Fine Art Lessons on Pastels, Ages 2 through 6 and Up

Recently at the Little Wonders of Wonderland Studio, both the toddler class and the ages 3-6 group have had lessons on pastels.  They learned after a lesson that typically pastels have a higher quality and amount of pigment than their typical sidewalk chalk, which make the colors much more vibrant.  After watching some demonstrations and learning about blending, the kids especially enjoyed using a paper towel to wipe or blend colors to add a softer texture. We will be selling prints of their finished art on the website after they have had a couple more sessions.

Fold a paper towel and use a corner to blend sections of your pastel drawing

Usually we have a demonstration during a brief circle time, and then the kids go and find a seat at a table where the material is already set out for them.
~Angelique Bowman

Group Painting on an Old Window Pane

Acrylic Painting on Glass by the Little Wonders of Wonderland, Ages 2 through 6 

The window pain was purchased at the Scrap Exchange, a creative reuse center in Durham, NC.  To learn more, visit the Scrap Exchange Website

Recently, my students, a.k.a. the Little Wonders, enjoyed a group project where they took turns painting with acrylic paint on a window pane. Small groups of kids, about 6 to 8 at a time, sat around the window pane which was laid down on the floor with small globs of paint scattered on the glass.  The kids were each given damp brushes and encouraged to take their brushes to the paint that was placed closest in their reach.  In between sessions with each group of kids, we let the paint dry for a day before working back into it so that it wouldn't get muddy.  Also be cautious that if the acrylic paint is not completely dry, it can peel off of the glass when a brush is working new paint into it.  Just to be safe, I encouraged the kids to only paint areas that have not yet been painted.  We considered it finished once all of the glass was covered up. 

Until we decide where to hang it, we have the glass on display at the school in front of a big window.  It looks really pretty on sunny days as the colors brighten up like a large sun catcher.