This is an updated version of an old post. I originally wrote this 3 years ago, in 2015. Since then, we’ve had many more opportunities to use our found collections to make beach art. Not only that, I recently challenged my Facebook fans to post their own beach art photos. And their ideas were so…
Art for Toddlers
Invitation to Paint: Giant Coffee Filters
Happy 4th of July! I hung these giant coffee filters on a line and set up this invitation to paint last week in art camp. They reminded me so much of fireworks, I thought that today would be a good day to post my photos. I got this idea from my friend and colleague Kim…
Self Portraits with Kids: What Does Your Imagination Look Like?
There are so many ways to approach self-portraits with children: observation, inspired by a particular artist, symbols of interests and activities, the list goes on. This time, I wanted to create an engaging, multi media self portrait that could be completed in just one session with my little artists. { This post was written by…
Paper Bag Collage Art
I am so very excited to introduce you to a new contributor to Art Bar. Please welcome Shannon Merenstein from Hatch Art Studio in Pittsburgh!! Shannon has the most beautiful Instagram feed where she shares truly original and open-ended art ideas for children. I have been so inspired by her this past year that I sent her…
Easiest Gingerbread House Party Ever
We make these gingerbread houses every year. Sometimes we make them late in the season (like after-Christmas-late), and sometimes I am so organized I even make an invitation! If you are feeling efficient and organized these days, then scroll down to the bottom for a fun and free printable invitation I made for you. Oh,…
Painting and Printing on the Bubble Wrap Tree
Are you ready for a really simple idea that guarantees hours of artistic exploration, where the mess is contained outside, and you’ll have the coolest art to hang on your wall, and your children will learn about color, shape, size, printmaking, taking turns, and you can use supplies you already have on hand? Then let…
Painting Pumpkins with Kids
I have been waiting a year to post this!! The kids actually painted these pumpkins last year in art class, but I was too busy writing my book to edit the photos. And then all of a sudden the Holidays were here. But now…here they are! Aren’t they so gorgeous? I used this one trick which I…
Giant Cardboard Donuts
Oh my goodness!! It’s been a very long time since I’ve gotten a post up this quickly after doing an art project with the kids, but I just couldn’t wait to share this one from art camp last week. How amazing are these donuts? I just stood back and watched them paint and collage and…
Watercolor Fabric Banners
Todays post comes to you from Samara Caughey who runs a children’s art studio in LA called Purple Twig. I have written – and gushed – about Samara before. You can read my interview with her here. She is one of the most creative and imaginative people I know. She is a constant source of inspiration…
Found Objects Collage
I love these collages because they are so personal. Each child took home their painted “small things collectors” (egg cartons) and collected for a week. When they came back to art class seven days later, they had so many stories to tell! One child collected leaves and flowers from her garden with her grandmother. She…
