famous painting from ArtProjectsForKids.org. There is a huge variety to choose from, including famous works by Monet, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Rousseau and many more artists. This is a great way to teach your children about a specific artist and different styles of art. All the kids have to do is color each section of the mural, which can be downloaded and printed from your home computer. You can use any medium to color the pieces, including oil pastels, markers, crayons or different types of paint. In the end, you just reassemble the painting and you can even glue it down to a board or canvas and hang it for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Many children enjoy really digging in and getting messy with art, so think about creating a project that allows them to really get their hands dirty such as paper mache. With this medium, you can create any number of decorative or useful items. Children can create cupholders or bowls or perhaps create a giant animal or a huge version of their first initial as a room decoration. Paper mache can be made using newspaper strips soaked in a solution of glue and water or perhaps flour and water that has been boiled and cooled. Check online and you will find a variety of easy recipes. Whatever mix you use, you will want to do several layers of paper on your project, and newspaper is an excellent and inexpensive source of material. If you don't subscribe to a newspaper, just ask a friend or neighbor to save their old ones for you.
For the project with the letter or first initial, you will need two large pieces of cardboard onto which you trace identical versions of the same letter. Cut them out and then glue down about a half dozen Styrofoam cups to one side and then glue the other letter to the other side of the cups to make a 3-D letter. Once this all dries, you and your child can wrap the letter carefully with strips of gluey paper mache, and be sure to add several layers. The following day after everything is dry, paint it with one color of acrylic paint and then allow that to dry overnight. Then if you wish to add some accent colors, you can add them. When all the paint is dry, coat the letter with a sealer or matte gel like Mod Podge and this will preserve the paint.
Another fun and messy project is tie dye, which allows children to experiment with color and create their own clothing. You will need a white cotton t-shirt, plastic gloves, rubber bands, soda ash, several colors of dye and squeeze bottles. Of course, most craft stores sell tie dye kits and everything you need is included except for the t-shirts. Because using 100% cotton shirts is the best option, it is wise to get a shirt a couple of sizes bigger than you need since cotton does shrink. Generally, this type of project is better for children who are about age 8 or older, as it can be a bit complicated. For younger children, find some non-toxic fabric paints and let them decorate a t-shirt that way.
Every season brings a holiday, and each of these observances can be celebrated with a cool art project. Take a look around the internet and you will find something special for each and every major holiday, from Christmas to Fourth of July to Halloween. Folk art flags make a cool tabletop decoration for your Independence Day table, for example, and these can be created using popsicle craft sticks. Pom poms in vibrant Christmas colors can be glued to Styrofoam balls to make festive ornaments. For Thanksgiving, have the children create festive placeholder cards for eat table setting. The only limit is your imagination and that of your children.
Creating a bold work of art isn't difficult at all, especially when you download a mural of a famous painting from ArtProjectsForKids.org. There is a huge variety to choose from, including famous works by Monet, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Rousseau and many more artists. This is a great way to teach your children about a specific artist and different styles of art. All the kids have to do is color each section of the mural, which can be downloaded and printed from your home computer. You can use any medium to color the pieces, including oil pastels, markers, crayons or different types of paint. In the end, you just reassemble the painting and you can even glue it down to a board or canvas and hang it for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Many children enjoy really digging in and getting messy with art, so think about creating a project that allows them to really get their hands dirty such as paper mache. With this medium, you can create any number of decorative or useful items. Children can create cupholders or bowls or perhaps create a giant animal or a huge version of their first initial as a room decoration. Paper mache can be made using newspaper strips soaked in a solution of glue and water or perhaps flour and water that has been boiled and cooled. Check online and you will find a variety of easy recipes. Whatever mix you use, you will want to do several layers of paper on your project, and newspaper is an excellent and inexpensive source of material. If you don't subscribe to a newspaper, just ask a friend or neighbor to save their old ones for you.
For the project with the letter or first initial, you will need two large pieces of cardboard onto which you trace identical versions of the same letter. Cut them out and then glue down about a half dozen Styrofoam cups to one side and then glue the other letter to the other side of the cups to make a 3-D letter. Once this all dries, you and your child can wrap the letter carefully with strips of gluey paper mache, and be sure to add several layers. The following day after everything is dry, paint it with one color of acrylic paint and then allow that to dry overnight. Then if you wish to add some accent colors, you can add them. When all the paint is dry, coat the letter with a sealer or matte gel like Mod Podge and this will preserve the paint.
Another fun and messy project is tie dye, which allows children to experiment with color and create their own clothing. You will need a white cotton t-shirt, plastic gloves, rubber bands, soda ash, several colors of dye and squeeze bottles. Of course, most craft stores sell tie dye kits and everything you need is included except for the t-shirts. Because using 100% cotton shirts is the best option, it is wise to get a shirt a couple of sizes bigger than you need since cotton does shrink. Generally, this type of project is better for children who are about age 8 or older, as it can be a bit complicated. For younger children, find some non-toxic fabric paints and let them decorate a t-shirt that way.
Every season brings a holiday, and each of these observances can be celebrated with a cool art project. Take a look around the internet and you will find something special for each and every major holiday, from Christmas to Fourth of July to Halloween. Folk art flags make a cool tabletop decoration for your Independence Day table, for example, and these can be created using popsicle craft sticks. Pom poms in vibrant Christmas colors can be glued to Styrofoam balls to make festive ornaments. For Thanksgiving, have the children create festive placeholder cards for eat table setting. The only limit is your imagination and that of your children.
About the Author:
Kate Halfey loves blogging about art projects for kids. For further information about animal art projects for kids or to find watercolor art projects for kids, please visit the Art Projects For Kids website now.
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