J. MacIsaac Studios: Art

Kids love weaving, here is a fun twist on the idea!

Make your Loom

Trace a circle on a piece of cardboard. (Ours are about 6.5" in diameter).
Cut it out.
Mark your notches fairly evenly around the edge of the circle. Use an even number of notches. (On ours we did 14 notches roughly 1.5" apart)
snip the notches about 1/4" deep.
Take your string and start it in the back of your circle. This string is known as your Warp String. Wrap it through the first notch and then across the circle face to the notch directly opposite it.
Wrap around the back and go through the notch next to your starting place. Cross over your first string and pass through the next notch on the opposite side . You should have an "X" shape.
Continue wrapping your string in this manner, moving one notch over each time.
When you finish both tails (ends) should be on the back of your circle. Tape them down.

Time to Begin Weaving

Choose a color of yarn and cut a length about arms length or a little longer.
Tie it to the center where all of your strings cross.
Begin weaving your yarn, known as your Weft String, by placing your yarn under the first string. Then over the next string. Continue alternating as you work around the circle, clockwise.
When you reach the end of your yarn you can tie it off and tuck the end under the woven area in the center.
To add yarn simply tie a new length on where you left off and continue weaving.

Alternate ideas

Consider changing colors of yarn when you reach the end of one piece.
Try adding a few beads as you go for added texture and visual interest. Simply string a bead on your yarn (weft string) and place between two of your warp strings , then continue weaving in the same manner as before.
Consider changing direction with each new Weft String you add. For instance, If you previously went under a string this time you will go over it and under the next one... This just changes the pattern of your visible Warp Strings.

I hope you have fun with this project. I recently did this with three of my kids classes and it was so much fun. the kids all had a blast and the projects turned out so cool!

If you create this project I would love to know how yours turned out. Leave a comment below!

Art, Art Prompt: Infant/toddler, Creative Sparks

Two of my favorite classes that I teach at the Basement Community Art Studio are Messy Baby Art and our Messy Masterpieces Art. Both classes are based on sensory exploration of art materials. Our Messy Baby Art class is for caregivers with infants who are sitting up through around 2 years old. For this class we spread large pieces of paper on the floor, move all the furniture out of the way and let the babies explore nontoxic children's paint with their whole bodies!

Our messy Masterpieces art class is geared to the slightly older child, 2 1/2 to roughly age 5 years. In this class we begin working at the tables instead of the floor. We also add a few more materials to our explorations at this level.

Both classes are a ton of fun and both encourage sensory exploration of the art materials. We do not focus on a finished product during these classes, though sometimes the work they create is something parents wish to keep!

Why Sensory Art?

Child development experts agree that young children learn best when their play appeals to their senses. When children engage their senses during play, they build powerful cognitive connections. They begin to learn about the world around themselves. Young children and infants uses all of their senses to take in stimuli from the world. When they are provided with an environment rich in sensory experiences they are able to make more of these types of connections. Being able to explore this way stimulates movement from the child and strengthens their motor skills and coordination as well.

As the child plays you can add language to their experience. Give the proper names of the tools they are using. As they reach for a tool, name it. "Sponge." or "Feather." You can also name the colors they are using. Simply say "Blue." when they use blue paint... Keeping the language short and clear allows them to begin to make associations between the language and the object. It is much clearer than saying something like, "Yes, you found the blue paint. Can you use the feather to paint blue on the paper."

Hair Curler, Clothes pin with feather, Sponge, Plastic cut out shape

During our sensory art classes we like to offer a variety of tools for the child to explore. Basic everyday household objects make great painting tools! Here in the studio we use items like the ones pictured above. Other ideas include:

Wooden spools
Toilet Paper tubes
Bits of Yarn
Corks
Sticks
Pine cone
Food (potato, celery, apple) all make fun prints

Look around your home and find items with an interesting texture that are safe for the child to explore. Try to offer them a variety of different shapes and textures to explore during their art play. Be sure to use child safe, non toxic art materials. Using a variety of tools offers the child multiple sensory stimuli, plus it provides opportunity for further language acquisition when you name the tools as we discussed above.
There are wonderful art products out there for young children that you can purchase through stores or online if you wish, but you don't have to spend a ton of money. You can find some amazing DIY art supply recipes for tiny artists online. From craft dough to edible paints and more, the internet is filled with great ideas you can make at home with common ingredients found in most kitchens! Have fun exploring and setting up your child's sensory art projects (This can be a great creative outlet for you too)!

Where to create?

Provide your child with a variety of ways to explore the art materials as well. Once the child can stand consider painting at an easel. If you don"t have an easel you can tape paper to a wall at their height. You may want to use a drop cloth or larger paper behind the paper they are painting to contain the mess and make clean up a bit easier.

If your child is not yet standing simply spread out paper on the floor for them to paint on. Remember older children also enjoy working on the floor from time to time as well! Working on the floor can give them the opportunity to work much larger, using large motor movements which can be a nice change for older children.

If you are concerned about the inevitable mess consider working outside on a nice day or use an old sheet/drop cloth on the floor under their work. When the art time is over simply fold away the drop cloth and store it for next time! Another fun place to create art is in the bath tub. When art time is over just clean the baby and the mess up at the same time.

Tables are always a great place to explore art materials, but try to provide variety for your child with their art play. If you usually paint at the table, consider trying a new spot. Often as children get older, most of their art is done at a table. This limits the size of their art as well as the motor movements they use to create their art. An occasional change in location is always exciting and keeps their art experience fresh and new!

Prepare for a mess

Sensory exploration in art is often very messy, so be prepared. At the studio we recommend letting our youngest artists paint in their diapers or an old onsie. Older toddlers and children we recommend wearing old clothes paired with an art smock or apron. Most children's art supplies are considered "washable" however, I have noticed that they do not always wash completely out. So, it is best to dress in clothing you are not too worried about. Adults facilitating messy art should also dress in clothing that can get painted...because it very likely will, lol.

Most importantly have fun and embrace the mess!

I would love to hear your thoughts on sensory art feel free to leave a comment below.

Art, Art Prompt: 12 to Adult, Creative Sparks

Watercolor Play

12:17 PM

Art, Art Prompt: 12 to Adult, Creative Sparks

Abstract Watercolor Resist

11:58 AM

Check out this is a fun and easy project to get your creative juices flowing! Here are the supplies you will need for this project:

Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Paints and Brush
Painters Tape
Rubber Cement
Black Ultra Fine Tip Sharpie
Hair Dryer (If you are impatient like me)

Step 1

Use Painters tape to tape your paper to your work surface. This will help keep your paper from warping as much, and it will create a nice finished looking border edge around your finished piece.

Now drizzle rubber cement across your page. Let it dry.

Step 2

You will be working with three colors for this project. I would suggest using colors in the same color family to avoid mixing brown unintentionally.

Warm colors: Red, Yellow, Orange
Cool colors: Blue, Purple, Green
Analogous Colors: (Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel) such as Blue, Green, Yellow

Tip: Colors that are opposite tend to make a muddy brown hue such as red and green or purple and orange...

Begin painting with the lightest color of the three you have chosen for your piece. So if you chose blue, yellow, and green, begin with the yellow.

Paint with your first color across part of your page. Leave some white space for the other colors later. Allow the paint to dry (Use a hair dryer is desired).

Step 3

Drizzle more rubber cement across your painted surface. Dry

Step 4

Paint with the second color. Paint across some of the white space you left previously but leave some white space for your third color as well. With the second color paint over part of your first color, allowing the two colors to mix and layer. Dry.

Step 5

Drizzle more rubber cement across your newly painted surface. Dry.

Step 6

Paint with your third and final color. Fill in the remaining white space. Paint over portions of your first two colors allowing the colors to mix and layer. Leave some of the colors unmixed as well. Once your are happy with your composition allow your work to dry completely. You can use the dryer for this as well, but make sure to dry it completely.

Step 7

Using the pads of your fingers rub off all of the rubber cement, revealing the colors/white page beneath. This process takes a bit of patience and elbow grease!

Step 8

Use your sharpie pen to outline some of the shapes created by the rubber cement resisting the paint. This will simply highlight some of those shapes. You do not need to highlight all of the shapes. Simply pick a few of the most interesting to you!

Step 9

Pull up the tape revealing the crisp edges of your finished piece of abstract art. Enjoy your masterpiece!

This project is suitable for adults and children alike. Check out the beginning stages from my after school painting class for kids ranging in age from 6-11! They are doing such a fantastic job. I can not wait to see how the turn out next week when we wrap them up!

I hope you enjoy this playful project as much as I did! I would love to hear your thoughts or see what you came up with if you feel like sharing! Leave a comment below and let me know your experience.