Guest Artists : Fiona Courneen , age 9 & Sloane Courneen , age 7

Set up is important . We did these projects outside for easy clean up . Cover tables , have soft rags to mop up spills , dry hands , etc . With any art project , prep and set up is crucial to a happy experience .

Giving children media choices and options helps them decide where their strengths are . Working creatively develops emotional and intellectual intelligence and self expression . In this article you , as a parent , can decide with your child what media you want to do first , pick a theme and let the magic begin .

Pastel on Black Paper

This project will definitely teach self control , pre-planning & decision making . I used to give my high school students black paper because they were so used to working with a dark line on light paper . This reverse can be challenging — light colors pop on the dark paper . You don ’ t have to fill in all areas with chalk — the black paper can become your outline or backdrop to your color . This is a more advanced thought process . On white paper black lines are the most powerful , on black paper the light color becomes dominant . This challenges the creative mind with different surfaces , media and approach .

You can buy pastel paper in soft tones as well as black . Pastel dries richer on colored paper and dries brilliant on black paper . Fiona ’ s theme is Northern Lights , but you can imagine this project done with a spring , summer , or fall theme . Sketch out an idea first on another paper . Referring to your sketch , outline on the black paper using a soft dark pencil or a light opaque marker . Leave areas of the black paper showing . Do not use black pastel until the very end . Start with white or your lightest colors . Leave areas off the background empty — just the black paper showing will provide a beautiful rich background . Do not rub the pastel into the paper — leave it and if you want the color more intense , add a light or dark of the same color . If powder from the chalk / pastel accumulates , take the paper to a garbage can and shake into the garbage .

When finished , clean up dusty areas with damp cloth and to set pastel you can mist lightly with an aerosol inexpensive hair spray or buy a professional fixative . Do not get the pastel wet .

Watercolor Silhouette Art Using Salt

There is nothing more exciting than children watching brilliant colors mix together before their eyes and having the freedom to use different media to create a masterpiece .

The journey of discovery is the best part . This project can be adapted for any season .( See additional examples of palm trees and sunset .) Sloane picked this mixed media project which teaches pre- planning , critical thinking , color mixing , and science . Throughout the process engage your child verbally . Ask your child what happens when the wet paint is brushed into the wet paper ? What colors are made when they flow together ? What happens to the color when salt is sprinkled on the wet color ? Say “ Look how the salt absorbs the water , taking the color into the salt leaving a speckled pattern .” Here the girls sprinkled the salt into the sky when the color was wet . In the sunset painting , the sand effect was created by sprinkling salt into wet brownish paint . Praise your child at every step . Your children are excited — so be excited along with them .

The girls sketched the outline of the silhouette on the white watercolor paper first . You can also make a paper pattern and trace around it on the water color paper .

PASTEL ON BLACK PAPER

Photo # 1 Photo # 2

<< Photo # 1 : Looking at her sketch , Fiona outlined the mountain with an opaque white marker on the large black paper . A soft black pencil will also work . She starts with the lightest color-white . Use lightest colors to dark colors . Use black pastel last .

<< Photo # 2 : Using pressure , pastel color is applied leaving areas of the black paper to create background . Do not rub as this will dull the color . Shake any pastel powder into a garbage can . Repeat with another color while the paper is wet .

>> Photo # 3 : We have several brands of pastel . It gives color options . Notice the dust accumulating on black paper . After finishing and sliding excess powder into the garbage can , lightly clean black paper areas with a damp rag . Then mist with aerosol hairspray or professional fixative to set color . Do not wet chalk .

>> Photo # 4 : Sloane on left and Fiona on right have both created large powerful pastel art ! Beautiful Job !

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