What art supplies should I try?

This is so individual, but here is a starting place for your art-loving kids or yourself. See what interests them. Let them take a class or watch YouTube videos explaining a new medium. Let them practice and encourage them with their efforts without badgering or guilting. They might dive deep into a new medium for a week and then let it sit for months while another concept or medium interests them. You can remind them of what they have available and have it visible and accessible to them. As I mentioned in the last few posts, the best ways to help your children grow in art is to provide:

1. Practice drawing realistically and creatively. 

2. Exposure to good artwork. 

3. Exploration of many art mediums.

These age-related art supply lists will help facilitate the third point.

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For Toddlers

Materials do not need to be high quality as this stage is mainly about sensory exploration and fine motor skills. Just be careful nothing goes into their mouth that should not.

• Construction paper to paint with plain water or tear or cut with scissors

• Plain paper (a large paper is great for their larger stokes on the floor or an easel)

• Different size brushes

• Plastic scissors and cardstock from your recycling bin

• Play dough and cookie cutters and rolling pins

• Stamps

• Washable markers

• Large hole beads to string on pipe cleaners or cord

• Chalk and chalkboard and sidewalk chalk

• Pan watercolors (pre-load each color with a puddle of water for them rather than a bowl of water they can dump on the paper;))

• Stickers

• Glue sticks

Favorite Brands: Crayola, Store Brands, Play-Doh, Melissa & Doug

Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales

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For Elementary Kids 

Aim to get a little higher quality supplies for your elementary kids than your toddlers. They should be able to enjoy the experience of their supplies and not be frustrated that a brush splits, their paints are not bright or thick enough, or their scissors cut how they should. That way they can concentrate on their making, not their supplies. I will list favorite brands after the item listed if applicable.

• Spiral bound sketchbooks: Strathmore

• Drawing Pencils and Colored Pencils: Design, Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor

• Watercolor or multimedia paper (thicker to prevent warping with wet media): Strathmore or Canson

• Different size brushes, including fine point brushes and large 2-3 in brushes

• Acrylic or tempra paint: Blickrylic 

• Canvases or wood panels

• Pan watercolors: Prang or Masllutn

• Kid scissor with metal blades

• Play dough, air-dry clay, plastilina, oven-baked clay (Sculpty), ceramic clay for toy pottery or hand-building

• Stencils and stamps

• Thick and fineline markers: Crayola, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor

• Yarn, looms, large needles, embroidery hoops, buttons

• Glue sticks, liquid glue, Cool (for kids) hot glue gun

• Cardboard for sculpting, pumpkin carving tools for cutting, dress-makers wheels for scoring, tape and glue

Favorite Brands: Listed after each item above.

Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales, Craft Stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels, Art Supply Stores Dick Block and Jerry’s Artarama

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For Teens and Adults 

Aim to get middle to high quality, student to professional, or middle priced or higher. Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and other box stores will have nice middle to high quality art supplies. Dick Blick, Jerry’s Artarama, and local art supply stores will have higher and professional quality supplies. 

• Spiral bound sketchbooks: Strathmore

• Drawing Pencils and Colored Pencils: Design, Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor

• Watercolor paper: Canson, Arches, Strathmore

• multimedia sketchbooks (thicker to prevent warping with wet media): Canson, Strathmore

• Different size brushes with different points: Look for ones that come to a clean edge if flat or a point if round. They should keep their shape when wet. Kolinsky or other natural bristle brushes will last the longest and keep their shape the best, but there are many nice synthetic brushes available. : Loew-Cornell, Silver Brush, Escoda, Winsor & Newton, Craft or Art store brands

• Acrylic paint: Matisse Structure 

• Oil paint: Utrecht, Gamblin

• Canvases or wood panels: Paramount Pro

• Tube watercolors: Daniel Smith Premium artist grade, Winsor & Newton professional, M. Graham, Schmincke

• scissor and exacto blades

• air-dry clay, plastilina, ceramic clay for wheel throwing or hand-building

• Stencils and stamps

• Thick and fineline markers

• Yarn, looms, large needles, embroidery hoops, buttons

• Glue sticks, liquid glue, hot glue gun

Favorite Brands: Listed after each item above. These suggestions are not exhaustive. They are ones I have used personally and liked. 

Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales, Craft Stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels, Art Supply Stores Dick Block and Jerry’s Artarama

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Have fun making art yourself or with your children and sharing your love of art with the people you love. I’d love to hear of your or your children’s favorite art supplies! Drop a comment below. Of course if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Encouraging Your Art-loving children: Tip #3. Exploration of many art mediums

These three activities will encourage your art-loving children. 

1. Practice drawing realistically and creatively. 

2. Exposure to good artwork. 

3. Exploration of many art mediums.

This week I will talk about the last one, which is all about play and perseverance. 

Exploration of many art mediums!

Most children are naturally more apt to try new things than adults. Maybe because of their natural curiosity and inhibitions. Maybe because they have had less time to compare themselves and be judgmental of themselves and their abilities. Hopefully they have had less criticism and more encouragement in their efforts. This is a great time to explore new art mediums. Everyone will gravitate to a particular art medium. That is our uniqueness. 

Maybe your kids are used to marker, pencil, and watercolor and play dough. Let them try some chalk pastels, air-dry clay, or tempura or acrylic paint. They won’t know what they like until they try it. Similar to food, sometimes it takes several times of exposure, even in a different form, to the new medium before they find they like it. They might not like painting acrylic on paper, but love it on air-dry clay. They might not like the Crayola watercolors (which can be quite waxy), but find they love the intensity of a higher quality watercolor with a better brush. Change it up. Purchase new supplies for them to try to enroll them in classes that will give them these new exploring experiences along with instruction.

Purchasing Art Supplies

To sum it up briefly, purchase the middle quality. Once children are past the toddler sensory phase, in which everything is an art supply, give your children better quality supplies. They do not need to be professional of course, but a student grade or something similar will give them a much more satisfying result. I remember as a young elementary kid distinguishing what “good” crayons with lots of pigment and a smooth glide were vs. a “bad” crayon that was a waxy stick with grainy and scratchy results. Your kids will appreciate the difference and be encouraged to continue making art.

Here are a few art supply ideas to get you started: I will give some specific products I like in the next blog post. Stay tuned!

• Sketchbook with “tooth” in the paper to let mediums lay nicely and thick enough it won’t tear with pressure. Avoid slick plastic type papers. 

• Drawing pencils with darker tones (4B-9B) and good erasers

• Watercolor paper or a thicker paper for watercolor. 

• A pan of watercolors that does not contain wax

• Brushes that come to a point or are flattened by the metal ferrule into a square tip

• Saturated markers in different widths

• Colored pencils

• Chalk or oil pastels

• Charcoal pencils or sticks

• Colored paper, scissors, glue

• Air-dry clay, play dough, modeling clay, or oven- baked clay

• Yarn and fabric, needle and thread, buttons

• Tempera or acrylic paint

Art classes

Maybe your child has the privilege of attending a school that has an art class where they get to try new mediums regularly. That’s great! You can encourage that and supplement if you’d like. Often a child might only get art class once a week or every other week. If art is a particular interest to your child, they would love any opportunities to have more one-on-one art instruction or the opportunity to learn from someone new or in a new environment with new materials. Here are a few places you can check to find more art instruction for you your child.

• Museums often have summer camps or classes for children throughout the year.

  • The Museum and Gallery has eight Homeschool Days throughout the year where they study a different artist and make a craft. They also host summer art camps. https://museumandgallery.org/homeschool-days-in-person/

  • The Greenville County Museum of Art hosts weekend art and craft activities and summer camps. https://gcma.org/learn/

• Libraries host craft and art classes for little or no cost. My Greenville library even has a YouTube channel with crafts. https://www.youtube.com/@GreenvilleLibrary/search?query=art

• Online Classes are a great way to learn. I know many kids who have favorite YouTube art channels that teach them how to draw and make art and crafts. There are multiple classes on every art medium! They don’t require travel, but expense if any, and you can watch them on your own time. The biggest down-side is that you don’t get one-on-one personal instruction. So, if you are stuck or have a question, you are often left hanging. I will probably do a later post devoted to online classes and courses.

• Local Colleges or Universities often host summer art camps. (Below are some in Greenville, SC)

  • Bob Jones University has many camps for younger elementary up to high school.

  • Clemson hosts several art camps for a variety of ages.

• Independent Studios or Artists that offer classes (Below are some in Greenville, SC)

  • Children’s Art Classes is a franchise across the US, but they have one location in Greenville, SC. 

  • https://childrensartclasses.com/location/greenville-sc/

  • Hollowed Earth Pottery https://www.hollowedearthpottery.com/

  • Greenville Center for the Creative Arts https://artcentergreenville.org/fullclasslisting/

  • Fine Arts Center is a public arts high school. Greenville County high school students can attend for free, and applications are open for both private and homeschool students. https://www.fineartscenter.net/

  • World Upside Down https://worldupsidedown.us/classes/

  • SC Governor’s School is a high school with a focus on the arts https://www.scgsah.org/

  • Yellow Bobby Pins https://yellowbobbypins.com/

  • Heather Keew drawing lessons and workshops (that’s me) https://www.heatherkeew.com/drawing-lessons

Even if an artist doesn’t particularly offer lessons, some are eager to take a student or two in order to pour into them what they have learned. 

So, where do I start?

The choice to try a new medium is in of it self creativity. It takes bravery, but it can be exciting. Because we were created, we create. It is part of our “made in His likeness.”  We don’t know the outcome. It could be terrible at first, but it can also be beautiful. It is an experiment. We have to be curious and willing to take a risk. The worst that can happen is that some supplies get used or ruined and the art experiment ends up in the trash. One of the best motivators that lodged in my brain from art school is that “I probably would not have been able to make this greater artwork without having made the not-so-good artworks first.” Practice makes better. This is great for us adults too. We will not grow as fast unless we try new things with our art. 

So, how do I choose what to explore? What inspires me (or your kids) now? Art at museums, art supplies, a particular subject matter or book character? Start there and make a mark!

How should I encourage my art-loving child? Tip #1. Practice drawing realistically and creatively.

My child really enjoys drawing and making art. But, how should help them grow artistically?

Here are three activities in which you can encourage your art-loving children.

1. Practice drawing realistically and creatively. 

2. Exposure to good artwork. 

3. Exploration of many art mediums.

Draw Realistically

Realistic drawing is a skill, like piano, that has concrete techniques that can be practiced and mastered. Learning to be an excellent observer is really what realistic drawing mostly entails. Just think, how much richer the world becomes when you see i; REALLY see it. Drawing opens up a side of us that slows, reflects, and delights in the world around us. It helps us notice what is happening and see the wonder in the ordinary. 

There are so many techniques to help us become better observers. Some of these techniques, like using a grid, have been used for centuries and have no limit on ability or age. Many coloring books use grid puzzels, as well as, many artists who have their work in museums, such as Chuck Close and Antonio Mancini. Library books, art class, and video channels can give your child many of these techniques and they practice observing and drawing on their own.

Draw Creatively

It is also important to draw creatively. Keep the play in learning and there is no pinnacle. No end. The learning and exploring just keep going. I think this is probably why you see so many master artists have several periods of work with different characteristics. You may not know that Picasso was an excellent realistic painter as a child and later said “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” But we know him mostly for his later Cubist works. He continued to play and explore creatively. 

Draw Every Day

And of course, the more you draw, good drawings, bad drawings, interesting drawings, boring drawings; the better you get! Give your children time to draw, encouragement when drawing is frustrating, permission to not like or keep a drawing, and praise when they like their work. 

Here are a few ways I’m encouraging  my children to draw: 

• Draw their favorite toys

• Copy a book illustration

• Let them teach you how to draw one of their repeat drawings

• Illustrate a poem 

• Draw pictures for friends and family for celebrations and thank you notes.

Finding and Choosing Artwork

Why should we have art?

Look around your home. There is no rule for how much or little art you should have. It give your space finish, interest, and warmth. It can reflect your style and make your home comfortable and soothing to you and your guests. God filled the earth with refreshing beauty everywhere. Our homes can mimic that!

What size art should I have? 

Think of a room having just one statement artwork, with smaller works giving interest around the room. Larger is usually better for a statement piece. It makes a bigger impact and helps avoid a cluttered or disunited look. A good rule of thumb is to let artwork be about 2/3rds the size of the of furniture under it. Smaller art can work great in a gallery wall or give a cozy feel in the entry, on a shelf, or fill a smaller wall.

Where do I put artwork?

The most obvious places for large art is above a couch or bed, but also the dinning room. Hang your art at eye level in most cases.  

Where do I find art?

My website! Ha ha. Yes, of course, but also don't forget these other great options for finding art that fits you. 

Search local markets, art fairs, galleries and college shows. Ask to get on their show email lists. Ask artists you know whether they take commissions. Buying art from someone you know or a place that brings you memories brings another level of comfort and personality to your space.

Have fun collecting beauty, encouraging artists to make, and enriching your people's lives with art. In the end, buy what you love. Your taste unifies your home and gives it your unique flavor.  

How do I know what I'll like?

When in doubt of your style, go exploring on Pinterest, local galleries, other people's homes and start "collecting" your aesthetic. 

Have fun looking for artwork you love!

Heather

So…how do I commission an art piece? For Mother's Day!

I made mom cry! This is a good thing when she open’s a gift from you. 

As a mom, seeing a gift of my children’s faces or names or something they have made brings the tears. You? We love our children. We love our mothers and grandmothers. I’d love to help you give meaningful artwork to someone special this Mother’s Day. 

Contact me to start your commission for mom. Would she love a painting of her children? Her favorite flower? A song she sings to the children? Get your creative juices flowing and let me know your ideas! I’ll help make them happen. 

So…what do I do to commission artwork?

Contact me with your idea. 

• Think about the size you’d like. 8x10 or 11x14 are the most typical gift sizes, though you may consider the size of the wall where it may hang if you will have the opportunity to choose where it hangs.

• Think about the medium. I love drawing in pencil or ink. I also love watercolor and often combine it with ink.

Send me photos

• If you want a portrait, send me photos of the people you’d like drawn or painted. 

• I'm a human photoshop ... so if you want a certain expression, hairstyle or pose combined from different photos, please note that. 

Check contract and progress photos

I will send you 

• A contract with our idea, pricing, and size to check

• Sketches throughout the process

• A final photo of the art for approval

Frame your new art!

I will send your beautiful new artwork safely through the mail in time for Mother’s Day.

If you are local to Greenville, SC, you are welcome to drop by to pick your artwork up in person!

Easy peasy! And so fun! I can’t wait to start on your art.

This is the same process for a commission at any time in the year. I often have time for a few each month.

The Beautiful Messy Creative Process

I love painting flowers and plants! But the creative process is not just the painting. Here’s a peek into a bit of the process to get there. This is the phase I’m in now: Sketching, filming (for you!), and painting. Before that is a lifestyle of photographing beautiful plants and drawing everyday. I have a strong desire to paint form my own photos. It adds to my connection and depth of meaning to the painting. I remember where I was and how I felt when I saw those plants. This somehow translates to the final magic of the piece.

Click the image to watch my process video below!

My goal in taking you behind the scenes is for you to enjoy a richer experience of the artwork similar to me when I  touch the plant, angle my camera up towards the light, and include the other stages of plant growth and development.

“The lingering observation of something beautiful is the soul of art. ”