Susan Schwake - Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media—For Budding Artists of All Ages

52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media
Susan Schwake
Photography by Rainer Schwake

For Budding Artists of All Ages

2012 by Quarry Books
Text 2012 Susan Schwake

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by the producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

First published in the United States of America by Quarry Books, a member of Quayside Publishing Group
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schwake, Susan.
Art lab for kids : 52 creative adventures in drawing, painting, printmaking, paper, and mixed media-for budding artists of all ages / Susan Schwake.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-765-5
ISBN-10: 1-59253-765-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-61058-211-7 (digital ed.)
1. Art--Technique--Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Title: 52 creative adventures in drawing, painting, printmaking, paper, and mixed media-for budding artists of all ages. III. Title: Fifty-two creative adventures in drawing, painting, printmaking, paper, and mixed media-for budding artists of all ages.
N7440.S39 2012
702.8--dc23

2011041248
CIP

Digital Edition: 978-1-61058-211-7
Softcover Edition: 978-1-59253-765-5

ISBN: 978-1-59253-765-5

Digital edition published in 2012
eISBN: 978-1-61058-211-7

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Book Layout: tabula rasa graphic design Series design: John Hall Design Group, www.johnhalldesign.com

This book is dedicated with love to my mother,
who always nurtured the artist in me.

UNITPaper

THIS BOOK IS A SMATTERING OF LESSONS I have used over the past twenty years of teaching. They started on the kitchen table with my daughter, Grace, when she was three. Two years and a second baby (Chloe) later, I was convinced that I had to take the art lessons out of the home and share them with others. I opened my little art school in a rented space at a local church. A year passed, and the classes expanded. I moved into a larger studio, then a second location. Finally, it grew up fully into the gallery/studio/school it is today.

Almost every art lesson I taught along the way shared stories about or pictures from contemporary artists. It has been my belief that, through viewing the art of a wide variety of artists, students can identify with a particular movement or singular artists work. This can reassure young artists of their own work, their own vision.

In our gallery, I curate ten exhibits a year with groups of contemporary artists. The students view the work on a weekly basis, in their classes. Along with the exhibits, books, slides, Internet sites, and posters introduce my students to a broad range of art. However, nothing can replace seeing the actual artwork. I highly recommend visiting a local gallery or museum to see the paintings, drawings, prints, and other artwork in person. It can change your life!

THIS BOOK IS FOR ANYONE interested in making art with othersor alone. Each Lab is a separate lesson; some are traditionally based; others are not. The units are grouped by medium, and there is some crossover in materials from one Unit to another. The Labs are set up loosely to build skills upon the previous ones; however, you may begin anywhere. Each Lab is a stand-alone project.

In this Unit, I outline what you will need to set up a studio. The list is comprehensive, but you do not need much to get started. I also provide basic steps for using the materials that appear in many of the Labs.

Each persons work should be wholly his or her own. Dont work on someone elses art. Use thoughtful language when working with others. For example, Tell me about your painting works better than What is that?

Always use the best materials that you can lay your hands on for each artmaking session. Paper weight makes a big difference in the outcome of a watercolor painting, but you can use recycled flat cardboard with gesso as a primer for acrylic painting.

Dont worry about wrecking a new paper or canvas. These items can be reusedtorn up for collage, primed over with gesso, or printed over.

Promote fearlessness.

Embrace individual style. Respect each others differences.

These Labs are jumping-off points. Explore them with the Go Further suggestions. Try out your own ideas. Have fun! The most important lessons in art are the ones that you discover about yourself in the process. Be brave, experiment, and fear no art!

This Unit will prepare you for making art with children and keeping things comfortable and under control in your space, no matter the size of the room. Some of you will work on a students desktop; others, at your kitchen table. These preparations will help make artmaking comfortable for everyone. Setting up a workspace for creating art can be daunting. These lists and tips can make it easier, whether you are working at home or in the classroom.

A creative place for making art is best fashioned in a comfortable environment, a place free from worry about making a mess. Making art can be stressful for some peoplemany think it means making a mess or creating havoc. Worry no more! As with so many things in life, preparation is the key to success, and a deeper understanding of a situation is a powerful tool.