Tips for Painting with Kids

I've been doing painting workshops with elementary kids all summer long, and I'm learning many things along the way that can help kids create beautiful paintings, especially in a 2-1/2 hour time frame. I'm doing three workshops this week- peacocks, pears and a floral still life. I always teach in acrylics and students use a 16 x 20 canvas.

1) Always practice first-break painting down in to basic shapes and practice on a sheet of paper. I emphasize that it's about shapes, form and beautiful color, and not to worry about making it look "perfect". I want them to enjoy the process.

2)Sketch out under painting in watered down paint. Use baby wipes to erase mistakes.

3) Use premixed, inexpensive paints-when I do a 12-week session, I always let students mix their own colors, but during my workshops I just use a variety of colors in the inexpensive acrylic craft paints. There's always a lot of waste so I spend the extra on a canvas and use the less expensive paints.

4) Use big paint brushes-Kid's always default to the small skinny brush, even when painting big areas. I give the brushes to them as we paint, that way they are always using the correct brush. We save the little brushes for the details in the end.

5) Mix on canvas-Especially when painting backgrounds, give kids three similar hues, or even a white to mix in. It creates a more interesting background and shows the brush strokes.

6) Give step by step instructions for the basic painting-each painting will still look unique. Let them add their own creative flair at the end.

7) Signature at bottom-Before letting students sign their painting, but sure and explain the signatures are not to take away from your art or be the focal point. I always have one who signs their name top center in black-ugh!

8) Paint the edges-Let them have fun decorating the edges for their own creative frame.

9) Take breaks- I always let them have a snack and short play break. 2-1/2 hours in a long time to stay focused on one thing.

10) Step back from painting or move on to something else-If a student is frustrated with a particular part of their painting I encourage them to just leave it and move on to something else. When they come back to it later they usually have a better perspective.

11) Use tabletop easels-Kids think it's so cool to have their own easel!

12) Have water, rags and wipes in reach.

13) Remind them to keep brush "clean" while painting next to darker/lighter colors-wipe brush often.

14) Use paper plates for paint palette.

15) Paint big and focus more on shapes, form, value and color rather than detail.

  In my workshops there is never time to apply a top coat, so I always recommend that parents apply a clear varnish after the painting is completely dry. I usually use the Delta line and just brush on one coat.

I'll be posting this weeks lessons soon!

A painting lesson on Van Gogh landscapes

Ideally, I would love to take students outside to do a lesson on Van Gogh landscapes, but considering it's about 100 degrees here right now, I decided to teach in the air conditioned studio. I love to talk about the passion, movement and texture in Van Gogh's art. His landscapes are my favorite-so simple, yet so intriguing. Student's had 2-1/2 hours to complete this lesson. We used acrylic paints and gel medium for the texture. Students loved trying out the palette knives. In class, I just have a plastic set for students to use and they work out great for first time users. Here's a snap shot of our lesson. Students chose Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses (above) as their inspiration piece.

First, we identified the horizon line, foreground, middle ground and background and focal point. 

We talked about the movement in the painting and texture. Students laid in base colors first and then had fun using the gel medium and gloss medium to create a textured layer on top. Since we had limited time, students had to simplify the brush strokes and get the textured effect with the gel medium and palette knife.

The students who did these paintings ranged in age from 3rd grade to 6th grade.

Mixed Media Workshop

I love creating with mixed media, and I love teaching others some of the techniques I've learned from others or just by experimenting. With mixed media, the sky is the limit for your creativity, and it really challenges you to create outside the box. One of my staples when doing a mixed media art is gel medium. I love the Golden line. It's so fun to experiment with all their different ones. I've listed my favorites below. The sampler set is a great way to start. Just try them all out to see which ones you like best.

Gel mediums are great for creating texture, adhering papers and giving your paint a little something extra. I taught a workshop this week with some older students, ages 4th-8th grade. I let them have a little more freedom with color choices and composition. I just gave them the subject and taught them some new techniques using texture and gels. I loved the way their paintings turned out...if only we would have had more time.

And more peacock paintings this week.

One of my other favorite things to use to create texture is modeling paste. You can build up layers create all kinds of texture.

Painting Peacocks

Painting Peacocks has been one of my most popular workshops this summer. I know I've posted some Peacock paintings before (see HERE), but I had to post these beautiful ones from this summer too.

Added a little twist to these Peacocks by adding some bling. Students used the glitter glue and went to town. 

I got tired of the blue/purple combo so I had the students try a different mix here. 

What's your favorite?

Studio Still Lifes

This week I did a still life painting workshop. Students painted on a 16 x 20 canvas with acrylics. These students ranged in age from 2nd grade to 5th grade (amazing!)- and completed their paintings in 2-1/2 hours.

  

Here's our set up that they were painting.

I teach as we go, and do some demo, but I try to never paint on the students canvas. These were done all on their own.

I have baby wipes for the students to use for mess ups-work great for removing paint from the canvas.

I really encourage them to paint loose and have fun with it-not to get to bogged down in a lot of details. I emphasize basic shapes and color/values.

I'm in the process of setting up a Facebook page for my art studio. If you are a Facebook user I'd love for you to "follow" me so you will know about my blog posts and other artsy crafty things as soon I they happen ; ) I'm trying to figure out how to get a button on my blog, but for now, just click HERE and it will take you directly to my page. Please share with all your friends, especially if you're local. I'll be posting any upcoming workshops on Facebook too.