6 Inspirational and Creative Spaces

If you are an artist or crafter you need a great organized place where your creativity becomes artwork and  give you best results from your work.

Finding functional yet stylish solutions can be challenging. I have photo collection below of rooms that bring me inspiration, which I would like incorporate in a small office closet.

I love the Ikea file cabinets and the vintage laundry basket in this room.

 

There's a place for everything and everything in its place in this garage turned art studio.

Clever use of clothes drying rack.

I love the wall mounted cube shelving. This room is functional, yet has a bit of whimsy.

How about this re-purposed hutch?

This blueprint cabinet would be great for paper storage.

I am so enamored with these new and creative ideas for re- purposing furnishings.

Do you have a creative room or craft area?

AP Studio Art - Sample Art Works

My children attend an AP school, meaning they begin taking Advanced Placement courses as early as eighth grade and may take up to eight AP courses and six AP exams® by the end of their junior year. Yes, super intense and academically rigorous - and art is taken just as seriously!

This is the first year our school is offering AP studio art. (The school has only been opened for two years.) Below are samples of Ms. Delesandro's class for the current semester.

Taking AP classes offers opportunity to forgo introductory college courses, giving student the chance to take more in-depth classes sooner. 

 Sarah B. 11 Grade

AP studio art classes include drawing, two- and three-dimensional art, and design. AP studio art is  not available at every high school, even those that offer AP courses in more-accademic disciplines. Like the academic AP courses, Advanced Placement studio art classes are intended to offer a more intense collegiate learning experience.

Cathy L. 9thb Grade

Here in Arizona, highschool students are required to take at least one Fine Arts class before graduating. With more students overall in AP classes (in our school), applicants struggle to stand out. AP studio art seem to be the choice for some to achieve graduation and college breadth requirements.

 Sarah B. 11 Grade

Most of the students have not had extensive art experience and just dived in. I am totally in awe of the work they have produced so far.

How do you feel about art being offered as an AP course?

Van Gogh Inspired Sunflowers

This past weekend I helped my friend celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday with an art party.

The inspiration for the project was Van Gogh's Sun Flower and Starry Night, probably two of his most recognizable works or art.

She watched a tutorial on YouTube, purchased paints, brushes and 16x20 canvas for each party guest. With a few simple steps, you too can turn your living room into an artist's studio.

The kids painted and afterwards got to keep a beautiful piece of art as their party favor.

Give this project a try and let me know what you think.

Upcycled Picasso Masks

Much to my husbands chagrin, I can't seem to trash the bits and pieces that are left over from other craft projects. Even the shortest length of ribbon makes it into a bin marked "save do not through out". Not only do I feel better for not throwing out perfectly "good stuff" into the garbage, it helps keep my art projects cost low.

A really great project for making use of all the bits and pieces is African masks. Not only can you teach students about recycling, it is a fun way to teach about the famous abstract artist, Pablo Picasso. They will also learn how to use recyclables to make simple lines to create faces and then rearrange them to appear like abstract faces in the style of Pablo Picasso.

It's a fun mixed media  project that involves several techniques and can be tied to literacy when you include West African Folklore.

It is also great for integrating math by discussing how geometric shapes are in elements of art.

Supplies:

Cardboard boxes
Hot Glue
Tacky Glue
Paint of your choice
Assorted Ribbons, Pipe Cleaners, Buttons and Jewelry Pieces, etc...

First, you will want to pre-cut the corners of a sturdy corrugated box and punch/drill out holes for hanging your finished mask.

Next, have students paint the cardboard masks and let dry.

Now for the fun part...using Tacky Glue have students embellish with buttons, ribbons, bits of jewelry, etc...There' no right or wrong, just let that imaginations take over. Have an adult use hot glue for heavier pieces.

TIP: For additional texture and dimension, prime your corrugated box corner with Plaster-of-Paris before painting. (Take plaster-of-Paris and add water until it looks like the consistency of glue.) 

We made the masks above as part of a school wide fundraiser two years ago. By incorporating recyclables into our projects it kept our supply cost at $300 for school of 550 students.

 How about you? Any upcycled projects to share?

Fun and Low Cost First Day Art Mural

Hello everyone - it's been a while since my last post. We were away in France and had very little Internet. It was a big adjustment for me and the kids to not have WiFi, but it allowed us to focus on low tech activities...like playing cards, scrabble and of course, art!

I will tell you about my adventure in France a little later, but first I wanted to share with you a Fun and Low Cost first day art project. I love collaborative projects for the first day because requires students to communicate and work together to produce a special piece of art. In addition, it is great for introduction to the elements of art.

Juan Miro and Paul Klee and two great artist that that come to mind when working in groups. 

Image: Experiments in Art Education

Have students to outline their shapes- squares, circles, triangles, etc.. (no need to sketch) with black tempera paint. Then have them connect the shapes using lines - straight, zig-zag, wave, etc... Allow paint to dry for a bit (in AZ it only takes a couple of seconds) and then fill in the shapes using bold colors.

Image: Gretchen's Art

Great for all levels, even kindergartners, just make sure to have extra hands to help out. After you are done displaying the murals, you can cut it up to size and then everyone will get a piece to take home.

TIP: If you don't have large craft paper, use the back of an old poster.

How about you? What kind of art project do you like to do on the first day?

Upcylced tin for Centerpieces

I was recently invited to attend a fundraiser for Childsplay's held at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The Theme was "Rock 'n Roll Chic". For the centerpiece they up-cycled coffee tins for centerpieces. These were the large coffee thins covered in paint.

Here's a tea tin centerpiece from my annual teacher's tea. Even the most simple, understated blooms look stunning in vintage tin can containers.

 

Tea Tin Centerpieces from Martha Stewart Weddings .

 How stinking cute would it be to  mix-and-match tea tins for a vintage wedding?

You can pick up colorful tin cans for next to nothing at thrift shops and flea markets.Or grab some new versions (and enjoy some super delicious teas and coffee to boot). Tip: Before placing arrangements inside, line the tins with a plastic cup or a small container inside.

I would leve to  read your ideas for a centerpiece.

Mylien

XO

DIY Mother's Day Floppy Hat with Coffee Filters

You might be thinking that hats are for Easter however, students in Ms. Ledderman's and Ms. Dulin's preschool class think they're perfect for Mother's Day!  Each student made a hat for their parent to wear during the Mother's Day tea.

DIY Coffee Filter Hats

Coffee filters are inexpensive and so versatile that they can be used for so many different crafts. They are absorbent that when you add colors to them, the colors spread to make beautiful rainbow or tie dye like effects.

Supplies:

Industrial size coffee filters (found at restaurant supply store)
Droppers or water spray (1 for each color)
Faux Flowers
Diluted food coloring or tempera paint or diluted water color paint
Washi Tape or Paper Tape
Hot glue

Place opened coffee filter on table, let students decorate by saturating filter using a spray bottle or dropper with diluted food coloring, one color at at time. Place hat on top of inverted bowl to dry.

Once filter has completely dried and working in pairs, place 1 filter on head. Pull down gently near ears. Wrap Washi tape at brim line to fit head. Flip brim up. Remove from head and attached faux flower using hot glue. Optional: Using a small coffee filter, create a“flower” by pinching filter in middle. Wrap 1" tape at middle/stem. Attach flower at brim with tape.

Don't you think they are just lovely? I wore mine when my girls "surprised" me with a breakfast of toast and cut fruit and juice. 

Have a great Mother's Day!

What about you did you receive a handmade gift?