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Crafts for kids or art camps could uncover hidden artist
Crafts for kids or art camps could uncover hidden artist
May 24, 2006-Valerie Nienberg
When it comes to art, there are no rights or wrongs. There's no one way a finished piece has to look — one person's flaw is another's "one of a kind."
For Melissa Nelson, an art teacher at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Stuart, the process of art is as important as the product. Creating art is a chance for her students to enhance their creativity, strategic thinking and motor skills. Much of what they learn in an art studio translates to real life, she said.
"It requires them to push ahead, make changes along the way," said Nelson. "They learn problem-solving: How is this going to work? How am I going to attach it?"
Nelson is leading an art camp for children ages 5-8 this summer at the Elliott Museum, one of several taking place around the Treasure Coast. "Kids end up being surprised that what they're capable of," she said. "That is a job, to see a kid turn out something impressive that they didn't know they could do."
Nelson has developed five art projects that anyone can do at home, with many materials that can be found around the house. Our staff illustrator Jim Urick got in touch with his inner child to try a few.
Ages: Five and up
Homemade Placemats: Cut out interesting pictures from magazines, old picture books or use your own artwork. Lay it on construction paper and cover it on both sides with contact paper.
Splatter art: Kids love this one! Blow paint through a straw in different direction on a blank piece of construction paper or cardboard. Use non-toxic tempura paint. Supervision recommended for kids who may be tempted to slurp the paint up through the straw instead of blowing it out.
Jim's comment: Paste might taste good, tempura, not so much.
Ages: Seven and up
Marble painting: Use marbles, tempera/poster paint, paper and a container such as a shoebox. Put paper on the bottom of the box, and dip marbles in different colors of paint in a paper cup. Put the paint-coated marbles in the box and shake it up.
Jim's comment: This was my second try. Too many paint-soaked marbles will leave you with a muddy mess. Limit yourself to a couple of marbles per color.
Ages: Pre-teen to teen
Stress-Relief Squeeze: Take a latex balloon, fill it with cornstarch by inserting a funnel into the balloon, tie the end and squeeze your stress away.
Jim's comment: I grew up before they invented stress, so the clouds of corn starch from trying to over-fill 5 balloons was a lot of fun and left a marvelous mess but cleanup was a breeze.
Instant Self-Portrait: Cut a large Ziploc bag in half and tape it tightly to a mirror. Stare at yourself through the bag and trace your outline with permanent marker.
Jim's comment: Trace your eyes and mouth first. Otherwise your portrait will resemble a Picasso ...Hmm...then again.
valerie.nienberg@scripps.comCredit to: http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/entertainment/article/0,2542,TCP_999_4724256,00.html
