Letting kids explore their artistic instincts with a blank sheet of paper and brightly colored paints is a fun and simple way to encourage their talents.
For the very young child:
1. Provide your child with yellow, red and blue tempera paint and a blank sheet of paper.
2. Let your child explore the paint with a thick brush, hands, Popsicle stick, sponge etc. by freely applying colors to the paper.
3. Observe how your child moves the paint and chooses colors.
4. Talk about the colors and shapes created. What do they look like? What are they?
5. Ask your child to describe what he or she sees.
6. How does the painting make him or her feel? Happy, sad, hungry?
7. Explain to your child what you see in the painting and how different people can interpret art in very different ways.
8. Find a special place to hang it up so everyone can see it!
9. Keep plenty of materials around for hours of fun!
As your child matures:
1. Introduce colored pencils, markers and water colors.
2. Work with your child exploring how color can be blended with these new mediums, e.g., what kind of shading can be produced when using colored pencils? How does it differ when mixing markers or watercolors?
3. Allow your child to spend time with new mediums, learning how to control the tools to create unique designs.
4. Developing an understanding and appreciation of color will enhance your child? ability to see things with an artistic mind.
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