children Archives - Claire's Creative Adventures

Preparing Children for an Art Museum

There is a lot of feedback on how to do this, but the best way that takes the least time is to hire a professional! Armed with more than pencil and paper, CCA tours engage and enlighten with myriad materials…. And show how to do it on your own. For more info on taking your little one: http://arts.gov/art-works/2014/preparing-children-art-museums

CCA tip: Make it a Child-Directed trip- Ask Museum Adventures for the Family! these questions about each piece they are drawn to:

What materials is it made from?
How do you think they did it?
Guess what the artist was thinking when they made it?
What do you like?
What do you not like?
How would you make your own version?

If you’re nervous about bringing more than a pencil & paper, make a list of what your child needs to make their own version, go together to get the supplies and follow it up at home.

Imagine how excited they will get about art. And the interest they will have on their next visit!

Thank You Students For An Incredible Year!

And for lending us your trust, becoming self-confident individuals, working together and having incredible ideas with which to work! We celebrate your uniqueness, your effort, focus and of course- sense of humor! Have a great summer.

: Side 1

: Cliff taught us that through learning how to transfer from any photograph or drawing, then using Sharpees, washes and values, students re-created Venice complete with poles and Gondola! Model Magic for the tops of the poles made it pop!

: And so did mom! Venice Set Building Parent-Child Workshop Saturdays, lead by Cliff Gokenbach

: The End

Gallery Tours and Classes This Winter and Spring!

Thank you Lauren Pohl, Founder of Kid’s Central Station for highlighting our programs with Yahoo Finance!

We loved how it turned out!

DIY Snowman Dough Recipe-East Coast Tuesday Project!

It’s coming down in buckets the snow! So why not have some fun with a cup of hot cocoa, popcorn and this simple kids’ project with household items:

SNOWMEN: Dough (below), sticks/ Popsicle sticks, felt/ paper or even stickers, glue or gluestick, a baby carrot, buttons or found objects, large bowl, measuring cup, spoon/stirring tool.

Take turns (a good learning opp.) with each ingredient, including mixing. Mix dry ingredients first. Then add the water slowly. Stir well, then, mix with hands: Squeeze, press, pull; Build muscles in those hands and arms! Use both together then wash (FYI: Avoid if any cuts on hands, as salt may irritate or hurt.)

Separate and play with it, use tools or just hands, how many things can you do? When finished:
Roll 3 balls of 3 sizes and stack
Cut various paper for hat & glue onto top of popcycle stick, then press into center of snowman
Decorate w/ buttons, eyes, sticks, etc.
Add a carrot for the nose, it will be fun to watch over time.

Recipe per person (makes 2 snowmen): ½ cup salt, 1 cup flour, 1/3-1/2 half cup water. Another trick? To make it air dry in about a day, use a teaspoon of Alum! (Available in any pharmacy, yes it’s safe.)

Don’t eat the dough, it’s not sweet like cookies!

Related for younger: “Frosty the Snowman”, “Let it Snow”, “Dough is for rolling, rolling, rolling, dough is for rolling on a winter’s day”

How do you go from an example of Venice to this?

In our Venice Mini-Set Building Parent-Child Workshop Saturday, students learned exactly that. Artist Cliff Gokenbach showed us how…

Check out the slideshow below, to see how it was done. Some students are already working on their next city dioramas at home!

(We love it when parents become learners with their children:) Way to go Mariella!

And a great big THANK YOU to Cliff!

: Transfer process: cover back of photo with pencil

: Flip image and draw base

: Transfer the cityscape

: Transfer the bridge

: With acrylic-based paints, water down and make a “wash” after outlining with a permanent marker

: When they dry, attach with folded card stock and tape

: On small paper tubes (easy to make), paint blue and “twirl” when adding the white stripe!

: Make several and attach by poking a hole with a pencil into the foam base

: Draw or transfer a Gondola!

: Add other details- like people and the tops of the poles (this was done with Model Magic)

: We loved how it turned out!

: And so did mom! Venice Set Building Parent-Child Workshop Saturdays, lead by Cliff Gokenbach

: Cliff taught us that through learning how to transfer from any photograph or drawing, then using Sharpees, washes and values, students re-created Venice complete with poles and Gondola! Model Magic for the tops of the poles made it pop!

CCA’s museum for kids Pick-of-the-Week! PS1

Soft plush stuffed animals in an installation? Perfect for kids. Want an outdoor activity as well? Head to Socrates Sculpture Park to get the wiggles out after seeing all of the colors and “found objects” Mike Kelley has “strung” together! http://momaps1.org/exhibitions/view/374 Who wants to go on a tour together?! PS1 is only one stop from Manhattan…and plenty of Queens parents should certainly take advantage. I’m working on the hands-on projects!

Creating the Perfect Disguise at our Venetian Mask Party

At our Venetian Mask Party (great for all ages,) we adorned our own Venetian Masks with jewels, feathers, and so much more.

Take a peek at how we dazzle in our disguises!

: Love the rosettes on this mask!

: The feathers were a big hit!

: Love the butterfly!

: Our sticky mural was a hit with window markers to add designs of lines.

: So many creative and beautiful masks!

This Saturday 4pm: Parent/Child Disguise-Making for Halloween!

This Saturday, October 5th:

Create your own Venetian Mask!
4-5:30pm
1st Saturdays Parent-Child Workshop

Are you ready for Halloween?
Come create a Venetian mask that you can wear with style while trick-or-treating! Ages 5 and up should carve out time for this easy way to make an authentic-style disguise.

This Friday & Sat: Be inspired by the Impressionists! Join now.

Join Museum Adventures and Discover the Impressionists @ the Met!

This Friday, October 4th @3:45-5pm
This Saturday, October 5th @1-2:15pm
Ages 6 and up

Tours include hands-on diverse materials, on site at the museum.

Fall Art Adventures begins with Keith Haring!

In our first Art Adventures class of the Fall, we explored line families and made transparency prints a la Keith Haring.

To see all of our photos from class, visit our Flickr Page.

Have a 3-4 year old who wants to make art? Join us!