April is the best month in NYC to see the cherry blossoms all over the city- especially around the Reservoir in Central Park!
Try making one of your own after an OUTDOOR ART HUNT for the natural materials!
Materials
Collect: Tree branches, grass, rocks
Tissue Paper, Toilet paper Tube, Newspaper, Gold Paint
Hot Glue or Paper Clip, Scissors
Flour
Directions
Papier mâché (flour/H2o mixture like pancake mix + newspaper strips) the cardboard square base + toilet tube together after taping together (leave a hole for the tree branch!)
Add rocks & grass with glue.
Tissue paper for Flowers: Overlap/ stack 2-3-4 (smaller size) square colorful tissue sheets, fold in ½, fold in ½ again, cut curvy edge (on non-folded part), twist to a point (the bottom of folded part) hold tight and open into a flower!
Hot glue (or paperclip) your flower bases all along the tree branch.
For Extra fun -First add Paint: *Add gold color to the tree branch and let dry before attaching flowers!
Springtime is the land awakening! The March winds are the morning yawn. -Lewis Grizzard
Celebrate spring by creating a bright colorful, robot puppet with your kids! Then in the afternoon, take the robot puppet outside and put on a puppet show!
Robot Puppet
Supplies:
Scissors, Glue, Markers or Oil Pastels and Water Color
Dowel or Carboard Tube “(we used the white tubes around wire hangers which you can score for free from most dry cleaners)”
Brads, Cardboard, Duct Tape
Fun Options: Gems, Buttons, Tissue Paper, Scrapbook Paper
“Choose a shape for the head” or “cut a 5×5 square.”
Use oil pastels to decorate the head and paint watercolors over for an awesome effect. Then glue the fun options from gems to scrapbook paper for added detail.
Follow all the steps for the body, arms and legs that you did for the head.
Glue the head to the body. Use a hole puncher or toothpick to punch holes where the arms and legs need to connect to the body. Then add a brad to connect each piece- the robot can now move and groove!
Take the dowel or cardboard tube and duct tape it to the back.
Create a fun puppet show with your creative, colorful, spectacular Robot!
-PC and Craft: Make Robot Puppets, Meri Cherry Art Studio
Don’t take a break from Creativity! 5 ways to stay Creative this Spring (Parents and kids!) Creative problem-solving for families in need of educational entertainment:
In-Person Summer Camps: Kids will explore all types of art media. Outdoor Courtyards are used for sketching and outdoor art! (weather permitting) Daily easel painting, dry art murals, free-choice art stations, storytelling + inspiring art processes to tantalize and engage every age and skill level! Learn/practice simple French and Spanish. June to August/ Full week or once-a-week options/ Age Groups: Late 3-6′s/ 7-11′s /Mornings or Afternoons. LIC & UES locations.Click Here to Learn more!
2.Spring Break Camps: OUTDOOR PAINTING, MOVING AND CREATING ARTStory Adventures. Ages 4-9. Introduction to French and Spanish! Daily Art and Movement in Outdoor Courtyards + Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Multi-Media *Friday field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Begins March 22-April 2, Monday-Friday*In-Person@1157 Lexington @ All Soul’s Church. (2 hours) 9:30-11:30am / 1-3pm / 3-5pm. $550 per week/ Limited to 6 spaces for safety. Reserve a time as a Pod.Click Here to Learn more!
3. April/May Classes: Outdoor and indoor creative & inspiring art development (in-person) programs: Inquire Here and share your scheduling needs & location: Click Here to Inquire.
4. Personalized Private Classes:A great way to stay practiced and learn new skills! Painting, Sculpting, Drawing, Multi-Media, Photography… Tell us your interests!Click Here to Inquire
5. Virtual ARTStory Adventures: (Siblings receive a 50% Discount!) Socially distant learning: 1 hr. Zoom classes with jam-packed ART KITS and added DIY video extras to choose from (for in-between classes) like additional drawing lessons, dance, movement and experiments. Monthly series. Happening NOW-May. Join us for anIntroductory Week: and receive 2 classes + Art Kit with all Drawing, Painting, Crafting and Building supplies… for only $97! Check it out & join us: Our next Adventure begins in 2 weeks! Click Here to Register!
Prepare Early for the holiday with this awesome drawing project!
Supplies: Paper/Pencil/Colored Pencils/Markers Quality family time, draw “St. Patrick’s Day folding surprise” together! Watch the whole video to see “this week’s Challenge-Time! Happy Early St. Patrick’s Day!
-PC and Project: How to Draw St. Patricks Day Folding Surprise + Challenge Time
We took inspiration last week from Alexander Calder’s mobiles and stabiles to create our own version of these Kinetic Art sculptures! We learned all about our line and shapes family: creating straight, curved and angle lines in our wires & pipe cleaners. Then connected these lines to our shapes! We were then introduced to the brand new medium of plaster wrap! Just dip in water & smooth with your fingers onto the surface. Our shapes were finally brought to life with a bit of watercolor!
Need a SPRING BREAK CAMP? March 22-April 2, Monday-Friday* Ages 4-6 /7-9. In-Person: Location: @1157 Lexington @ All Soul’s Church)
Week 1 & Week 2 / Choose AM or PM: (2 hours) 9:30-11:30am / 1-3pm / 3-5pm: Indoor + Outdoor art activities + *Friday field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
A full ARTS experience: Daily Courtyard Art and Movement, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting with exciting Multi-Media building of 3D Stories!
Click here to Contact us to Inquire or Register Now: (Limited Spaces/ 6 children per time/ Pods most welcome with a 6-student reservation.) $550 per week
Or join us for virtual ARTStory Adventures!
ArtStory Adventures includes abstract art games, drawing storybook characters, crafting with mailed art kits, storytelling, exercising, dancing, and so much more! Everything is digital and your kids can go at their own pace-3 hours of content: Monday through Friday!
Or Click Here for 1 hr. Zoom Classes or get (discounted) Digital only access to these monthly activities ($188). Or Try Introductory Week: 2 classes, art kits plus all videos for only $97!
Fabulous last two weeks with a wonderful student! In week 1, we went to the South Pole with Scarlett from ArtStory Adventures! She created a Decoupage canvas snowscape!
Week 2: She drew Scarlett’s Best Friend, Polie!
Want your child to feel courageous, safe and to overcome making “mistakes”?
Join us for Spring Break Camp (or spring classes) where they will be empowered by the ARTS to learn how to make bold choices! Daily Courtyard Art and Movement, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting with exciting Multi-Media building of 3D Stories!
March 22-April 2, Monday-Friday* Ages 4-6 /7-9. In-Person: Location: @1157 Lexington @ All Soul’s Church. (Strict safety precautions observed.)
Week 1 or Week 2: Choose AM or PM: (2 hours) 9:30-11:30am / 1-3pm / 3-5pm: Indoor + Outdoor art activities + *Friday field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Contact us to Inquire or Register Now Here: (Limited Spaces/ 6 children per time/ Pods welcome with a 6-student reservation.) $550 per week
Through monthly illustrated stories, children discover that when love and courage unite, they are unstoppable! Children unlock their own courageous superpowers through storytelling, drawing animals, creating 3-D sets and experiments (dance & theatre are also included!)
Or Try our online version: 1 hr. Zoom Classes with additional DIY art-making videos or Digital-only access to these monthly activities. Introductory Week: 2 classes, w. art kits and all videos for only $97: Click hereto register!
“The oil-on-canvas painting illustrates George Washington, then a general in the American Revolutionary War, crossing the Delaware River with his troops on the night of Dec. 25-26, 1776. The crossing immediately precipitated Washington’s surprise attack on the Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey….
Although the painting depicts a scene from the American Revolutionary War, the original was actually painted in 1851 in Germany — 75 years after the Battle of Trenton, says David Parrish, professor of art history.
German-born artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, who was born 40 years after the battle, painted “Washington Crossing the Delaware” in Düsseldorf.”
-PC and Information: Purdue University, Did you know ‘Washington Crossed the Delaware’ Painting?
Red, White and Blue Recycled Egg Carton Boats
Supplies:
Half of a cardboard egg carton/ Red, White and Blue Fabric (keep kids busier longer with paper or napkins and markers)
Brown yarn/Scissors/Glue/Small Stick,
Lego Figurines or Animals
Easy craft to keep your kiddos laughing and playing for hours! First, cut out large triangle and then wrap one of long edges around the craft stick. Second, cut out six mini flags out of the fabric. If you want this craft to take longer then get out construction paper or napkins, and markers for the triangles. Third, cut the brown yarn and then hot glue from the bottom of the carton to the top of the big flag. Make sure the string is tight. Fourth, glue the mini flags to the string. Finally, add your animal or lego characters to your boat and let them float on the floor. You can totally get these wet, just know that it will probably sink!
-PC and Craft: 11 Crafts for Kids to Keep Them Busy During Lockdown, Heart Handmade
Join our ARTStory Adventures!
All-in-one Digital & Live ART Classes in Drawing, Sculpting, Crafting, Imagination & Stories of Adventures! (Bonus short movement and dance videos included.) Click HERE to learn more.
Enjoy this super easy (and free!) card-making project with Bubble wrap makes cool prints on cards with paint! (or any recyclable material with texture)
Kids LOVE popping bubbles in bubblewrap! Keep them busy & their fingers strong with this fun printing activity- while using up packaging to boot! (or get a sheet from UPS or Staples.) Don’t have bubblewrap handy? Look around the home for textured materials to cut into hearts! Materials: Scissors; marker, white or colored paper; paint brush, paint or ink pad, paper towels or newspaper + bubble wrap
Pop all the bubbles first on the bubble wrap! Fold a piece of paper in 1/2 or in 1/4. On a flat surface, lay down newspaper or paper towels. Then, with a marker, draw a (large) heart shape onto the bubble wrap that will fit your folded paper. Cut the bubble wrap heart shape. Next, place layer of paint on the bubble wrap with a brush, and then lay it carefully face-down onto the paper, press with out moving and lift. (Set aside for more prints of various colors!) Finally, Write Happy Valentine’s Day! To: ___________ From __________ on the front or the back. Add stickers, glue and glitter or a message as to why you LOVE them!
PC: The Best Ideas for Kids
We can’t wait to see you live in the classroom! One of our favorite V-Day projects was creating beautiful works of art like Jim Dine: Monotypes et Gravures! “Did you know that amonotype is the proof of a painting made on a metal, glass or plexiglass plate?
-artland.com
Click hereto check out our more Jim Dine art projects!
Enjoy cold winter days with this creatively comprehensive monthly series: Story-Based Travel & Cultural Exploration via Virtual or Live Artistic Development in Drawing, Crafting, Sculpting and Building. Direct endless energy… as Movement & Dance bonus videos enrich the adventure!
January is always thrilling and exciting as we cast our sites on new things ahead! Here’s a few art projects to keep your kids dreaming, wishing and motivated to continue new art projects through the end of January!
Wishing Wand Supplies: Cardstock Contact paper, Scissors, Assorted Sequins and Glitter, Lours, Marker, Stick/Dowel, Pencil, Ribbon or Wired Garland
Cut out two stars with Cardstock Paper, then take the contact paper and cut it out two times. Make them the size of the star. ****Leave enough room so that the contact paper can be glued to the star later. Decorate one of the contact paper with assorted sequins and glitter lours. Thenglue the edges of the contact paper together. Finally, glue the contact paper to the edges of the star. If you have any edges of the contact paper that extends outside of the star then just cutaround and re-glue the edges. Last but not least,Set Goals and Resolutions: Write around the outside of the star goals and things to look forward to. For example:“FRONT: In 2021, I want to create, earn a new belt, go to the beach. BACK: Learn to read, illustrate, start eating dessert after breakfast.” -New Years Centerpiece and Wishing Wand, Dancers4Life
Alcohol Ink Coasters
4 tile coasters (the non-porous and shiny kind
Ranger Alcohol Inks ( several colors of choice)
Rubbing Alcohol
Felt
Black Paint
Mod Podge Glue ( or glue of choice)
Paint brushes
Wax paper or something to protect you work surface ( these inks stain…trust me – I learned the hard way !)
Spray Sealer
First, lay down wax paper on the table, then place the coasters on top. The wax paper will protect the table from spilled paint staining the table. Second, use a paint brush to rub the alcohol on the coasters. Third, place the colors in order of what you want to use first. Then start dropping the paint on the coasters. If you have any white spots then just add more color to it. Fourth, paint the sides black or any color of your choosing. Fifth, cut squares out of black felt. Leave it until you coat the bottom of the coaster with mod podge or glue. Then you can stick the felt to the bottom. Finally, use the spray seal over the paint side and allow it to dry overnight. Enjoy your finished colorful art project!
-PC and Project: Instructables Living
Fun Facts about Alcohol Ink!
“Alcohol inks are an exciting new medium in the art world that allow a free flow of expression with a variety of techniques. Artists who specialize in alcohol inks have developed styles that range, from representational art that captures the natural world, to abstract art specializing in serene and gilded designs.“
“The powerful punches of color, use of non-absorbent surfaces, and ability to maintain a clean seal with resin have allowed alcohol ink art to captivate a wide range of art enthusiasts. This artwork is a beautiful way to decorate your walls, as well as all manner of household objects. Alcohol ink artists are famous for theirversatility in substrates, as they paint glass vases, jewelry and metals, and functional wooden pieces. No matter what substrate they drop their ink onto, the pieces always come out looking stunning.”
“Louise Christian uses alcohol inks to paint natural scenes, such as forests, trees, flowers, and mushrooms. Her painting range from impressionistic to realistic. Her techniques make use of bold, bright colors and unique textures. To create her full desired vision, she mixes the media by drawing over her paintings with ink pens.”
With CCA, screen time in 2021 may surprise you! Videos which encourages Imaginationand exercise +Quality Art Materials, for your ‘At-Home’ Art Studio! Weekly live engagement classes(optional) will keep your kids active andinspired to work each week…OFFLINE!
Meetingand drawingour favorite penguin, Sweet Scarlett and the animals she encounters, travelling the world.Building icy coves & igloos in theSouth Pole Even make-your-own snow STEM activities! Kidsdraweach animal family, various scenes, landscapes, igloos and lots, lots more! Each week is filled withnew ideasto start them off running and creating, even after class- all week long. They’ll love using their hands, brains and bodies in Story Adventures: An interactive 3-D Art Adventure kids watch, learn to create & build themselves whilereadingand hearing stories of friendship adventures across many countries and cultures.
This class takes off February 1, 2021. Virtual Live & In-Person classes begin February 4 @ All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue on the UES of NYC!
What is it? A Social Emotional Learning program based invisual arts,cultural exploration, literature and dance!
What will my child be doing? Divinginto a new story adventure every month. Creating the characters and sets in the storythroughvisual art classes.Moving their body and developing a love of movement and coordinationthrough dance technique videos.Building confidencethrough art, theater and musical games.
What will I gain? Art heals and unites. The Story Adventures program builds the language ofresilience, empowers kids with character, gainsconflict resolution problem-solving skills along with a love forliterature, art skills, fantasy and travel!
How do I access the program? Create aschedule that works best for your family’s needs. Live zoom classes are available once a week for students to create it together!All pre-recorded drawing videos are available through Google classroom, accessible anytime. Exercise is also included through story-related movement and dance videos!
Watch your child’seyes light up as they receive exciting CCA Art Kits,filled with art studio materials that willlast for years.Heartswill soar as your child creates amazing art projects. Sharejoyin yourentire householdwhen you have an alternative to screen time. If you need to make a call or get work done, put on a Story Adventures video to keep your child moving and creating!
“She seriously loves it all… the art and the dancing! This is a great program. She is dancing all over the house.” Theresa’s mom Alison“Lilah’s “favorites” are; getting the boxes delivered, unpacking all the art supplies, Using watercolor pencils, I really know how to draw penguins and whales now and all the characters in the book.” –Lilah’s mom Brina
The past year has been challenging but we have been able to grow in so many new ways. Congratulate yourself for making it through this year! We couldn’t have made it without you, extraordinary parents!
Thank you for continuing to enrich our community with your remarkable dedication to CCA’s mission and values. A year-in-review of some of our favorite moments helps us to focus on the positive, during this up & down rollercoaster of a year! Enjoy!
–Toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art with all classes (2.5-10’s) to see the amazing exhibit Making Marvels, the Science and Splendor at the Courts of Europe and making clocks (pre-Covid19)
-In March, smoothly transferred all programs online without missing a class, keeping sane with empowerment and humor… starting with creating the virus as a Pac-Man & a Crunch Berry! “Crunchatize me Captain!”
-Age-appropriated ART KITS grew to include all of the unique materials we would have used at school, shipped to each new home… including STEAM projects, like how to make your own Lava Lamps and snow!
–Jonathan Levwas a visiting artist to ourArt Adventures STUDIO Online Class where students 8-15 years learned how to draw landsccapes, architecture, perspecitve and portraits, including virtual studio tours of contemporary artists!
-Partnered with Central Studios (STL) to bring to life Penguins, Polar Bears, and Mermaids with 2D drawings, 3D set constructions, movement and dance for summer’s debut of DanceArt Camp (via Zoom) with fully-packed, weekly art kits
–Built our famous snow globes
–Explored Chinese Artusing new art materials: Bamboo brushes, ink and rice paper
-Celebrated Holiweek and created our own colored paints
-Dove into color mixingwith transclucent vellum and Elmer the Elephant in Mini-Art Adventures
-Created a stain glass mosaicforMother’s Day
–Made our very own2D-3D FROZEN translucent collage posters inArt Adventure Class
-Made haunted houses, painted foam skulls and bones, and createdspooky necklacesin our FREE Halloween Kids Art Event! (in collaboration with Blue Bus Project held at the Culture Lab in Long Island City)
-Designed and Celebrated a 5 and 3 year old unicorn and construction birthday partyduring Covid-19
-Toured the newly-opened Metropolitan Museum of Art this fall with families: 2 boys, ages 8 & 11 with their grandparents, metal embossing + projects exploring Impressionism and color theory!
Be ready 2021, we are coming for you with new joy and inspiration in our hearts!
