Creating an Art Space for Kids

This post follows on from the previous one and details some ideas about creating an art and craft space for kids.

After creating a lovely art cabinet for myself, I really felt that I needed to set up a suitable creative space for my daughter as well.  As I mentioned in my Art and Craft Cabinet post, our current art space just isn’t working well. Pinterest was my starting point!

I found some amazing articles and advice on children’s art supplies and setting up a creative space. The most inspirational being Merri Cherry’s blog article 10 Art Secrets Every Parent Should Know.

From this and other bloggers’ advice I have realized the following:

1. It is important to allow free access to art materials (obviously age appropriately) so that children can experiment and learn to become creatively independent.  Ours were all put away to save the mess! My daughter also kept  having to ask for paper, now I have provided a box of plain and coloured papers for her to use on her own.
2. It is helpful to have art materials clearly visible (use clear containers). This is working out better now that I have put everything out on the long counter top rather than packed away in the cabinet. 
3. Trays are a useful way to contain projects. We were using trays for some projects that were messy, but actually they can be used for more projects than I thought. I especially like the idea of setting up a tray with materials as an “invitation to create” as Merri Cherry suggests. This involves putting everything needed for a project on a tray and then letting your artist be inspired to create.
4. Include sculpting mediums such as play dough in the art supplies. I generally think of paper supplies for art projects, but fun can be had from 3D projects too! Cut up straws, marbles and plastic creatures of all kinds can be fun with play dough.
5. The creative process rather than the end product is what is important. I have been too focused on creating a specific end product rather than just embracing the fun and the creative process.  This needs to change!
6. Display children’s art to show its importance. I am not very good at this as I don’t like putting prestick up on the walls and it always looks messy to have random bits of paper here and there on the walls. However I am now convinced about the importance of valuing children’s art and am planning on thinking up a display space that is also changeable as our art projects evolve.
7. Get the whole family involved. I love all sorts of art and craft so this will be no problem for me to put some effort into getting us all involved where possible. I think creating art projects together is a wonderful way to spend time and create happy memories.

What are some of your tips for inspiring creativity, either for yourself or with kids?

Creating an Art and Craft Cabinet

This post is about how I created a small space for arts and crafts and it ends with a few tips for developing a creative space.

When I was working on our Home Purpose Statement, I decided that one of our main home purposes is to be a place for artistic expression. We are blessed to have a room available for this, but it was becoming a bit of a junk storage area. Earlier in 2015 I did a big clear out of the art/music room but for some reason the space still just wasn’t working as planned. Time for a re-evaluation of what was working and not working!

After some reflection I asked my daughter why she didn’t enjoy her crafting cabinet which was in the art room, and she suggested that she would rather have the long counter top which would give her space to work. Her idea inspired me to do a swop – I would put all my scrapbooking supplies and craft materials in the cabinet and she could use the bigger counter top space for her projects instead.

I also decided that one of the reasons I didn’t get to art and craft work was because the light in our art room is not that bright and I have to go and unlock the room to use it. It is also not that well ventilated, so not ideal for keeping archival materials. So we moved the cabinet into the guest room! Initially the guest room was a huge mess and I wondered if I would be able to fit all my crafting goodies into such a small space. But some persistence paid off.

In the last few weeks I have loved using my new crafting space because it is easily accessible now and I have all my supplies at my finger tips. The lovely morning light is ideal, although I have found the inside of the cabinet needs extra lighting. It is easy to put everything back in its place and I can shut the cabinet doors when we have a guest using the room.

If you feel inspired to create your own artistic space, a really worthwhile read is How to make an Art Studio at Home by Amy Johnson Maricle on her blog Mindful Art Studio. Even if it is in the corner of a room, it is really therapeutic to have a space in which to create.

Some take away tips for creating creative space:

• Think about the creative space you need (and want!) – use Pinterest and Houzz for some inspiration and consider what will work for your home.
• No space is too small - all that is required is a surface on which to work and some storage space nearby (even a toolbox or rolling cart can work for storing art supplies).
• Lighting is important – try to take advantage of natural light if possible and supplement with task lighting where necessary.
• Everything must have a home – it makes everything so much easier to find and put away again if you designate a space for each item.

Do you have a creative space at home? What inspires you about that space? If not, what do you think is holding you back?