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Category Archives: mixed media

Outerspace Artwork for Kids

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Outerspace Artwork for Kids

This was a super fun multi-day, mixed media project with a lot of different techniques and processes. Day One: Start by painting papers with a paint scraping technique. Use scraps of cardboard dipped into neon paint (Amazon affiliate links have been used at no extra cost to you- the money goes towards maintaining my blog and buying art supplies) and scrape across your paper to create an interesting textured effect. Make several pieces of paper in different colors. Leave these … Read more… →

Getting Started with Alcohol Inks

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Abstract alcohol ink artwork with vibrant blue, pink, and purple hues blending together, accented by gold spots.

I recently took a workshop at a local gallery with artist Kinga Johnson. I learned a lot of great tips and techniques for working with alcohol inks. I bought some of my own alcohol inks and experimented at home and I wanted to share with you some easy ways to get started using alcohol inks. It is a really fun process and you can use the resulting papers for fun backgrounds or to cut out and make collages. You can … Read more… →

Zen Painting Workshop

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Zen Painting Workshop

I went to a really fun painting workshop last summer for a weekend which I never shared on my blog…. until now!  The workshop is called Zen Painting and it was taught by Jodi Ohl.  I have been following Jodi Ohl’s blog for many years.  When I was looking for some hands-on professional development for the soul, I noticed she was teaching at Shake Rag Alley, which is only 45 minutes away from my house.  My co-worker Martha, who teaches … Read more… →

Washi Tape Art Creations

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Washi Tape Art Creations

Washi tape is so much fun to use!  You can pick up decorative tape at office supply stores, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or other craft stores.  I also have bought washi tape online from various places.  Amazon has a lot of designs. The concept is simple.  Peel off the tape, stick to paper and color in the sections!  Here is my description statement we glued on the back: Students made colorful designs with tape as a short exploration in color and … Read more… →

Cylinder Sculptures for Kids

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Cylinder Sculptures for Kids

I saw this post by the Art Bar Blog which gave me the idea to make these cylinder sculptures with my 1st graders.  We started with toilet paper tubes and paper rectangles rolled into tubes.  The best way to adhere these is to pour out some liquid glue onto a paper plate, then stick the ends of the tubes into the glue. We also used washi tape, colorful straws, pipe cleaners and pom-poms for added interest and texture.

Mixed Media Collages by Kids – Inspired by Sabrina Ward Harrison

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A pile of colorful tissue papers with a group of people seated at tables in the background.

In my last post, I showed you some of Sabrina Ward Harrison’s artwork and talked about what she shared with us at her artist visit.  Her artwork is very inspiring, messy and beautiful.  Please check out the other post to learn all about this artist. After the presentation, smaller groups of kids in grades 3-6 had a collage workshop with Sabrina.  She demonstrated how to use Mod-Podge to paste down pieces of her pinwheel shape. While she demonstrated the pinwheel … Read more… →

Mixed Media Snowmen Art Project for Kids (1st Grade)

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Two snowmen with scarves and hats stand in a colorful, whimsical winter scene with stars and snowflakes.

Are you looking for a fun new way to make snowmen with your kids?  I got the idea to use makeup remover pads  from Happy Hooligans. I did this project with 1st graders. Start by mixing shades of blue paint with white and other cool colors.  Explain to kids that when you mix white with a color, it makes a lighter tint of that color.  Paint a background for your snowmen.  Let it dry. Next, set out makeup remover pads, … Read more… →

Inspired by Artist Justin Vining: Abstract Whimsical Landscapes

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A whimsical landscape with swirling roads, trees, houses, a sun, and various colorful patterns.

This may have been my favorite unit we studied all year!  We looked at the whimsical landscapes of contemporary artist Justin Vining.  Here is one of his paintings: We watched videos of him talking about his influences, watched time lapses of his paintings and emailed him some questions about himself.  He responded to our questions in this interview I posted previously.  This was a perfect artist to study for us because Justin lives in Indiana in a rural area and … Read more… →

Review of Multi-Media Art Paper

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Review of Multi-Media Art Paper

Remember these samples I got from the Pacon company?  Several of you were curious about the multi-media art paper, so I decided to test it out. I primarily use watercolor and collage in my personal art and I am always looking for good paper to use.  I first tested this out by painting shapes and patterns with watercolor.  I do tend to use quite a bit of water when blending colors. Here are the results.  Here are the pictures (without … Read more… →

100th Day of School Art Project: Kindergarten

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A grid filled with various colorful shapes, textures, and numbers.

First of all, thanks to everyone who voted for me in the Art Ed Blog of the Year contest.  While I didn’t place in the top 10 it was still exciting to be nominated! Our 100th day of school was this past Friday and I thought I would participate with a 100th day art project for the first time ever.  If your 100th day of school has already passed, this might be a project you want to “pin” and save … Read more… →

Mixed Media Self Portraits by 3rd Graders

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Mixed Media Self Portraits by 3rd Graders

A self portrait is one of those art projects that is always fun to do with kids.  Kids often struggle to portray an accurate likeness of themselves (at least in their opinion), but their personality always shines through. I did not come up with this lesson all on my own.  I saw something similar in an art ed. magazine years ago and adapted it and reused this one many times.  In my opinion, that’s a great way to collect a … Read more… →

Colorful Mobile for Kids

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Colorful Mobile for Kids

We recently finished a mobile that will soon hang in our window wells in the hallway. Third, fourth and fifth grade students created single strand mobiles using Twisteez wire, foam pieces, feathers, beads and other random materials.  They made these at the end of the year last year when they had a few extra minutes in class.  I got the idea from the Single Strand Mobile group kit on Nasco.  However, we did not purchase that kit, because I figured … Read more… →

Celebrating 2012– Highlights of My Year

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Colorful, whimsical design with the quote "Live in the sunshine & embrace today," surrounded by flowers and patterns.

I read Carin’s post today about her creative achievements of 2012 and it got me thinking “what would be on my list if I were to make one?”  At first I thought, well, I don’t have a whole lot to say, but then I thought back to all the little things I am proud of, that made me happy and experiences I had this year that were fantastic. I’m not going to lie, this Christmas season I was not fully … Read more… →

Issue #2 of Featuring Magazine is ready for pre-order

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Magazine cover of "Featuring Magazine," Issue #2, about art journaling, mixed media, and more with images of artworks displayed.

The 2nd issue of Featuring Magazine is going to the printers.  It is ready for pre-order! I am part of the editorial team at Featuring magazine and I’m so excited for the release of this issue.  In this issue, I wrote the article titled Mapping It Out, which features the art of Mary C. Nasser, Tofu and Karey Kessler. Each of these artists explores using maps in their own way to tell a story or to make a statement.  I … Read more… →

Body Pictures– Summer Camp

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A large paper with a child’s drawing of a person, decorated with various items and colors, is displayed in a classroom.

I am teaching 3 summer art sessions.  Each session is two hours long with one or two art projects.  For this session, I had 2 students going into 4/5th grade, 2 students who just finished kindergarten, and one student going into kindergarten.  It was a small class, which was perfect for this project, since the pictures were LARGE. To start, we traced our bodies on large butcher paper.  Then, we outlined them with markers and used collage materials (magazine images, … Read more… →

  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.