Maybe you’ve heard of Jean from The Artful Parent? Hmmm? Yes?
I hope so, because she has been blogging for 10 years on her kid’s art blog, and she has been a major inspiration for every one who has anything to do with blogging about art for kids.
In fact, her first book, The Artful Parent, has gotten a fresh makeover both inside and out and it is virtually kid art perfection between 2 covers now.
I love it so much I’m giving a copy away. (This is so exciting and old-school blogging-style to hold a giveaway.) Read until the end to find out how to score a copy. (Giveaway has ended!)
I wanted to choose an activity from the book that would 1. Appeal to me 2. Hopefully lure Beckett (9) into having a go. He is typically resistant to make art with me, so I knew I would have to find just the right art project.
After sticky noting the bejesus out of the book, I kept coming back to salt painting, so we just rolled up our nonexistent shirtsleeves and got to it.
This art technique is simple, colorful, and quick, which perfectly appeals to my lack of patience and Beckett’s lack of love for anything overly arty-crafty.
Salt, liquid watercolor, glue in a squeeze bottle, and paper are all you need for this ridiculously fun project. Lots of paper. We used white card stock, because just don’t use flimsy paper.
- Draw with the glue
- Load on the salt
- Tip the paper and tap it to rid it of excessive salt
- Touch some liquid watercolor to areas of the salt
- Gasp and shriek as you watch the color travel down the salt lines
P.S. I couldn’t help myself from experimenting with liquid acrylics and inks along with the watercolors. They work too if you water them down. The salt needs all that liquid to absorb and push the paint around.
I think the reason this book is such a classic is that it is the perfect mix of doable, fun art projects for kids, including classics and newer techniques. Each project is laid out simply and clearly, and you can riff on her ideas to create more art activities as your kids grow older.
Are you ready to own your own copy? Comment below and I’ll pick a winner at random on June 26. Since that is a week away and you might be jonesing for a copy right now, get thee to Amazon and buy a copy.
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