Creating the Process- The How
Process Art Summer Camp 2024 ended with great success. I wanted to reflect upon what I learned in camp and share some thoughts with you too!
One of the big takeaways- IT’S REALLY WAS FUN! I experienced the process of creating art right along with the children. Rather than guiding them, as I normally do in the classroom, I was actually trying out processes and experimenting with it just as much as the kids were!
5 Process Art Activities to try at home this summer:
As a follow up and reflection I wanted to share 5 activities for you to try this summer at home. You can do these activities multiple times this summer and get different results each time. Sometimes it may come out wonderful, other times not so much. Experiment with different materials listed below each activity to change it up!
Finger Painting:
Provide a variety of paint colors and sheets of paper. Encourage children to use their fingers, hands, and even arms to paint, feeling the texture of the paint and exploring how colors mix.
**Try mixing paint with shaving cream, glitter, sequins, sand or salt also try changing up the size or texture of the paper (large/small paper, canvas, cardboard,etc)
Collage Creation:
Offer an assortment of materials such as magazine cutouts, tissue paper, fabric scraps, buttons, and beads. Let children glue these materials onto a larger piece of paper or cardboard, arranging them in any way they like.
**Try adding and of the following: feathers, colored paper scraps, foil, yarn, ribbon, stickers, stamps, markers, and crayons. Scissors with different edge designs and pattern hole punchers can change up plan paper too.
Clay or Playdough Sculpting:
Give children clay or homemade playdough along with various tools like cookie cutters, rolling pins, plastic knives and even scissors. Encourage them to mold, shape, and create whatever comes to mind.
** Try: Swap out easy to squeeze playdoh for clay which is more challenging to work with and uses more hand muscles but creations can be saved. Offer additional materials such as beads, buttons, feathers, small plastic animals (for pretend play), googly eyes, and natural materials like twigs and leaves. Experiment with different patterns pressed into playdoh or clay. Paint and brushes for decorating the finished clay sculptures.
Chalk:
Chalk is so simple but yet so versatile in process art. It can be used outside, inside, wet or dry! Drawing shapes or murals on sidewalks or fences, (FYI: each has its own benefit from a developmental point of view also) drawing on white paper with colored chalk, or dark paper with white chalk. Wet chalk changes the color and feel of the drawings in any situation.
**Try: grating chalk and mixing it into water to create paint, mixing chalk with baking soda and adding vinegar to make a colorful creation, crushing chalk and sprinkling on top of glue to create a print.
The video below was one of my favorite activities of the week, not only to watch but try out as well! This is a great way to use the tiny leftover bits of chalk laying around after a day of drawing. Place the leftover bits in a bowl of water and let soak for a few minutes. Then place on a surface and smash using a mallet. *Beware- it will create a mess but it was easy to clean up too.
Kitchen Art:
Each day our snack was also art. Sometimes simple, sometimes more complex. But remember the process is the point! How can you turn snack into art???? Let your child help!
**Try: colored pancake mix in squeeze bottles, pizza faces, animal cracker scenes, pretzel dough shapes, apple donut decorating, making and decorating cookies, milk painting, make ice cream… the possibilities are endless!
Now you’re ready to try out Process Art at home!
The only rule? Have fun trying out new things!
