Creative Arts Lessons

A child develops creatively as he builds confidence. Mastering new skills and experimenting with a new medium helps open exciting means of self expression in children. Spark their interest and they will spend hours exploring color, line, texture and shape as they learn about their world and themselves through art.

Limit the Palette

To help a child think outside the box, limit the colors they can use when making a drawing or painting. Ask him to draw or paint an object using only black and white. This process helps a child become aware of contrast in a composition.

Teach the Color Wheel

Limiting a child's pallet to color groups on the color wheel not only teaches him what analogous colors are but makes him look at the subject of his art in a new light by having him substitute real colors for imaginary ones.

Drawing Upside Down

Have your child reproduce a reference photo by asking him to study an upside-down photograph carefully and draw it, forcing him to look more carefully at the subject.

Try a Different Medium

If your young child likes tempera paint, try introducing watercolor. Explain the paint is transparent instead of opaque so they need to be painted on a flat surface. Show him the difference between the brushes used and how to load a watercolor brush with paint.

Try a New Surface

If an older child likes to paint with acrylics on a canvass, have him explore by working on cardboard, wood panels or matt board. Have him add found texture to the surface before he prepares the surface.

Resources

• The Imagination Factory

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