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Hello Mommas! I hope you're enjoying the first few days of Spring! It's been chilly here, but soon we will be enjoying the warm sunshine. The grass will grow soft, lush, and green. All of the flowers will gradually bloom and our world will be filled with color again!
One thing that comes to mind when thinking of Spring, is watercolor art. The organic, colorful images mimics the spring nature; asymmetrical and layers of color. A watercolor masterpiece can turn a blank wall into a conversation piece or be sent in the mail to make a friend's day bright.
Here's an art project for you and your little one to try while waiting to come out of winter hibernation (or any time of year, really). If your kids are like my three boys, the busier you keep them, the more behaved they are. So I'm always looking for a small project to keep them busy. Let the creativity come alive!
This project only takes about 5 minutes of prep, 10 minutes of artistry, and a little patience for drying.
What you will need:
1. Watercolor paper
2. Watercolor paints (tubes or pallet)
3. Brushes
4. Water cup for rinsing brush out
5. Paper Towels
6. Newspaper/Plastic Table Cloth
7. Sharpened Pencil
8. Toy or still life image for inspiration
Step 1: Lightly trace toy or draw picture onto paper
We lightly traced our giraffe and drew in some quick details.
For younger kids, I suggest tracing you trace a toy or lightly draw an illustration for them. For kids who know how to draw, have them place an image or toy on the table and try creating a still life. Look for other inspiration around your home also. Would you try to recreate Eric Carle-style illustrations? Or try painting a picture of your pet?
Step 2: Let your kiddo paint
More water will make your painting more translucent. More paint will make your painting more opaque. The nice thing about watercolor art is that it's done in layers. You let one layer dry, and add more layers on until you think it's complete.
There are actual watercolor paint tubes and watercolor brushes, but you can always go for the Crayola or Prang set. The difference between the two is the watercolor tube colors are more vivid and can easily be mixed. If you buy these, all you need is red, blue, and yellow.
Show your kids how to mix primary colors to make secondary colors.
Step 3: Let Dry
Your painting will take more time if your child used too much water (like mine did). You can pat it dry with a paper towel, but know the paint will start to come off. The best way to dry the art is naturally on your kitchen counter over a few hours. The drying and waiting patiently is the hardest part of this process. I prefer to let ours dry over nap time or overnight.
Step 4: Final Touches
If you feel that your art is too transparent, first paint another layer or two. Remember; use the watercolor paint with less water to make your colors more opaque. You may add in lines or texture this way. Complete by adding texture, highlights, and shadows. Or trace over with a gel pen or markers.
When complete, frame to hang in your home or send to Grandma (or a friend)!
I hope you felt inspired to create a beautiful masterpiece with your little one!
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Anna Havens and her husband are parents to three young boys, ages six and under. Anna is currently a stay-at-home Mom in order eliminate the burdens of day care costs, while preparing their boys for preschool. Being a stay-at-home mom can be very demanding and tiring, so Anna decided to start Momma Bird Blog. She wanted to reach out to other Moms who need a little motivation and encouragement. Momma Bird Blog focuses on parenting lifestyle; from letters of encouragement (to moms) to recipes and essential oil topics. Parenting is a tough job, but moms can be great supporters of other moms!
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