Story: Britt R.

Photography: Britt R.

There comes a time when every parent is lost on how to entertain their kids. Questions arise of indoor time vs. outdoor time, which activities are constructive, and what will entertain the child for any length of time. In the section titled “Creativity by Kids,” ideas will be presented on how to help children be creative in thoughtful ways and how to keep them entertained, while discovering more about their own capabilities.

Canvas Art

Once a child’s room is entered, there are glimpses into who that child is as an individual. There might be posters of the child’s likes hanging on the walls. Maybe it is painted with a carefully chosen color. Or it could be possibly filled with paintings or prints, bought at the local store, which demonstrate the child’s interests. But what if a family lacks the funds to achieve that level of individualism? What if the child would simply like a change to their surroundings? The answer is a simple one, canvas art.

Usually when one thinks of art on a canvas, they envision an artist, a master really, depicting carefully handcrafted images, some of which can take years to produce. Or one might think of a photograph that has been professionally mounted. Not very many think of what can be accomplished when you place an blank canvas in front of a child and let them create what is in their mind’s eye.

A project such as this starts at the local craft store. Most craft stores offer canvas in a variety of sizes, and they can be purchased separately or in multi-packs. Depending on the store, you can even choose from black or white canvases depending on the overall appearance the artist is looking to achieve. The multi-pack definitely gives the shopper more for their money and can be used for more than one child or more than one project.

Now comes the fun, choosing the medium in which to use. Some craft stores offer inexpensive to the expensive oils or acrylics. Or if there are older children involved look at using spray paint. The idea was also given to use markers instead of paint. The drawbacks of doing so, the markers seem to dry out quickly; and there was no way to achieve a textured look that comes from using paints.

Then let the child work their magic. If given absolutely no direction it’s amazing to witness the freedom the child can express. When the task was given to the trial group, amazing pieces of art were created. Some of the favorites were abstract, but once the child was asked to explain their work, eloquent answers came from the youngest there.

The overall advice, give it a try. The reward is creativity expressed and a beautiful conversation piece that can hang for all to see that holds a sentimental value for the whole family.