July 2008

Cool Art for Hot Summer Days

By Julie Liddle

Parents of the 5 and under set are keenly aware of just how long and hot those dog days of summer can be. Kids and grown-ups alike can only take so much heat, and when the temperatures soar into the 90s, everyone gets a bit cranky and needs a cool respite.

But summer is also a time filled with the makings of so many treasured childhood memories. Artful dabbling can add a new dimension to those long days and deepen the meaning of those memorable summer sensations that we all cherish. By connecting creative expression to familiar experiences, we make memorable moments more meaningful in the present, while building our children’s repertoire for making connections to future experiences, observations and sensations.

Whether your family frequents the beach, the lake, the neighborhood pool, or an inflatable backyard pool, most children associate summer fun with water-related activities. Here are some suggestions to get you started on arty explorations inspired by the cool hues and liquid sensations of the sea. The examples can be modified to suit you and your child’s interests and inclinations.

Watercolors

What better medium for capturing the wonders of water than watercolors? I’m not talking about those minuscule ovals of dried pigment, because now there is a wonderfully versatile product designed for little ones called liquid watercolors. They are concentrated, so a little goes a long way, and they can be diluted by at least 50 percent and still yield vibrant color. You pour the paints into bowls or paint cups and apply liberally while enjoying a wide range of techniques and experiencing the effects of mixing, dripping, blending and splattering. Tools and techniques to try include brushes for painting, pipettes or medicine droppers for squirting (great for fine-motor development and coordination), foam-tip applicator bottles for dot-dabbing or spray bottles for misting. Many of these bottles are too large or difficult for small toddlers to manage, but preschoolers and older kids will love them. It is worth using better quality bottles to avoid dripping and leaking from the nozzle. Last, try a cool trick that’s sure to be a hit: Pour liquid watercolors into an ice tray and freeze them overnight. Kids of all ages will be entertained as they experiment with ice painting!

For watercolor painting, you will want to use paper that maintains its integrity when wet. Paper made specifically for watercolors is ideal and will yield lovely results, but it can be pricey. Decent quality multipurpose art paper will serve well for frequent use, and your tot can have hours of painting fun if you provide him with a stack of coffee filters on which to paint. They hold together no matter how soaked they get, and they have the added bonus of allowing the pigments to blend and bleed into one another, creating exquisite designs and hues.

Mixing Media

You can easily extend the watercolor experience by combining it with other media. Try offering drawing materials first, perhaps suggesting your child draw a recent trip to the beach or pool. He can create a wax-resist technique by drawing with crayons or oil pastels (which I recommend because their smooth bold color is much easier to achieve than with traditional crayons). When the drawing is complete, watercolors can be washed over the entire picture, and the crayon marks will show through, as the oil or wax in the drawing material resists the watercolor. Experimenting with markers also yields interesting results. A permanent marker, such as a Sharpie (which should probably be avoided with very young children for obvious reasons), will maintain its crisp line when painted over, while water-based markers, such as typical washable markers, will blend and bleed when wet.

Salt

One final watercolor technique not only evokes the sensations of the surf and shore, but also holds great appeal for little hands. Have your child sprinkle (or dump!) salt on his wet painting. Young children love the opportunity to manipulate materials with different textures, and salt fits this bill nicely. Watch the paintings closely as they dry, and you will be dazzled by the effect that the salt has on the watercolor paintings. You can save the tinted salt that you brush off of the dry paintings for salt art another day. Kids love to drizzle glue on a piece of paper or cardboard and pour the salt on the glue to make interesting textured art.

Natural Treasures

Don’t overlook the opportunities to incorporate natural treasures collected during your adventures into some summertime creations. If you are wondering what you are going to do with that sack of seashells from the beach, a mixed-media project may be in your child’s future. Think about different surfaces to use, such as the inside of a shoe box, a flat cardboard surface or – my summertime favorites – those wavy blue cardboard apple trays you find in the produce departments. Armed with some washable white glue and a cache of seashells, your tot can create a meaningful sculptural piece. Think about offering additional materials that evoke the sights and sensations of the sea: tissue paper in hues of blues and greens, sandpaper or netting, to name a few. Remember to allow your child the freedom to arrange the materials as he chooses, and prepare the work area so that he can enjoy the glue without your worrying about the mess.

Take the Activity Outside

And for those days when the heat’s really got you down, but your tot is still fired up, here’s a low maintenance fix for you both: Fill a bucket with water and arm your child with a big paintbrush (like you might use to paint the trim in your house). He’ll revel in the simple act of sloshing the brush in cool water and “painting” on a variety of surfaces: the sidewalk, tree trunks, the side of your house, and then watching the marks evaporate before his eyes. This activity comes with the added bonus that more likely than not, you will end up with a nice refreshing footbath for yourself when all is said and done!

Julie Liddle is an art therapist and early childhood art specialist. Her program, Art in Hand, provides classes and workshops throughout Northern Virginia. For information, visit www.artinhand.org.