Dryer lint clay

Ellen and I both try not to use the clothes dryer and are devoted to our drying racks. But I'm kind of obsessed with this clothes drying by-product.
It all started when I dyed, then washed and dried a big purplish-reddish rug for Isabel's dorm room. I ended up with an abundance of the most beautifully colored dryer lint, so I decided to make dryer lint "clay." I made a lumpy rock shape, then wrapped it in copper wire and hung it on a thong to wear as a necklace. Then I added a little glitter. I make my students try to guess what it's made of; they never can, but they think it's beautiful. It resembles felt or lava.
So dry some clothes on the next rainy day, and don't feel guilty because you're making art.

Collect your dryer lint. It's fun to sort your clothes by color,(good color exercise for young ones) so you can customize your lint.
Mix with enough white glue to make a very wet mess. Squish and squeeze...this is the fun part. Once it's all saturated, squeeze out excess moisture. Form into whatever small shape you like. I find that it helps to put a little lotion or olive oil on your hands. Place your "rocks" on waxed paper or other non-stick surface to dry. This will take several days, but you can keep shaping as it dries.

Importance of BIG

I love big art, as you can tell from the tire prints project. (I also love very small art, but that’s a story for another day.) I believe it’s so important for the youngest artists to use their whole bodies to make art…and for older ones, too. It’s a challenge to get my young adult students work on a large scale… maybe from years of working at desks on 8”x11” paper. But little ones seem to naturally want to use not only hands and fingers, but to stretch arms and legs and torsos.

One of my earliest painting memories is of dipping a broom into the water in my wading pool and “painting” the concrete surface of the driveway. I could do this for what seemed like hours. (The joy of an unhurried childhood!)
Look for this kind of opportunity to work large. Why not paint a wall or a door of your house with chalkboard paint for big spontaneous drawings? My girls drew daily on the “blackboard” that was one wall of our tiny kitchen.
Draw with sticks at the beach. I remember seeing some wonderful footage of Picasso drawing in the sand with a big stick at the edge of the waves, making drawings as he moved along, and watching the water erase them.
So make some big art. Who knows what might happen?

Painted Tire

Painted Tire
Originally uploaded by A is for Angie

This is a spectacular project that generates much excitement. I had a whole kindergarten class screaming when I did it. Put your car in park on a level surface. Paint on the flat surface of car tires. You may want to do this just before you get new tires or before washing the car, unless you don’t mind vestiges of paint on your tires. (I don’t …it’s generates conversations with strangers) Work quickly before paint dries. Lay big pieces of paper in front and behind tires and DRIVE over the paper! (SAFETY NOTE: have another adult hold onto child or strap into car seat.) If the paint has dried, spray the paper and/or tires with water.

These remind me of snake skins, so for older kids we usually do reptile drawings over them. Little ones might like to stamp with small objects, like little plastic dinosaurs.

Homemade Chalk

Homemade Chalk
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

We're off to try our chalk today. The recipe below is very easy. A bit may seep out of the bottom of your tubes, but it hardens pretty fast, so don't fret! I used tempera powder instead of liquid tempera. Sophie requested black chalk and made a black/purple stick as well. Be sure to wiggle the tubes as you pour so that air bubbles can escape. We weren't so good about doing that! But I love the thick, chunky feel of the sticks, perfect for toddler hands. Have fun!

Updated to add: this is TRUE sidewalk chalk. It's hard and works really well on concrete, but don't try it on your blackboard. I'm partial to softer chalk that will "melt" in water, but this stuff will last and last, especially with a toddler.

The House

The Housepaint
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Go build a house this week. I'll tell you what we did to make ours, but the possibilities are really limitless. Before the holidays, I plan to scour the internet for a neat pattern I can transfer to cardstock and make a bunch of little houses for a windowsill village (we don't have mantels here in the Tropics). I've seen great houses made from old Christmas cards. I will never forget being in kindergarten and having to make a model of a building. I made the Governor's Mansion out of a burgundy shoebox and tape, with a cocktail swizzle stick for a flagpole. It was incredible, and it was mine- in other words, it had been MADE by a kindergartener. When I got to school my heart sank a bit, as most of the other kids had professional-looking models made from foamboard, clearly with enormous help from their parents. Like Sally suggested, try as far as possible to let the house be for your kids, but also BY your kids!

You can use cereal boxes, egg crates for tiny igloos or yurts, shoeboxes, or like we did, six-pack containers. They work really well, as they have built-in rooms and a way to support the roof! If you have older kids, they can play architect and build a structure with tape and boxes, then lay paper-mache on top to unify all the parts.

For our house, we drank a few delicious Harpoon IPAs and then set to work on our paper-mache. The simplest paper mache recipe is flour and water, the consistency of pancake batter (or even a bit thicker). Tear newspaper into strips and dip it in the paste, then layer it over the box you're covering. Let it dry overnigh, then set to work painting. Sophie and I used a cereal box to make a roof for our house, but didn't attach it in a permanent way. She likes to look inside the "house" and dump her tiny animals out once she's filled it up for the seven-thousandth time. We used an X-acto knife to make windows and a few doors. Being able to see her things through the windows is a huge part of the fun.

Put orange Christmas lights inside for a Halloween decoration! Have fun and drop us a comment if you think of more possibilities.

Sneak Peek

Sneak Peek
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

A sneak peek at a new project- a paper mache house, with removable roof, perfect for stashing babies or beans or whatever your little one likes to stash. Full instructions tomorrow, as soon as we paint ours. For inspiration, look here. The possibilities are endless . . .

We also got our Blick box in the mail with plaster of paris. There is chalk on the agenda. Pics of both tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Sidewalk Chalk

Our Carport
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

This one is for Atomic. I will admit, Sophie and I use an industrial size bin of big fat chalk we got on clearance at K-Mart, but since Nicole asked for a recipe, and we like to promote the diy supplies, we went scouring. We ordered some Plaster of Paris (and new powdered tempera) from dickblick. As soon as it arrives, we'll be trying this recipe. Let us know if you make it and have success!

Supplies:

* cardboard toilet paper tube
* waxed paper
* disposable empty container (an old 32 oz. yogurt container works well)
* Plaster of Paris
* liquid tempera paint
* water
* plastic spoons

1. Line the inside of your toilet paper tube with waxed paper.
2. Set the tube upright on another piece of waxed paper. The easiest way to line the tube is to roll the waxed paper up tightly and insert it into the tube. Then, spread the waxed paper out with your fingers.
3. Make sure your container and spoon are disposable because you'll want to throw them out after you're done. Don't ever pour Plaster of Paris down your drain because it will harden and clog your pipes!
4. To make the plaster mixture, combine 1 and 1/4 cups Plaster of Paris and 1/2 cup water in your plastic container. Mix it together until it looks like cake batter. If it's too thick, add a small amount of water. If it's too runny, add more plaster one spoonful at a time. When the plaster no longer dissolves in the water, you've added enough.
5. Quickly stir in two spoonfuls of liquid tempera paint. Mix it really well.
6. Pour the mixture into the lined tube and tap gently to get rid of any air bubbles.
7. Let the chalk dry overnight and then remove it from the tube. It will still be damp, so let it dry for a few more days.
8. Once it's dry, you've got your homemade chalk!

We find sidewalk chalk is way more fun if you spray the sidewalk lightly with water. When the chalk gets wet it spreads more easily, almost like paint. Sophie walks all around the garage making little islands of marks. She asks me to draw her "BIG Kitties!" and dogs. It's a great way to encourage drawing on a larger scale. Speaking of which, Sally sent me some large-scale ideas that we'll post this coming week. Good luck with your own chalk!

Visual Inspiration!

See? Book!
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Long before we were making art, we were reading it. Here are some of Sophie's and my favorite kid's book illustrators:

-Taro Gomi. He is famous for Everybody Poops, but his board books are gorgeous, simple introductions to his unique style of illustration. We don't own his famous Doodles and Scribbles books, but one day we will . . .

-Peter McCarty's Hondo & Fabian, Moon Plane, etc. He has a soft, simple style that is really unique and appealing.

-Vera B. Williams's More, More, More Said the Baby. The colors and rich style are irresistible. We love the stories too.

-Donald Crews. Another great, graphic approach to illustration. Freight Train is our favorite. Sophie learned her colors by reading it over and over (and over) again.

-Eric Carle, of course. He makes every list, for his gorgeous pages. His "My First Book of Colors" is an excellent way to learn colors.

-Mo Willems! No one draws a better, more expressive pigeon. And his unique approach to Knuffle Bunny, with drawings over photos, encourages collage and layering. Plus, his stories rock.

-Ian Falconer's Olivia series. Again, mixing reality with drawing. And Olivia is an inspiration to all budding abstract-expressionists.

-Leslie Patricelli's board books were among Sophie's early favorites. Each page is hand-painted, which make the playful texts even better.

There are so many more. We'd love to hear your favorites.

Bathtub Paint

As Sophie demonstrated with the cornstarch paint,the bathtub is a great place to paint. You get art and a clean child all at once. Here is a recipe for my favorite bathtub paints:

Pour your favorite shampoo (tearless for littlest ones) or liquid soap into a big, deep bowl; 3 tablespoons or so should be enough. Add a small amount of water, about 1 or 2 tablespoons.
Whip it up at high speed by hand or with an electric mixer until it's the consistency of whipped cream. Add a little food coloring. (Remember to divide the whipped paint if you want more than one color.)

Let them paint all over the tub. This makes a wonderful body paint too.
If you want to preserve the creation, lay paper over the painting and "pull" a print. It's fun to draw over these with chalk pastels or water-based markers while the paper is still damp.

For easy cleanup, sprinkle the tub with baking soda, and encourage the artist to help scrub.

Cornstarch Fingerpaints!

Cornstarch Fingerpaints!
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

This week's idea comes straight from Sally's kitchen. Sophie and I loved the texture and transparency of the paint. She had a blast mixing the colors together. We also painted in the bathtub, as the cornstarch sticks to the sides of the tub well, and cleans up so easily. When she got bored of painting, Sophie started feeding the stuff to her dolls. Yummy. Enjoy and please drop any success stories in the Flickr batch, or leave a comment below!

Cornstarch Finger Paint:
Bring two cups of water to a slow boil. Mix two heaping tablespoons of cornstarch with a bit of cold water, and pour into boiling water, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. "Cook" for about a minute. (Vary the amount of cornstarch, depending on how thick you want it...experiment). Allow to cool in small containers and add food coloring. Paint freely with hands while still warm. (Add a squirt of liquid soap for easy clean-up. Use "tearless" shampoo for the littlest ones.)

PS- This made quite a bit of paint for one party. Next time we'll try to make half the recipe.

Some Uses for Paintings

If you're anything like I was when my girls were small, you'll end up with acres of beautiful paintings and drawings. Turn them into:

-a matte for photographs and smaller work

-an instant lampshade. Clip on an existing shade with paperclips.

-books of all kinds, for drawings and writing

-wrapping paper...never buy it again.

-lanterns (Roll into a tube and secure with glue or clips. Insert a candle in a votive or jar.)

What Will Happen If...?

I’m Sally, the art-making, art-teaching aunt and I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Ellen and Sophie on “Mudpie.” I approach all art as a question to be answered or a problem to be solved, whether it’s my own painting or a class project, and whether the artist is 18 months or 18 or 80. The best part is there’s no single answer.

Here are a few ideas for some supplies beyond the basics you probably already have, and some art-making tips.

Tempera paints- either homemade (recipes to follow) or store bought. You don’t need many colors, since part of the fun is learning to make secondary colors by mixing and experimenting. For some reason turquoise, magenta and yellow mix into the truest greens, oranges and purples, so make sure you invest in those if you’re buying. Add a true blue and red, if you like, and some white and black.

Oil pastels- the “chubbies” work well for small hands. I confess I don’t think much of crayons these days…so brittle…but oil pastels mix almost like paint and you can try scratching back through the colors. Young hands don’t have to press so hard to make a satisfying mark.

Keep an eye out for unusual paint surfaces: boxes of all sizes, sticks, stones, old books, paper bags, newspaper, used and found furniture, old shoes. Become a trash hound.

Kitchen supplies- cornstarch, oil, flour, salt, food coloring, (the paste kind are wonderfully bright and go a long way)

WEAR OLD CLOTHES- patronize your local thrift store, or let children paint in little or nothing. I have banned smocks and those big man-shirts from my art classes whenever possible. They inhibit movement, and paint seems to get all over anyway.

Resist the impulse to write or draw on your child’s work, unless invited to do so.

Snowman

Snowman
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Sophie and I plan to "testdrive" this week's project today. If my computer cooperates, look for a post tomorrow! In the meantime, make some playdough:

Stir together, over medium/low heat:

1 cup flour
1 tbsp oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
food coloring of your choice . . .

Stir until it comes to a cream-puff like consistency. Cool and knead!

Every toddler should have a portfolio

Lines
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

In an odd coincidence, I had just taken some photos of Sophie's "pictures" when these photos popped up in my Flickr account. We have some friends in Massachusetts, also with a Sophie, who also loves to paint. I figure a few digital snapshots will survive long after the manila paper turns orange. If you're reading, please add your own little one's pieces to the Flickr pool. It's fun to see what they're doing at different ages, and with different materials.

Rain Painting

rainpaint3
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

For our debut post- one of our recent favorites. Use medium-heavyweight paper. A big artist's sketchpad would be perfect. You'll also need several small food coloring bottles- those tiny squeeze bottles by McCormick worked perfectly for us. Take your supplies and a naked baby, or clothed in something old and stainable, outside in the light rain. Lay your paper on the driveway, patio table, whatever works. Remember that food coloring stains wicked, so protect anything valuable.

Sophie did a number of different things with this. On some pages she took the small food coloring bottles and "drew" with them. The pressure from her hand holding it was just strong enough to let the color out of the bottle as she went (if your kids have stronger hands, you may have to monitor this). Then we set those lines out in the drizzling rain and watched how the water changed the picture (here's an example). Some pages we let get wet first and then dropped colors into them, watched them spread out like rivers (so cool). When our paper got very wet, she had a blast using the "drawing" technique and watching the colors saturate the paper.

Remember that while the final paintings will undoubtedly be beautiful (we have framed several), it's as much about the process as the product. You could emulate the rain with a backyard sprinkler and do this on any old day, but I find myself in most need of art-time when the skies are cloudy and we can't go the playground. We came inside to a warm bath, where we washed her "painty" hands and admired the fruits of our labor. Enjoy, and if you get some good results, drop us a comment or post it to our new Flickr pool!

3, 2, 1

Sophie and I are officially launching Mudpie!, a collaboration with my aunt, Sally, who is an art teacher extraordinaire. We have had a string of wicked rainy days and as any parent of a toddler knows, it is beyond challenging to keep a busy kid entertained all day inside. Enter ART. Sophie, my twenty-month old daughter, is a born artist. She loves colors, knows all of them. She loves to "write letters" like Mama, paint, draw, mess around with Play-dough, scribble and erase on her chalkboard. When our supply of inspiration ran out last week, I knew who to call. Sally has taught a class called "Mudpie" to toddlers all over the South. She is our guru and we hope that this blog will become a means of sharing her fabulous ideas with our kiddos far and wide.

Our goal is one art idea per week, with some random posts here and there to highlight the more basic art stuff- like vendors, ideas for supplies and organization, etc. Above all this is a collaboration, so please contribute/comment! Our email is ellenlandrum@gmail.com.