The Art Box – Nov. 23, 2009

**Update**This post originally had a few link-ups and comments and then... well it got deleted. There's a long story behind this that isn't very interesting, but would explain to you how blog-ignorant I am sometimes. :) I finally was able to re-post this post, but all the comments and links to other art box posts from other bloggers are gone forever. (Sounds so very sad, doesn't it?) We will try again next week! Just wanted to explain in case any of you are wondering why your links aren't showing up!

In the art box last week: Do-a-dot painters, coffee filters, new stamps and stamp pads, glitter glue, feathers, cotton balls, craft sticks, cardboard tube, Elmer Color Slicks, construction paper, newsprint, “zig-zag” scissors, scrap paper, paintbrushes, a couple of pictures with watercolor strips (craft?), and q-tips. (All put together on Mommy’s bed, the secret art box center.)

M is still enjoying his art box, and went to it or asked for it at least once a day last week.

He still loved the zig-zag scissors and cut up a storm – no pictures this time. Really, a pile of cut paper one week looks pretty much like a pile of cut paper the next week. ;)

He loved seeing the Color Slicks out. We haven’t used them for a long time, and with good reason… they are extremely messy. They make beautiful, brilliant colors and draw even more smoothly than oil pastels, but ugh. Chunks break off and stick to things and then you step on one and track color through the house… and well, you get the idea. Here’s his lovely picture: They are so much fun, but I can’t recommend them. If they bother me because of the mess, believe me, they are REALLY messy. I actually took them out of the art box halfway through the week.

I added a little something I found at Michael’s over the weekend:Now, this is not completely child-directed art, but I don’t feel it’s a “craft” either… these coloring pages of animals have strips of dry watercolors along the bottoms. I showed M how to dip a q-tip in water, rub it on a color, then paint the picture. I feel that one “fun” thing to find in his art box that he can do by himself can add to his enjoyment and teach him something new. He’s never painted with q-tips before and he thought this was a lot of fun.

He actually asked for his watercolors (which I was happy to trade for the Slicks) and throughout the week made these paintings: Water colors were definitely the big hit of the week, and he has really progressed with his knowledge of how to make them lighter or darker. I love it when he learns something all on his own! He was especially fascinated with the black paint.

He loves the do-a-dot painters, and I was hoping he’d pair them up with the coffee filters, but for whatever reason he wasn’t interested in the filters at all. He used the dots on newsprint: He did enjoy seeing what some of the colors made when they were put on top of one another.

He asked for foam stickers too. I guess he had his own ideas of what he wanted in his box this time! He made this little collage with some glitter glue (still a huge favorite, and almost completely gone): Well, apparently that photo was taken pre-glitterization. I’m not taking a new one now, so you’ll have to use your imagination. :) Sparkly!

He did make a collage with some paper. I think he was experimenting with the glue here… remember the product isn’t the point (thank goodness!):

And that’s it for the week. I thought he’d do something with the cardboard tube, but all he did was cut it a little bit and stick it on the railing on the basement stairs like a sleeve. :) No picture of that either, although he was very proud of himself for doing it! Silly boy.

I can’t wait to see the art your little ones made!! Link up below!

Have a beautiful day! :)

The Art Box MckLinky – Guidelines

Yes, you've already seen this post. :) I'm adding a little bit to it, so I'm re-posting it.

One of our favorite art authors is Mary Ann Kohl. In her book, Scribble Art, she writes the following:

"I like to say, 'Process not Product', which means: the doing, exploring, creating, and attempting of new ideas is more important than the result of your creativity. you may end up with a painting resembling a muddy smear, but if you tried something new, learned something interesting, or discovered how paint acts, then you had a successful art process. The product is not as important.

Think of your art as 'experiments'. Some things will look great and others won't, but what you learn and discover in the process is worth so much more than perfect looking results."

I just want to put out some basic guidelines and I’m open to hearing about anything you think I’m missing.

The MckLinky will be open beginning with the Monday morning post and will close the following Sunday at midnight. I will be posting about what M created the previous week, as this is just easier for me and gives me more time to create a post over the weekend. You may do what works best for you… you can do the same as me, or you can link up your post anytime throughout the week and have it be for what your child made that week, if that is easier for you!

Some basic guidelines for your post:

1. An “art box” is not necessary. If you have a corner that your child uses for art, post about what they made there!

2. Change some of the items you provide for your child on a regular basis, and in your post be sure to list what you gave them! We’ll all get great ideas from each other! I’ll be adding (and subtracting) items on a weekly basis, and I think this will most likely be the best way to keep them interested.

3. Have your art box out all week long, or just one day, or bring it out when your child needs “something to do”… whatever works for you!

4. Let the art be completely child-directed. Let them know that this is for them to do whatever they want to do. I encouraged M to look through his art box and see all the neat things that were in there. Be very positive and encouraging. I also tell M that if there’s anything he needs for a project that he doesn’t see in his box, to ask me and I will supply it for him if we have it.

5. Take pictures and let us ooh and aah over what they’ve done! M loves to see his artwork published on the blog!

6. Please link your post (not your main blog page) to the MckLinky, and link back to this site somewhere in your post. I made a new button and it is below if you would like to include it. :)

7. I'm OK with an occasional craft, if say, you found a cheap one somewhere and it's something your little artist can do independently and would be a nice little surprise in their art box. (And yes, I'm adding this because I did find some things like this that I think will really be fun for M to find once in a while). Let's say no more than one per week. And, again, it should be something they can do by themselves and add their own touch to.

<center><a href="http://tiredneedsleep.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Art%20Box"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-U_B1j1OuRo/SwMNpJrCfvI/AAAAAAAABR8/Zc2bDwlkNzI/paint%20palette.png" /></a></center>

{A tip that has worked for us… praise the finished artwork (within reason). Make a big deal over it and say things like, “you must be so proud of that! It’s so unique!” Hee hee, they love hearing new, big words associated with something they’ve done. This really is encouragement for next time around, for those little ones that need it!}

It’s been suggested that maybe a name other than “The Art Box” could be used in order to highlight the idea that it’s child-directed art. Any suggestions? Honestly, The Art Box is what I hear in my head, simply because that’s what we call it, and I’m having trouble coming up with something else that’s kind of catchy too. So, help me out… let me know if you have any ideas!

Have a beautiful day! :)