Thursday, 22 May 2008 by Irene Hoofs
...making one off prints using paint.
What you will need:
*White bond paper cut to 9 x 12 in.
*Plexi-glass 8 x 10 in., paint brushes
*Acrylic paint – various colours (tempera paints will work fine)
step one:
..take the paint with the brush and paint on the plexi –glass it’s good to work quickly so that the paint doesn’t dry
step two:
..take the paper and place it on top of the plexi-glass and press all over the surface
step three:
..slowly peel the paper off the surface and if desired repeat to make lots of different kinds of monoprints
Wednesday, 14 May 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..creating a shadow puppet show using silhouette cut-outs.
What you will need:
*1 sheet of black Bristol board
*coloured pencil, scissors, xacto knife, cutting board, masking tape
*scrap sticks
*white sheet and some thumb tacks
*a bright lamp
step one:
..take the black Bristol board and take the coloured pencil to draw your creature – cut out your image and ask an adult to cut out the small details with an exacto knife
step two:
..take the scrap wood and tape it to the back of your cut out.
step three:
..take a white sheet and either pin it between the door way or between two chairs. Make sure it’s dark and shine a bright light on the back of the sheet and the puppet show may begin – have fun!
Thursday, 8 May 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..create a shadowbox with magazines and found objects.
What you will need:
*Shoe box
*Magazines, scrap paper and found objects
*scissor and white glue and old brush for glue
*scrap cardboard for the backs of photos
*scrap yarn
step one:
..take the shoe box and cover the interior with coloured paper or as an option you can paint the inside.
step two:
..take the magazine images and cut out different shapes and scenes and layer on the inside of the box. Use the cardboard scraps to make some of the images stand upright.
Once dried you can put yarn or a hanging device to hang on the wall.
project images from readers here... » » »
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..this collage project takes your scribbles and doodles to create a surreal garden.
What you will need:
*Black India ink
*Brushes, scissor and glue stick
*18 x 24 in. white bond paper
step one:
..paint many shapes, scribbles and doodles with the ink – fill the entire sheet of paper
step two:
..once the ink dries cut out the different shapes and glue down with the glue stick to create different shaped flowers and plants. If you cut most of the white exposing the black ink – they will look more integrated. Try to keep it dense.
How about using water colour and try different scenes.
Thursday, 24 April 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..this project will help with colour, composition and perspective.
What you will need:
Old magazines
Glue stick and scissors
Pencil and pencil crayons
8 _ x 11 in. bond paper or your sketchbook
step one:
..choose a landscape image from a magazine – choose an image that has a bit of perspective and has a good amount of sky and ground
..cut out the image and glue it down on a piece of paper – I did the drawing in my sketchbook – it helps to keep the paper from moving
step two:
..if you like you can start the drawing by using a pencil – try adding objects and creatures in the landscape – maybe a dragon flying in the sky or a mermaid swimming in the ocean
..you don’t need to match the colours perfectly – I also find if you layer multiple colours on top of each other it creates nice textures.
..When your done you can frame it or scan it in your computer and print multiple copies to give to friends and family.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..this project is exploring pattern with lino printing – you can use this project to make a wall hanging, wrapping paper, cards etc. – we will use this method to make a book cover
What you will need:
*1 sheet of brown kraft paper approx.11 x 14 in”
*1 piece of soft lino approx. 3x3 in.
*scissors, pencil and ruler
*lino cutter, plexi to roll ink, roller and spatula
*white block printing ink
step one:
..take your book and trace around with a pencil – add an extra 4 in. on either side. Cut your book cover out.
step two:
..first decide on a image for your repeated pattern – try to do an image that goes right to the edge of the lino and do some thumbnail sketches if you want to see how it will repeat. Try to draw an image that won’t look like an image merely repeated, but rather an image that will become part of a larger pattern when repeated
..after you draw your design – colour in the areas you want to keep and leave blank the area you want to carve out
step three:
..carve out the areas left blank on your line block. You can ink the block and test how it looks on some scrap paper if you like to make sure its how you want it
step four:
..start printing the book cover by rolling ink on the lino block and pressing firmly on the kraft paper – start in the far left hand corner and work outwards
step five:
..once the entire surface is covered let dry
step six:
..place the cover over the book and fold in the inside flap.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..using a small motor you can create a kinetic bug that draws or create more than one to have a race with your friends
What you will need:
*1- 1.5 volt motor (found at most hobby shops)
*1- battery holder with on/off switch or tape the battery to the motor and connect the wires from the motor to the battery
*1- battery AA
*scissors and pencil
*small piece of coloured paper to decorate the bug
*pliers
*19 gauge wire (copper or any malleable wire)
*plastic
tubing (the gauge should be able to fit on the tip end of the motor –
if it doesn’t fit snugly you can put a bit of the duct tape on the end)
*roll of duct tape
step one:
..first tape together the motor and the battery holder (if you got one with an on/off switch – make sure to place battery in holder)
step two:
..take the wire and cut into three pieces 7 in. long
step three:
..tape the legs on the motor and battery body – try to tape the legs without taking the whole thing apart to change the battery or you can use a good quality battery that will last a long time.
..Once you tape the legs to the body bend them downwards and turn the ends of the legs up so the feet of the bug is round
Step four:
..Take the plastic tubing and insert it on the tip end of the motor – you will need to play around with the length – it depends on the height of your legs. Do a test and turn it on - the plastic tube should be able to spin in a full circle while hitting the surface
If you want to race your kinetic bugs – I find it’s good to have them on a bit of an incline – we used an elevated cutting board. The plastic tubing on the end makes the kinetic bug move.
* make sure to secure the tubing very well so when the motor is turned on it doesn’t fly off.
Step five:
..To make the bug drawing use the pliers to break the tip end of the pencil and duct tape it to the tip of the tube
Wednesday, 2 April 2008 by Irene Hoofs
Dear readers...Arounna and I have had so many nice responses to all the projects (thank you and of course Arounna deserves all the credits) ... we have also seen some great images on different blogs from readers who actually did one of the projects...I think that is just wonderful... and we thought it would be a nice idea if we collect images of all the projects that you did during the past few weeks...and place them on B:Kids ... from now on every new project will have a special page added to the post, which you can reach by following the link (project images from readers here... » » ») and it will be showing your projects and artwork...all you have to do is send us your image or link... we are really looking forward to seeing your childrens' or your own artwork...
I added some beautiful images from readers who did some of previous projects, please scroll down to the projects and click on the links: project images from readers here... » » »
…creating a Marquetry-like image by collaging different types of wood veneer
What you will need:
*8 x 10 wood panel
*different wood veneers, like maple, pine, cherry or oak
(if you don't have any veneer quickly available, maybe you can ask the local timbershop for some left-overs)
*white glue and brush
*scissors and pencil
*sand paper no. 250
step one:
..firstly decide what image you want to create – I decided on a tree with a bird
..take the wood veneer and draw out your shapes – or you can just start cutting.
*keep in mind the wood veneer cuts very well – but you need to be aware of the wood grain – it can break off easily – not to worry you can attach them together when you glue it down
step two:
..once you cut out your shapes start gluing – put glue on the wood panel in the spot you want the shape to be – then put glue on top of the cut out shape. You need to be very generous with the glue – if you don’t put enough glue it will curl as it dries.
step three:
..keep doing step one and two till you get the desired effect and once your image is done brush the white glue over the entire surface and let it stand to dry – once dried as an
Wednesday, 26 March 2008 by Irene Hoofs
..this project is painting water colours in the wet on wet method to create loose images of flowers
What you will need:
*8 x 10 in. water colour paper
*water colours, brushes and cup for water
*one bamboo skewer
*black India ink
*hair dryer (optional)
step one:
..take a clean brush and dip in the water and wet the entire surface of the paper
step two:
..take different colours of the water colour and dab small amounts of the colour to allow the paint to bleed on the surface. Proceed with this step till you get the desired effect.
step three:
..take the hair dryer and dry the entire surface – the surface can be a bit damp, but not wet
step four:
..take the bamboo skewer and draw lines on the surface creating the outlines of the flowers
you can also blow dry this surface when you are done drawing
project images from readers here... » » »