Visual Arts

Essential Woodworking Tools Crafty Clues When you buy power tools, consider buying one of the newer systems that works off an interchangeable rechargeable power pack. That way there's no cord to trip over and the tools are completely portable. ...

Cleaning Common Crafting Messes Inevitably, there will be those times when all your best efforts will fail and someone will create a mess that needs special attention. If you're armed with the right tools and the know-how, these mishaps can be ...

Homemade Glue and Paste RecipesThe following glue and paste recipes use a variety of ingredients and methods. Choose the one that best suits your project. For variety, add food coloring before using. Store all glues and pastes in airtight contain...

How to Store Your Materials Be careful not to use crafting as an excuse for collecting, rather than actually creating crafts. It's easy to do. There are so many books, videos, magazines, crafts sheets, new products, doodads, gadgets, and thingam...

The Adult's Craft Kit This crafts container is filled with materials that are X-rated — for safety, that is. This kit is filled with tools and supplies that your child can only work with under careful supervision — and possibly some things h...

Building the Basic Craft Kit for Kids By having certain crafts materials available that are safe and can be used pretty much without supervision,your kids are encouraged to respond to their creative impulses and turn to crafts to entertain thems...

Giving Children Feedback on their ArtworkIt is a fact that parents, teachers, and counselors try to support children's creativity, but often they do not know how. Through casual feedback or well-intentioned but ill-advised statements, they may in...

Photography FunMaterials Camera Film Directions If you like looking at people and at the world, if you would like to record what you see in a creative way, if you like to tell stories, then photography is for you. There are many things to learn ...

How to Use Art MaterialsTo explore the power of creativity, children need clear boundaries and good organization in the studio. A safe context allows them to enter the deep mystery of the unknown. Adults should be aware of how children are painti...

Setting Up a Painting StudioChildren can paint in many settings. Here are a few ideas to help you set up your studio space. You don't need a perfect setting; depending on your situation, you may need to improvise. The main motto is: Keep it simpl...

Bike Photo SafariMaterials Bikes and bike helmets Digital cameras (one per team) Directions This party is a picture hunt on bicycles. Each team of two or three kids gets a safari clues list and a digital camera. The team must use the clue list a...

Expression Versus CatharsisWe want children to express themselves, but we don't want them to react and confuse creation with catharsis. Catharsis is not creation; it is only a release of pressure. When children paint in a cathartic way, they pain...

Guidelines for Optimum CreativityEleven Golden Rules Always approach creativity as a process-oriented activity. Never ask children to paint realistically. Never tell children what to paint, or give them models to copy. Never correct children's pa...

The Joy of Spontaneous ExpressionChildren need to stop worrying about what they do. The pressure of doing it right can take over and prevent them from being creative. Parents and teachers should support children in finding their own way naturally...

Creativity Belongs to ChildrenWhen very young children start playing, with toys or with crayons, they listen to and trust themselves. They eagerly follow their instincts and their urge to explore the immense world in which they have just arrived....

Intrusions to CreativityTo create a magical context that fosters spontaneous inspiration and self-expression, parents and teachers need to become aware of possible intrusions into children's joyful processes. Commenting on children's paintings is...

How the Creative Process WorksIf we want children to use painting as a tool for self-expression and self-discovery, we don't need to teach them technique. On the contrary: we need to unteach it. The less technique children have, the more they use...

A Day in the Life of...When I was growing up, the high price of photography meant photo taking was reserved for special occasions. Now, however, inexpensive cameras, film, and processing are readily available if you shop around. Encourage your ch...