- black marker (not a fine point)
- coins
- white paper
- newspaper
- tape
- crayons

There are two ways to do this art project. The first method is the easiest. It uses closed composition. Closed composition keeps objects within the borders of the paper. If you take a photograph of a vase, for instance, chances are the composition will be closed–the vase will be contained within the borders of the photograph.

Project 1 – Balloons: Closed Composition

What to do:

1) Tape the four corners of a white sheet of paper to your work surface. If you’re using an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper, turn it sideways so the width is greater than the height.

2) Place five coins at varying heights on the upper half of your paper. Careful not to put any coins too close to an edge.

3) Allow your child to use a black marker and, starting at the bottom of the page, make a line traveling upwards, and then make a loop or circle around the first coin. Have your child do this without lifting the marker from the surface of the page.

The object isn’t to trace the outline of the coin, but to use it as a reference to make the loop or circle.

4) Repeat step three for each of the coins.

5) Allow your child to color in the balloons using crayons (or watercolor–just keep the brush on the dry side if you are working on normal household paper, then brighten the colors by doing more than one coat).

6) Remove tape from paper. BE CAREFUL–peel tape AWAY from your paper to keep it from tearing (think of the paper’s corner as an arrow indicating which direction to peel the tape).

The second project uses open composition. Open composition does not contain objects within the borders of the paper. If you point a camera out your living room window, for instance, chances are the composition will be open–some objects, trees, etc. will be halfway off the photograph.

Project 2–Balloons: Open Composition

What to Do:

1) Tape a sheet of newspaper to your work surface.

2) Tape the four corners of a sheet of paper to the middle of the newspaper. Be sure to turn the paper sideways to allow more horizontal work space.

3) Place seven coins on the sheet of paper. Three coins will be located near the middle. One will be exactly on the left border. One will be a little under the top border and one will be a little above the top border. The last one will be on the right border.

4) Allow your child to use a black marker and, starting at the bottom of the page, make a line traveling upwards, and then make a loop or circle around the first coin. If the coin is near the edge of the paper, allow your child to make part of the loop off the paper (and onto the newspaper). Have your child do this without lifting the marker from the surface of the page.

5) Repeat step four for each of the coins.

6) This step is optional: Now, remove the art work from the newspaper and tape it to a new sheet of newspaper. Why do this? Because it will include your child in the process. Rather than have your child “surprised” by the result, it will help her to understand the working process of open composition. How does it do this? Because she’ll see that some of the loops are only half loops before she colors them.

7) Allow your child to color in the balloons.

This art project allows kids to practice making circles or loops by using objects (coins) as a guide. To create variety in size, use different sized objects–for instance: cheerios or milk gallon lids. The project also exposes kids to the idea of open and closed composition. An advanced variation of this project is to draw the balloons freehand, without an object guide. Once your child is comfortable making freehand balloons in both open and closed composition, she’ll be ready to apply the concept of open composition to any art work.

Good luck!

Read About the author.

One of the advantages of using a harder surface like canvas board or scrap wood is its durability. This particular quality allows you to use everyday masking tape as a design making tool. How? Because the surface isn’t damaged when you remove the tape (as it would be if you were working on paper). The process is very simple, and the results are fun and rewarding.

You can find canvas board (also called ‘canvas panel’) at any art supply store. It’s inexpensive and comes in many sizes. You can pick up a package of five 5” x 7” boards for 3 or 4 dollars. Another good surface is any scrap or hobby wood you have lying around the house, in the shed, garage or basement. Just be sure it’s not varnished or it will resist watercolor penetration. If you don’t have hobby wood on hand, you can pick it up at any lumber or home improvement store.

Other materials:
-Watercolor
-Brushes
-Jars of fresh water (for water supply- 1 jar per color)
-Masking tape
-Egg carton (empty) or watercolor tray
-Spray Bottle (optional)

Getting Started:

Prepare work area by spreading newspaper over your work table. Set out watercolors, brushes, jars ½ full of water and egg carton (for mixing paint).

What to Do:

1. Simply help your child apply strips of masking tape onto surface. You don’t have to design anything elaborate. A few strips this way and that are fine.

2. If you’re using a spray bottle, mist the surface. If not, use a paper towel to dampen the surface.

3. Prepare your colors in empty egg carton. Two or three colors is plenty.

4. Now work color over surface using wet brush. Use one brush per color. Here the colors were distributed into specific areas, but it is not necessary to use this method. Just have fun with it.

5. Wait 10-15 minutes. While you’re waiting, you can start another painting.

6. Gently remove tape from art work. If one strip of tape overlaps another, be sure that you are always removing the top piece. Don’t worry if watercolor has seeped beneath the tape–it can soften the look of the design. If you prefer a sharp line, be sure to press down firmly on the tape when you first apply it (and also use less water when preparing and applying color).
…

This next work uses the same procedure. Strips of tape were applied first, then color was applied with a brush. It’s okay if your child just scribbles paint on the surface. That kind of energy works well with this art project.

Once you remove the tape, your child might decide that the work isn’t finished yet. One way to continue working on a picture is to re-mist it with a spray bottle. Then use a brush wet with color and dab a little in the white areas left by the tape. That technique was used with yellow paint in the work above.
…
Another surface to work on is wood. The main consideration when working on wood is that in most cases the surface is more porous than canvass board. That means the colors will look faded because they are absorbed into the surface. In response, you simply need to apply two or three coats of paint. It’s worth the trouble, because the texture of wood can provide very rewarding results. If you use old, weathered wood, consider using a thicker paint like temepra or acrylic. The work to the right was done on ordinary fiberboard with watercolor.
…
Kids love doing watercolor art. Little else offers the same level of self-motivated, creative expression while at the same time holding your child’s complete focus and attention. Working on harder surfaces like canvass board offers a simple way to expand your use of materials and techniques. The hard surface is perfectly suited to design making for toddlers and up, and the results look great around the house! Best of luck–have fun!

Here’s how to get started:

Pick up some heavy strength tinfoil—it’s a little thicker than regular strength and produces stronger impressions. I recommend 12 inch width because it tears nicely into a usable size. The only other things you need are basic household objects—can, fork, bottle caps, etc, which I’ll mention as we go along.

Start by laying a bath towel onto your kitchen table. This will create a nice, soft surface for the impressions. (You can also use several dish towels instead of bath towel if the surface seems too soft). Next tear off a piece of tinfoil—something close to a square is easy to work with, but the size can vary. Place sheet of tinfoil on the towel and you’re ready to get started.

Here’s how to make this first picture of the sun:
1. Gently press a can of vegetables (or soup, etc.) into middle of your surface.
2. Hold the can in place while you make fork marks around the center.
3. Now lift the can and set it aside. Use different caps to make circles inside the center of the sun. Here a cap from a gallon of milk was used for the large inner circle. Next a vinegar bottle cap was used to make the two smaller inner circles.

Next picture:
1. Fold your sheet in half four times—twice from left to right, then twice from bottom to top.
2. Make strong fork impressions all going in one direction.
3. Carefully unfold the sheet of tinfoil.
4. Use a can to make impression in the center.

Here’s how this picture is made:
1. Press can down in middle of square.
2. Keep can in place while making fork marks in north and south directions.
3. Use a spring (found at any hardware store) to make impressions in the east and west directions.
4. Use fork to make remaining impressions around center (in NE, NW, SE, SW directions).
5. Press cap to make small circle at end of N, S, E and W rays of sun.

Other around the house objects that work well:

• Soda bottle cap–the pointy edges give a science fiction feel to your picture.
• Book–trace edges with drivers license, then press can down in center of rectangle impression. Make rays as usual.
• Spaghetti sticks–firmly press a notebook over the spaghetti sticks which have been placed onto surface.
• Roll of masking tape– press to make corona around center of sun.

Printmaking: All of the procedures used in this art project can be repeated on compressed styrofoam sheets for printmaking (except where folding is involved). If you’re willing to work smaller, you can also try a styrofoam poultry or meat tray (from your grocery store). Simply use a block print roller to roll paint over the engraved styrofoam surface. Then press the engraving onto paper to make a print. When you’re finished, gently wash the original engraving with soap and water for later use.

Making pictures of the sun is a fun and easy art project . Using tinfoil as a surface introduces kids to new materials and reinforces the idea that artistic expression can take many forms. When you’re finished simply roll a bit of tape beneath the four corners and mount on any surface.

Have fun!

What You Need:

-Watercolor paper (or white construction paper)
-Scissors
-White or yellow crayon
-Watercolor
-Brushes

What to Do:

1. Cover your kitchen or dining table with newspaper or art project table cloth.

2. Cut out different sized oval shapes. The smallest ones should be no smaller that the size of an actual egg.

3. Use a white crayon to make designs on your ovals. (Hint: If your child has a difficult time seeing the white crayon on white paper, then use a yellow crayon.) Wavy lines, zigzags, stars and circles all work well.

4. Use a wide brush to cover the ovals with watercolor. Use different colors for different eggs. Be sure to clean the brush before switching colors, or use a separate brush for each color.

5. Let the ovals dry. For deeper hues, apply a second coat of water color.

You can see that the areas where the crayon was used have an interesting result: these areas have resisted the watercolor. Give your child a chance to express her understanding of crayon resist by doing this art project more than once. Once your child catches on, you can use the same procedure for abstract art, pattern making, or for that matter—any picture your child would normally make. Have fun!

Here’s a fun holiday art project that’s easy to do and looks great around the house.

What You’ll Need:

-8.5” x 11” green construction paper
-white and red tempera or kids’ washable paint
-a plastic bin
-2 marbles
- glue (that dries clear)
- silver glitter

What to Do:

Step 1. Use green construction paper to cut out a simple Christmas tree. (Hint: fold a sheet of paper in half to cut out your first Christmas tree the easy way. Now use that first tree as a template: place template over green construction paper. Trace the outline. Now cut out the outline. Repeat for additional trees.)

Step 2. Now place the cut-out in a plastic bin. Add a thin line of red tempera paint in the bin (but not on the cut-out). Place two marbles in the bin. Now let your child tilt the bin back and forth. This will cause the marbles to roll through the paint and make decorative lines over the Christmas tree. (If you do not have paint use colored markers instead. Skip to step 8.)

Step 3. If you are making more than one Christmas tree, add more paint and repeat Step 2.

Step 4. Wipe out the bin. Allow paint to dry–approximately thirty minutes.

Step 5. Put Now put your Christmas tree cut-out back into the bin. Add a line of white paint. Add two clean marbles. Again let your child tilt the bin back and forth so that the marbles roll through the paint and over the cut-out.

Step 6. If you are making more than one Christmas tree, add more paint and repeat Step 5.

Step 7. Wipe out the bin. Allow paint to dry–approximately thirty minutes.

Step 8. Put your Christmas tree on a sheet of newspaper. Open bottle of glue. Tilt it upside down and use the tip like a pencil. Help your child make sweeping lines back and forth. Now, allow your child to sprinkle silver glitter onto the Christmas tree. Do not shake off excess glitter until glue has dried (approximately 30 minutes). Make sure your Christmas trees are not sticking to the newspaper.

Step 9. Help your child cut small triangles out of any colored paper (when cutting small shapes, triangles are much easier to cut than circles). Glue the triangles onto your trees for further decoration.

Step 10. Use string and a bit of tape on the back of the Christmas trees to hang them around the house.

This holiday art project can be repeated with circle cut outs to make ornaments for around the house. Simply add a small square to the top of your circle to simulate the look of an actual ornament.

Whether you’re making Christmas trees or ornaments, be sure to display art works around the house so your child gains a sense of accomplishment. It can be very rewarding when a guest or relative says, ‘Who made this lovely Christmas tree decoration?’ And lastly, don’t forget that your child will gain an even stronger sense of reward by giving holiday art as a gift to family and loved ones. Enjoy!

The sun is a unique subject for an art project because nobody really looks at it (for good reason). Why is that important? —Because it encourages invention. Your child knows the sun is there, but she has to rely on her idea of it.

What to do:

Unlike typical art projects, this one involves making a picture of the same thing several times in a row—three or four times is sufficient, but play it by ear. You know the signs of boredom vs enthusiasm. Why make several pictures in a row? —Because your child will begin to understand that the appearance of the sun can take many different forms. Its appearance depends entirely on the artist’s expression of ideas. That’s a powerful understanding once your child begins to apply it.

For supplies, use whatever materials you typically use: crayons, pencils, markers or colored pencils. You might want to save the paints for a later date, so you can work up to them.

Start by announcing that you will be making pictures of the sun. Be sure you are sitting next to your child. “Modeling” is an important aspect of this project. What does that mean? It means that once you get started, your child may copy your ideas.

What? Doesn’t that rob my child of her creativity? Chances are, when it comes to the sun, it was already stolen. The fact that your child makes a circle with spokes coming out of it is evidence. She didn’t see that image in the sky. She copied it from somewhere. But why stick with that template? The sun can be anything. That’s what you are going to show your child.

If your child copies your ideas, that’s fine. You will soon find that you are moving in different directions with your own ideas. Now the fun part is comparing your pictures.

If your child does not copy your ideas, that’s fine too. The process of comparing your pictures will demonstrate the abundance of possibilities when it comes to making pictures of the sun.

Here are a few simple ideas for your picture of the sun:

1. Use a red crayon to make a spiral in the middle of your paper. Now put a circle around the spiral, and a circle around that circle. Loosely go over all your lines with a an orange crayon, and again with a yellow crayon in order to create a shimmering effect.

2. Use any colors: draw a small circle in the middle of your paper. Put three short lines straight up and down to the left of the circle. Put short three lines straight up and down to the right of the circle. Now turn your paper sideways. Again put three lines to the left of the circle and three lines to the right. Loosely go over all your lines with a yellow crayon.

3. Aztec sun: use triangles, circles, squares and straight lines to make patterns around a central shape. Use any colors. Repeat the pattern.

Make sure you compare your works of art as you go and when you’re finished. This will help to establish a creative environment rich with ideas. The positive reinforcement will also give your child greater confidence and willingness to take chances. Lastly, when you’re finished, make sure to mark the date on the back of the works. If you return to this activity periodically, you’ll have a wonderful catalog of art works showing the progression and variety of inventive expression.

Here’s what you need:

-8.5” x 11” black construction paper
-white tempera or kids’ washable paint
-a plastic bin
-4 marbles
-scissors
-stapler

Your child can help with cutting and gluing, depending on her skill level.

Here’s what to do:

Using a sheet of black construction paper, cut out the shape of a spider web. An easy way to do this is to cut out a large circle, then put a dot in the N, S, E, and W positions. Put one more dot between each of these dots so that you end up with eight equally spaced marks along the border. Now cut sagging loops between each of the marks and you have the basic shape of a spider web.

Now, place your construction paper cut-out in the bin. Put a small line of white tempera paint at various places within the bin.

Place the 4 marbles in the bin.

Allow your child to tilt the bin in different directions. This will cause the marbles to roll through the paint and make white lines across the black construction paper. Now you have a spider web with white silky lines.

Allow the spider web to dry for at least 30 minutes.

For a spider, simply cut a small circle out of the black construction paper. Cut the legs out and staple or glue them on. For eyes, glue on white circles with a black dot not exactly in the middle. The off center pupil gives the spider a kid-friendly silly look. Glue or staple the spider to the spider web.

Repeat the steps to make more Halloween spider webs to decorate the house!

Be sure to visit the home page on Spaghetti Box Kids (this site). It has plenty to offer.