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watercolor

Flower Still-Life Table

June 21, 2023 by Barbara Rucci 3 Comments

Table full with small bud vases, flowers, paper, pencils, and watercolors.

I am doing classes again! It’s been 4 years, but I am back. This time, my classes are at our local library, and they are for families with children of any age and ability. I am calling them workshops because I’m not really teaching how to do art as much as I am facilitating an…

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“Love Not War” Fabric Banners

May 17, 2022 by Barbara Rucci Leave a Comment

DIY "Love not War" banner made from old shirts.

I started working on these “Love Not War” banners just a few days after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. I began with the Ukrainian flag colors, but soon recognized that there were other countries at war right now, with innocent people dying and refugees fleeing. Specifically, in Syria and Afghanistan. So I researched…

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Watercolor and Pastel Valentines

February 12, 2022 by Barbara Rucci 4 Comments

Make homemade Valentines with watercolors and chalk pastels.

This weekend I was inspired by one of the prompts in our February Creativity Project guide, appropriately named Friendship and centered around love, kindness, and connection. The prompt is a simple invitation with watercolors and pastels, and the possibilities are endless. These hearts are channeling a little Jim Dine, who explored relationships of color, texture…

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Our 2021 DIY Holiday Card

January 17, 2022 by Barbara Rucci Leave a Comment

DIY holiday card with a black and white photo.

This year I purposefully put off making and sending our holiday card until after the holidays. I love making cards (usually I do a postcard, not a handmade card) and love sharing an update with family and friends. But this year I just wanted to give myself some grace, and not add to my December…

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Paper Pinwheel Photo Backdrop

January 7, 2020 by Barbara Rucci 2 Comments

Make a photo backdrop wall with paper pinwheels, big and small.

I made this paper pinwheel photo backdrop for my friend’s 50th birthday party in May and I’ve been meaning to share it with you for months! I’ve been addicted to making pinwheels for years and years, and I really believe that they add happiness and joy to ANY occasion. I made this in pink because…

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Paul Klee Artist Study with Kids

November 8, 2019 by Barbara Rucci 11 Comments

Kids study Swiss artist Paul Klee and create paintings with watercolors and pastels.

I’m so excited to share these Paul Klee artist study paintings that my students made in art class! When I was studying fine arts and printmaking in college, the posters on the wall of my dorm room spoke more about who I was than anything I could say. Paul Klee, Matisse, Van Gogh, Sonia Delaunay….

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DIY Watercolor Leaf Place Cards

November 8, 2018 by Barbara Rucci Leave a Comment

DIY leaf place cards for Thanksgiving made with watercolors and free printable stencils.

Last November I was really into making these plaid-ish watercolors. I decided that they would make beautiful leaf place cards so I went out to my yard to collect a variety of leaves to make templates. Autumn in Connecticut is gorgeous and there are so many leaves to choose from! I chose the biggest ones…

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Sunburst Paintings

February 4, 2018 by Barbara Rucci 8 Comments

Heart burst paintings for Valentine's! A great art project for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Revamping this popular Sunburst Paintings post today because I had a lightbulb moment during a sleepless night recently… make them with a heart! [ This post was originally published on the blog Small for Big. ] There is something so satisfying about an art project that combines painting and math. It probably has to do with the…

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Kandinsky Inspired Circle Paintings + Floating Frame

September 26, 2017 by Barbara Rucci 9 Comments

These Kandinsky inspired circle paintings are one of my favorite art prompts. Their beauty lies in letting the colors bleed into each other. I can’t get enough of them! This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! Supplies needed for circle paintings: ~ Watercolor paper ~ Liquid watercolor ~ Brushes Setting up the circle…

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Starting an Art Journal

May 24, 2017 by Barbara Rucci 4 Comments

Start an art journal with easy art prompts! Great for children and grown-ups who want to tap into their creative energy.

Today I bring out my art journal, an old friend who needed some attention. I’ve started a thousand journals in my lifetime. When I was young, I called them diaries. I had many. The ones with locks were the most coveted. I would write feverishly in a new diary for the first six to eight pages. After…

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All content on this blog is copyright and owned by Art Bar Blog unless otherise stated. I would be flattered if you wanted to use an image from one of my posts! But please, ask me first. I would also ask that if it involves DIY instructions with a list of supplies that you don't repost any of that stuff because then nobody would have a reason to click back to my original post!

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About Me

There are two things that I'm passionate about: Children + Art. As an art teacher, author, graphic designer, and mom to 3 creative thinkers, I get to explore my passions every day! Learn more...

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A newly printed t-shirt lies on a table showing off the freezer paper stencil technique using bright blue ink on a muted green shirt with a Noah Kahan quote from his song Orbiter.

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