Alesia’s Art Activities
Alesia Lacina has a long history of arts education in Grinnell. Here are some of her favorite art activities for you!
Comedy Collage
Have a laugh!!!! (Have fun--there are no mistakes!)
Supplies: Glue stick+scissors+magazines/catalogs+markers
How to:
1) Find a magazine picture you like as a background.
2) Cut out and construct images that make you laugh!!
3) Arrange them, glue them down and draw on them.
Take a photo and post them, send to friends or to us at GAAC and we will repost them!
Personal Story Collages
(Have fun--there are no mistakes!)
Tell a story about you, your family, or your friends. It could express feelings or something you or they have experienced.
Supplies: Glue stick+scissors+Magazines and catalogs
How to:
1) Find a magazine picture you like as a background
2) Cut out images that help tell your story.
3) Arrange them and glue them down.
Take a photo and post them, send to friends or to GAAC and we will repost your creations!
Life-sized Marionettes
Materials
Recyclables
Zip ties
Hole punching tool
Scissors
Acrylic paint/brushes
Miscellaneous decorating supplies
Masking tape
Instructions
1. Lay out recyclables to form a creature. If any of the pieces have flaps like egg cartons, you may want to close them with masking tape.
2. Using the hole punching tool, poke medium sized holes in the recyclables where you want the pieces to be connected. It is best to do this part for kids, as it can be difficult to pierce through some recyclables, especially plastics.
3. Connect the pieces by threading zip ties through the holes and locking them. Keep the zip ties loose. Trim the extra length.
4. Paint your creature.
5. When dry, decorate it with anything you want! Then, go set it up in a chair. It might startle some people.
Cardboard Block Printing
Materials
Corrugated cardboard, assorted sizes
Craft knife
Glue
Paint & a brush
Paper
Instructions
Find a flat, medium sized piece of cardboard for your base. We cut off the flap of a box.
Using the craft knife, cut out a variety of shapes.
Arrange the shapes onto the cardboard base and glue down. Note that when you make a print with your block, the design on the base will be mirrored.
Quickly paint just the shapes on the block with a thin coat of paint, but still covering them completely.
Turn over and press the block onto a piece of paper, pressing firmly.
Lift the block off and your design will be printed on the paper. Let dry.
To make more prints, paint the shapes again and print. A great part about this project is the block can be reused many times.
Haikus
Haikus are a type of Japanese poetry that are 3 lines long and have 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the third line. Traditionally, haikus focus on a moment in nature, but they can be about anything! Write these as a group or individually. For another activity, have the kids illustrate their haiku.
Materials
Paper
Writing Utensil
Coloring materials (optional)
Instructions
Pick a subject! This is the best part.
Following the 5-7-5 syllable pattern, write about your subject. The lines do not have to rhyme at all, and the last line should point out something about the subject.
Examples
Popsicles
So many flavors.
Icy cold and very sweet.
I love popsicles.
Squirrel
Furry brown squirrel
Clicking angrily at me
While it eats a nut.
Stormy Weather
Grey haze covers the sky.
Humid air against my skin.
A storm is brewing.
Tips
To truly capture the subject, focus on what it looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes like.