We broke out the tempera paints this weekend for the first time. I have a bunch of projects that I think Alder might like to do. But to start I just want him to paint and get a feel for how they work. So Sunday morning we covered the table and sat down with plates of paint, water, brushes and pieces of an old pizza box and painted. I have found that he gets frustrated with the large sloshy kids brushes so we have been using my old acrylic paint brushes which are smaller and stiff. The change is wonderful he gets less frustrated with the smaller brushes and has enjoyed making various lines, rather than just covering the paper with color.
While I really want to do a lot of the projects that I see out on the internet there is part of me that feels that free use of art supplies is a better way for learning and expression. Instead I think I am going to include projects as they relate to the rest of our lives. I trust Alder to tell me when he has an idea of what he wants to make, it’s my responsiblity to find ways of doing these projects without killing myself. Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes organizing a creative activity on the spur of the moment is almost painful. I suppose the best thing for me to do is organize the supplies by possible projects that I can grab when needed.
Anyone who has massive creative project motivation please tell me your secret!
3 Comments
November 9, 2009 at 7:20 pm
My ideas for massive creative project motivation is supplies!!
I loooooove collecting them.
oil pastels, chalks, pencils, chalk pastels, biocolor, temperas, different water colors (pencils, pancakes, and liquid), loads of different markers, crayons, non-hardening clay, air-dry clay, modeling clay, playdough, sculpey clay…
I’ve had a few years to collect and appreciate them!
November 10, 2009 at 8:07 am
Excellent idea.
I only have acrylics handy..there is something about tempura ..they are smoother in a way, have to get some for my kids. Especially now that we are indoors so much.
Have a great week!
I really like http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
(have you seen that blog?)
November 12, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I remember well my Mother and I browsing around Dennison’s on Fifth Avenue (art supplies, crafts, and related materials and tools) …and buying my first set of Devoe tempera paints…brushes and paper. What a thrill. Probably 1943-44; amazing that they even had supplies then…if not, it was in 1945, i.e. after the war was over.
The store is now long gone and I do not know whether Devoe, which was selling all kinds of paint for artists, craftspeople and businesses, for a very long time, still exists.
The paints and the colors– a set of 8-10 jars– were delicious and wonderful.
Ed R.