How to Display Children's Art at School

Displaying your students' art encourages youngsters to be more creative.

Displaying your students' artwork is every bit as important as creating it. After all, art is a form of communication. You validate your students' efforts and creativity when you provide a space to share their work with peers and grownups. You also reinforce positive classroom behavior and enhance your students' self-esteem by turning a school assignment into an object of pride.



Display techniques are as diverse as the art projects themselves. There are mounts, mats, frames and bases.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper, black, size is variable
• Straight edge, 36 inches
• T-square, 24 inches
• Pencil, 2H
• Adhesive tape, double-sided
• Clear adhesive tape
• Precut mat, size varies
• Cardboard, size varies
• Wood block, 2 inches by 4 inches by 6 inches
• Wood block, size varies
• Lattice stripping, 1/4-inch thick, 1 1/4-inch wide
• Sandpaper, medium and fine grades
• Hand saw
• Picture-hanging nails
• White paint
• Wood putty
• Power drill
• Drill bit, 1/16-inch wide
• Foam tape, double-sided

Instructions

Mount

1. Create a paper mount for drawings or paintings on paper that you intend to display in the classroom or inside a glass cabinet. Place the drawing or painting on a sheet of black construction paper so that you have a 2- to 4-inch margin. The actual margin depends on the size of the artwork. It needs to be wide enough to give the artwork room to "breathe."

2. Place the straight edge along the top of the artwork. Remove the artwork. Use the T-square to ensure the straight edge is perfectly parallel to the mount's top edge. Pressing very lightly, draw a pencil line marking the artwork's top edge.

3. Place double-sided tape on the artwork's back, 1/2 inch from the corners. Position the top side against the pencil line. Center it horizontally. Apply pressure to secure the artwork to the mount.

Mat

1. Use mats to display special projects or projects you enter into competitions. Place the mat facedown on your work surface. Align its top edge to the top edge of the cardboard backing. Run a strip of adhesive tape along the edge where the mat and backing meet, creating a hinge. Close the hinge. The mat's front will face the viewer.

2. Slide the artwork between the mat and backing. Position the artwork until you are satisfied with the result. Place the wood block onto the artwork to hold it in place. Gently lift up the mat.

3. Cut four 1-inch strips of adhesive tape. Form two T-shapes with them. Make sure that the sticky sides face the same way. Gently slide each T's downstroke under the artwork's top edges, close to the corners. Make sure the artwork does not move.

4. Close the hinge. Apply pressure to the mat and artwork to secure them to the tape. Secure the mat's bottom edge to the backing with two small strips of double-sided adhesive tape.

Frame

1. Display stretched-canvas paintings with a simple lattice frame. Measure the canvas. Put on your safety goggles. Cut the lattice stripping to size. The lattice pieces covering the sides must be the same length as the canvas. The ones covering the top and bottom must be 1/2 inch longer.

2. Sand all surfaces of the stripping until smooth to the touch. Cover them with two coats of paint. Let the first coat dry before applying the second coat.

3. Secure the side pieces to the canvas' wooden stretchers with picture nails. Place one nail close to each end. Place more nails along the length of the stripping at 4-inch intervals. Tap the nails in gently to avoid damaging the frame.

4. Position the top and bottom pieces of the lattice frame. Drill two pilot holes through each end into the side pieces. This way, you avoid splitting the wood when you secure them to each other. Fasten the top and bottom pieces to the side pieces with picture nails. Secure them to the stretchers by placing the nails at 4-inch intervals.

5. Fill the corner gaps with wood putty. Let the putty dry completely. Sand it until smooth to the touch. Cover the putty and nails with paint.

Base

1. Use a base to display sculptures and other three-dimensional artwork, such as ceramics. Determine the base's size. The size depends on the size of the artwork. It needs to elevate the sculpture slightly and leave a small margin around the bottom.

2. Put on your safety goggles. Cut the base to the required size. Sand all surfaces until they are smooth to the touch.

3. Cover the top and sides of the base with two coats of paint. Allow enough time for the first coat to dry before adding the second coat.

4. Place double-sided foam tape on the artwork's bottom. Position it on the base. Apply pressure to secure it to the base.

Tips & Warnings

• Most students can mount and mat their own artwork. Making lattice frames and bases, on the other hand, is too time-consuming for students. In addition, the skill sets required are beyond the capabilities of even most high school students.

• Plan ahead and use good time management. A lattice frame can take up to an hour to create. You need to multiply that time by the number of students whose paintings you want to frame. Creating a wooden base will make similar demands on your time.

References

• Education World: Children's Work -- Visibility Leads to Value
• Picture Frame Mounting Techniques
• How to Display Your Sculpture