Printmaking is hands down my favorite art activity. Little kids, big kids, professionals, and non artists can all find something they enjoy in the super varied world of printmaking. It is the least intimidating of art media (at least to me) because no drawing skill is required! It can be as simple as these potato prints; carve, paint, and print!
Play dough is a classic first art material. This two ingredient edible play dough improves on the classic simply because it is homemade! And let’s face it store bough play dough already gets stuck in every crevice of your kitchen floor. If things are gonna get a little messy anyways your kids might as well make a memory along the way!
We’ve done lots of recipes for flubber, putty, slime, and play dough at my house. This one for two ingredient edible play dough is a favorite that we have made over and over.
Texture in art can be a tricky thing to define. It can mean how something feels (actual texture) or how something looks like it would feel (implied texture.) Use this free printable about the different types of texture in art to help explain this art basic to your student!
When we began homeschooling the idea of planning the entire education for four little people was a little overwhelming. Okay, overwhelming may be an understatement in my case. My public school trained brain was having a hard time believing that one person could be in charge of such an undertaking. I set off in search of a “homeschool plan” that was achievable and would give my kids what they needed.
Line is an essential element of art and a great place to start with kids because it is so un-intimidating. Pointing out the element of line, types of lines in art, and uses of line in art is an easy place to start!
As kid get older art can be intimidating. Making art can be something that makes kids clam up with an instant “I can’t.” I love introducing the elements of art to kids because it gives them an easy place to start. Everyone can draw a line, then another line, then a different kind of line. Before they know it they are making all kinds of marks; which is a great beginning to making art!
After being able to draw lines comes the next best thing about introducing line in art. And that’s being able to talk about art. Being able to identify a single element like line or color gives kids of any age a place to start when they look at art!
As always art and children literature are an easy connection for me. Look! Drawing the Line in Art by Gillian Wolfe is a great resource for older elementary through middle school. I love that it uses famous works of art and points out how the element of line is used. It’s a great book to spark a discussion even if you don’t read it word for word!
Check out this list of books about all the elements of art for more easy ways to teach about the elements of art!
After reading this and chatting for a bit to get some ideas generating we moved on to this little handout. This handout will eventually be a part of a book for my older elementary homeschool co-op art class. We’re working our way through the elements of art one class at a time! See this post for a run down on all the free element of art printables!
I like to use only black Sharpies in this exercise so the element of line is really isolated! (If you’re worried about the markers bleeding through try these pens!) Using only black marks forces students to look at the differences in the quality and characteristics of the lines they make, not color.
I like to hand out this line printable out without students seeing an example done by me or anyone else. Ideally kids will have some space around them so their ideas are their own! If they cannot see their neighbors work it’s amazing to see how many different types of lines kids can come up with just given the directions to make lines with Sharpies!
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Start with discussing and making lines that vary in length, width, and direction. This is a concrete idea that is easy for kids to grasp. If you have reproductions available this is a great place to point out how these different types of lines in art are evident in great artwork. You don’t have to get fancy here. Show your kids a piece of artwork and talk about what they see or don’t see.
If you’re looking for great places to see art check out this list of museums with great virtual tours. You can discuss art from the couch!
Why do artists use all these different types of lines in art? Besides using lines to direct the viewer’s attention or suggest a shape, pattern, or form lines can have an emotional impact in an an artwork. Introduce the idea that lines can illustrate feelings. This is a more abstract idea. It can help the kids to get this if you can let loose and be silly a bit. Creating lines with feeling can be fun to demonstrate on a large surface like a roll of paper, a chalkboard, or a large whiteboard!
If your kids feel comfortable it’s fun to do a little show and tell and take a look at all the types of lines that the kids came up with!
Paper marbling is an art that has been around for centuries. Years ago there were fancy chemical cocktails and extensive processes to get those beautiful colors to float on a medium, swirl together, and then stick to paper. Today were going to explore the ancient art of paper marbling and you’re not even going to have to open your craft cupboard.
We’ve been homeschoolers for almost two years. We’re no longer trying this lifestyle on for size. It’s a thing at our house.
Although we are only on our second year of homeschooling we are on our third homeschool writing curriculum. I’m not sure that we’ve found the perfect fit even yet. History programs; we’ve seen two. You get the idea….what we do is fluid. (That’s fancy talk for I change my mind. A lot.)
As a homeschool mom I get the chance to know my kids pretty well and I love being able to present them with opportunities to learn that really mesh with their passions. Seeing their appreciation and enthusiasm about their educational choices is so affirming. Ha, ha, ha.