My WFMW today is pretty simple, but it brings hours of joy to my children.
Did you catch that? I said hours. As in completely immersed in their own creativity and basically quiet.
In fact, when I bring out the canvas art, my children have been known to become excited, yet calm. They encourage each other and praise each other’s efforts. They are proud of their own accomplishments. In short, canvas art is the great equalizer and mother’s best friend.
See the concentration?
I’ll admit this is a project for older children. You won’t want to let your toddler loose with paints and no supervision. My kids are 10 and 8, though, so I can put them in the garage with the door open and let them go to town while I blog surf do laundry and clean.
So what exactly is it? Oh, you’ll laugh when I tell you. It’s that easy.
Go to Michael’s (or any craft store) and buy the cheapest canvas you
can find. I’ve found that Michael’s has sets of two canvases for $5.
Wal-Mart may be cheaper (if you ask Shannon), but I haven’t checked. And don’t forget that Hobby Lobby usually has a sale on canvases so check their fliers.
As for paint, anything you have will work. We have used left over wall
paint and acrylic paint. The kids love to feel like they are using
"real" paint instead of their school-like water colors.
I set up two card tables in the garage and cover them with plastic
sheets (you can use a shower curtain from the Dollar Store) or cardboard. The garage
is cool enough for them and keeps the wind out. The garage is also a
good place for paint spills as opposed to my kitchen or dining room.
I give them the paints and brushes we’ve accumulated and tell them to be as creative as they like.
We’ve done this three times so far and each time my children are
beaming with pride for themselves and each other. And I have cheap art
that’s completely awesome–to me, anyway.
There is something about having a canvas that makes this project special. The canvas makes it professional for my kids. And the confidence and creativity it inspires works for me.
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Head back to Works-for-Me Wednesday at Shannon’s to see what’s working for everyone else this week.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t wait for my son to be old enough to do this – what a fantastic idea! I’d hang these all around the house, they’re beautiful!
Wow, thats a great tip! I have 3 and 5 year olds so I wont be letting them go all out with the paints, but I could probably see what they could do with some markers! Thanks so much!
Have an awesome day!
Love it! I’m a huge fan of canvases. You can actually do this with preschoolers with fingerpaint. My daughter feels like quite the artiste as well.
I really like your results! Are you going to hang them? I would, if I were you.
I’ll have to check out the canvas prices. I proudly display my older 2 school art work. I know it would make them feel like real artists if they had a canvas piece somewhere(not to mention, great gift ideas for relatives!)
I have always enjoyed painting on canvas too!
The kids have some skill. I love the bold colors and graphic patterns!
We’ve done this at our house too, and I love having the kids’ art hanging in our home gallery.
Big Lots is also a great place to find canvases on the cheap.
YES, this is a fantastic idea! I’ve done this with my cherubs when they were smaller and needed MUCH supervision, for a Christmas present for the grandparents. But now they are almost 7 and 5 and totally into crafty stuff….oooh, love the idea of HOURS of occupation!
Thanks for this tip!
What a great great great idea! I MAY (emphasize may) do this with Trev, if Ewan is fully occupied elsewhere, with fingerpaint. It would make for great bedroom art when it’s done.
Or I may wait a few years for when they’re both old enough to sit in the garage by themselves…
Love this! Mine are 7, 5, & 3… not quite old enough to be unsupervised, and we don’t have a garage, so I’ll have to wait a bit before I let them just have at the paint. But I love this idea. *S*
Awesome post and great pictures! So the whole project is really affordable!
Great idea.. My son is 3 1/2 and my daughter is 6 months lol but can’t wait to try this with them when they are older!
I love this idea — especially the in-the-garage part. I’ll be doing this over the summer for my 9-yr-old, I’m sure.
Oh, I wanted to do this with my kids before but didn’t get the chance. Thanks for the reminder – we’ll do this this summer. It’s fun!
Oh, I wanted to do this with my kids before but didn’t get the chance. Thanks for the reminder – we’ll do this this summer. It’s fun!
Oh, I wanted to do this with my kids before but didn’t get the chance. Thanks for the reminder – we’ll do this this summer. It’s fun!
I have never thought to do something like this. My kids are 6 and 8 so I think thy would really enjoy the chance to be “real artists”. Thanks for the great idea!
That looks really cool! I’ve seen these at the dollar store before, I always regretted not picking them up. Will have to keep an eye out for them. I like that grid thing, my kids could do that!
Too fun! I’ve been meaning to do this with my kids for a while, but just haven’t yet. I’ll definitely have to do it — especially in the garage! LOL
Wow! Those are truly masterpieces! Love the idea, can’t wait to try it on a rainy summer day.
Our son loves to paint too!
In fact, for his 3rd birthday party, we hosted a painting party at a Michael’s Craft Store and each child in attendance got their own canvas to paint on. Michael’s provided all the paint, the brushes, and embellishments (ribbon, jewels, foamies, etc). The kids had a blast and now we all have a portrait to hang on our walls!