Tag Archives: art

Flower Impressions

Finally, spring is on the horizon.  It has been a long winter and it doesn’t look like the cold will leave us soon but spring is coming.  As soon as the time is near, I get so excited I start to celebrate by getting out the craft supplies and making something fun.  Flowers are a classic symbol of spring so what better way to begin the spring flings then to create flower arts and crafts?  The project below is easy to implement and adjust for all grade levels. It is a great family activity or an activity for a homeschool … Continue reading →

Could Your Art Become Your Home – Based Business?

If you are an artist, you may wonder whether creating and selling your artwork could become a part time or full time home – based business for you. The answer is yes, it can, if you promote your art so that would – be buyers can see it. While art is created wherever an artist creates it, art must be promoted in order for it to be seen by other people. When other people see your art, they can appreciate it. Even more than that, they can buy it. In order to make a full time or part time living as an artist, you … Continue reading →

Vacation in an Animation-Themed Suite

Way back in December I posted about a one-of-a-kind exhibition Disney debuted at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The show celebrated the fairy tale nature of Disney’s movies, revealing behind-the-scenes glimpses of animation work and studies on the relationship between Disney animated films and their source material. Unfortunately, only New Orleans hosted the show. But almost as if to make up for it, Disney World’s building a new resort hotel which carries on the theme and spirit from the “Dreams Come True” exhibition. Breaking ground this summer, and expected to open in 2012, is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. … Continue reading →

The Surprise of Learning

One of the things that I always try to do on the first day of class as a teacher is make the students excited about the possibility of what the class could be and mean for the rest of the semester. I can’t count how many of my first classes with instructors only made me bored and apprehensive at the prospect of being in such a small room with such a boring person for a substantial part of half of my year. Learning really should be fun and enjoyable. As an arts person I was horrified at the prospect of … Continue reading →

A Family Tree is a Work of Art

A lot of work goes into creating a family tree. It is something that you will cherish for years and pass on to your children and grandchildren. You have two options when creating your family tree. You can choose to use a “Descendant Tree” which displays a couple and the family that has been created from their union. Or you could use your great-grandparents and show their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The other option is to choose an “Ancestor Tree” which displays the couple, their children, and then shows the couple’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. There are several ways in … Continue reading →

Toddler Creations

I love how creative my son is. Has your toddler built a tower out of blocks lately? Have they decorated the refrigerator with magnets or stickers? Have you shown them how to glue pieces of paper together? Have they drawn with markers on some of their toys or books? I call these “toddler creations” and I love to collect and photograph them. I want to remember, years from now, what toddler creations my son has made. I want to show off his creative ideas in his scrapbook. I want to share his creativity with our friends and family by letting … Continue reading →

Recycling Vinyl Record Album Covers

When CDs first came out, I was reluctant to jump on board. Part of it was that I was just getting older and didn’t like switching to new technology, but it wasn’t entirely that. Part of it was the fact that a vinyl record to me was an experience. The album cover art was big, not all scrunched up in a 5 x 5 inch space. Also, the record sleeve often contained more art, lyrics, or a combination of the two. I know many CDs have lyrics included, but honestly, you almost need a magnifying glass to read them! Just … Continue reading →

How to Paint a Tree Mural

(cc) image by SharonaGott/flickr While you may not be able to paint a masterpiece such of the likes of VanGogh, you can still create a beautiful mural in your home. The amount of skill you need to succeed is the ability to draw a straight line and to basically color by number. The tools you will need to paint a mural are: Acrylic paints, or pints of a kid safe paint like Crayola Washable Paint Transparency or Digital Projector – If you don’t own one, you can rent one. Paint Brushes Pencils Sharpie Pens Step 1. Find an image of a tree … Continue reading →

Your Child’s Art Stories

I admit that I am not a scrap booker. I take a lot of photos but then don’t do anything official with them, other than sharing a few on our family website or Facebook. Although I got several baby books with my first child, I managed to make just one single entry, the day that my son rolled over for the first time. Still, I do like to collect my children’s artwork for posterity. I keep the very best pieces of art and donate the rest to the in-laws, because how could I possibly toss anything out that a child … Continue reading →

Scratch Painting with Preschoolers

Here is a great rainy day activity that you can do with your preschooler. Not only is it fun, but it can be educational, too. Preschoolers can be creative, practice letters and numbers and learn how to hold a pencil. Plus, you’ll have some great artwork to hang on the refrigerator or send to the grandparents. The idea of scratch painting is simple. You start with a blank surface that is usually black, although it doesn’t have to be. Your child takes an implement, such as a stylus or dull pencil (although anything with a bit of an edge or … Continue reading →