The Studio

Brought to you by Lindsay Letters Co

 
 

Imagine. Design. Discover. Create.

Art offers a hands-on way for children of all ages to express themselves. The Studio is a place where our visitors feel comfortable experimenting, making mistakes, and cultivating their creative individuality. We offer many different supplies, mediums, and available staff to explain and assist artists. By focusing on the process of making art rather than the final product, children build intrinsic motivation and boost their self esteem, and the engagement of multiple senses supports the development of important cognitive skills.

How can I best support and encourage my child through artistic expression?

The most beneficial effect of art making for creative development and expression is the focus on process over product. Rather than encouraging a specific end result, let your child drive the process by choosing what materials they need and asking how they may use those supplies. By joining their process, you will begin to understand what parts are more fun or more challenging for them and where some of their many strengths lie.

Engaging Art Activities for at-home Play

Activity 1: Nature Collage

A natural collage is a great way to combine outside adventures and your child’s artistic abilities. Collecting natural materials provokes appreciation for the world around them and engages them with their surroundings.

Supplies:

  • Hot glue gun

  • Construction paper

  • Objects from nature

  • Paint or markers

Steps:

  1. Explore nature and find small objects that appeal to you, (leaves, pebbles, bark, etc.)

  2. Get some glue, and arrange the objects in a way that you like on a piece of paper

  3. Decorate! you can use paint, markers, and even googly eyes

Activity 2: Salt Water Color

With just an everyday kitchen ingredient, a classroom staple can become a science experiment through art.

Supplies:

  • Water color paint

  • Paint brush

  • Piece of white paper

  • Kitchen salt

Steps:

  1. Using water color paint, create your own masterpiece on a piece of paper

  2. Before it get’s dry, sprinkle salt on the paper, wherever you like it

  3. Wait a few minutes, then admire your piece of work!

Activity 3: Rolled Paper Sculptures






Paper is normally restricted to 2D art. Rolling, scrunching, folding, and cutting paper can create interesting 3D shapes.

Supplies:

  • Cardboard

  • Colorful paper

  • Scissors

  • Hot Glue gun

Steps:

  1. Roll several pieces of construction paper into “cylinder” type shapes (hint: use different colors and sizes to make your work vibrant!)

  2. Using a hot glue gun, place the rolls on a piece of cardboard, in whatever arrangement you prefer

  3. Let the glue dry, then your done!

Activity 4: Tissue Paper Sun Catcher

Perfect for sunny days, the transparent nature of tissue paper offers a safe way to make sun catchers and stained glass inspired decorations.

Supplies:

  • Colorful sheets of tissue paper

  • Paperplate

  • Glue stick

  • Hole puncher (recommended)

  • String

  • Scissors

Steps:

  1. Cut out a big hole in a paper plate

  2. Gather a bunch of colorful tissue paper, and glue several small pieces to fill the hole (hint: use tissue paper from past birthday presents)

  3. Let the glue dry, then punch a hole at the top of the paper

  4. Insert a string through the whole, and tie it to a structure outside!

  5. Wait for the sun to light up your creation!

Activity 5: Symmetry Painting

This activity combines mathematical concepts with hands-on art creation. Symmetry painting is a great way to experiment with how they paint changes as the paper moves and folds.

Supplies:

  • Paint

  • Paintbrush

  • Piece of paper

Steps:

  1. Grab a sheet of regular white paper, fold it “landscape” style

  2. Using one side, paint a picture using regular paint

  3. Fold it a second time (the same way) and open it back up

  4. As they paint dries, you can see the amazing symmetry!