The base for the dollhouse were these wooden dollhouse from Ikea.
Technically, Ikea lists them as shelves, but they work great for a floor toy. They are BIG...standing almost two feet high. They also take a minute to assemble. If you're putting together one dollhouse, no biggie. When you have 20+ that need to be assembled, it's a little more daunting.
Thankfully, we have a great team here:
We never have any fun.
Our artists started their blank house and a design book. We got our book template from another incredible art studio, Make Art Studio (Heather creates the the most beautiful handouts and downloads). The book helped us to organize our ideas. There's only four rooms so each artist needed to decide on their floor plan.
We had a special guest visit the studio on the first day of camp. Toska Tiemann, an interior designer and color expert from Unique Painting, met with our artists to talk about the task ahead of them. They had so many design choices to make...interior and exterior colors, wallpaper or paint, accent walls, flooring, etc.
In addition to designing the walls and floors, our artists also had to create all of the furnishings for inside their houses. The studio's closets were empty this week because every single art material in the studio was sitting out in the large classroom. We used polymer clay, fabric, cardboard, beads, string, mosaic tiles, wire, pom poms, and recyclables. And lots and lots of hot glue.
The results were incredible. I love all the details. We've got pillows. And house plants. And even perfume bottles.
It was an epic week. This is how art camps SHOULD be: A whole week filled independent and passionate creation.
This is a project that could be completed in the home studio to whatever level of intricacy you desire. After you get everything painted, it would be fun to have as an ongoing project--something you continually add new furnishing and details too (just like our real homes!). I hope you enjoyed seeing pictures from our camp in the studio and that you get a chance to try this one out with your kids!
If you want to see more, we took a live video tour of each of the houses. Our artists explained their choices and their favorite parts.
This is part two of my musings on art in the dark lately. We just finished our Light and Dark unit with our preschoolers (read more here) in the studio. I'm hoping THIS post inspires you to incorporate dark play into your home.
Although my kids are almost teenagers, I remember what winter was like with kids cooped up all day. I remember the post-nap, pre-dinner hours being the worst. It was cold. It was dark. And everyone was cranky. On these short winter days, my kids would BEG to play in the dark. They would help me pick up the main rooms in the house (I told them it was for safety) and once everything was clean...er, I mean, safe, we would turn off all the lights in the house. Then, we would get out the different lights and PLAY. The possibilities are limitless. Just normal play is novel when you have to use a flashlight to see it. But of course, art is our favorite kind of creative play. And since we're an art studio, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite Art-in-the-Dark ideas for home use. No fancy supplies needed. Just some basic art supplies and a light source. (there's a light source list at the end too) At-Home Ideas
Capture the Shadows
Shadow Building
Build a Light Box
Mess-Free Finger Painting
Paint right on top of the light and see those colors in a whole new way! Fill a gallon zip-top plastic bag with a few dollops of paint. Secure the edges and top with clear packing tape and tape flat to the light table**. Artists can squish the paint around in the bag to mix the colors. Older artists can even draw designs in the paint.
**You can do this same one in light too. Tape to a window or glass door and the sunshine will make a similar effect. Plus, the vertical work surface conditions those core stability muscles and shoulder muscles that all kids need for great fine motor skills.
Sand Drawings
Shadow Puppet Theatre
Lighting Options
Start building your collection of illuminating toys! Here are some of our favorites:
We call this "dangerous art." It gets their attention. The rocks are hot (heated in the oven) and the crayons just ooze over the top, encasing the rock in a marbled rainbow shell. The process is oh-so-satisfying in itself. But the product is also delightful: a silky, swirled treasure stone. We've created a video tutorial for you to try this out at home with your young artists (or old artists--Our instructors love doing this one!). Here's what you'll need:
Orange Easel Video TutorialAfter you've made your rocks, snap a picture of you with your little treasures so we get to see your creative products! #ArtistsInspireArtists Tag us @orangeeaselart.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Most students already attend a weekly art class in school. Why should elementary, middle school, and even high school students take art classes OUTSIDE of school? Isn't it the same thing? There are many ways that our big kids benefit from regular weekly art classes OUTSIDE of school. Here are just a handful:
Art-Making {Transition from School to Home}The first thing my kids want to do when they get home from school is get a snack and veg-out in front of the television. (Admittedly, some days, that exactly what happens.) But my favorite thing to do with them after school is paint. Paint is inviting. It's sensory. It's open-ended. Plus, they don't fight while they're doing it. AND, sometimes they actually tell me about their day while they paint!
I put together a collection of some of my favorite art invitations for after school. These are invitations that are require very little prep on your part. Some of these may seem "too young" for your big kids, but never underestimate the older kids' desire to finger paint. (And how GOOD it is for them!) Art InvitationsCheck some of these out. And, if you try one, or if you have your own favorites, tell me about it in the comments below!
This morning he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure . . . It is and adventure that might take him across continents, across oceans . . . It's an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow . . . To live his life in the world he will have to live in, will require faith and love and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of look after him . . . Take him by the hand and teach him things he will have to know. But do it gently, if you can. He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero . . . that for every crooked politician there is a great and dedicated leader . . . Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. Steer him away from envy, if you can . . . and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail that to cheat . . . Teach him to have faith in his own idea, even if everyone says they are wrong . . . Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon . . . Teach him to listen to all men--but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take just the good that siphons through. Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he's sad . . . Teach him there is no shame in tears . . . Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Treat him gently, World, if you can, but don't coddle him . . . Because only the test of fire makes fine steel . . . Let him have the courage to be impatient . . . Let him have the patience to be brave. Let him be no other man's man . . . Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself. Because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. This is quite and order, World, but see what you can do . . . He's such a nice little fellow, my son! By Dan Valentine To all new kindergartners: Go be awesome. ~ ORANGE EASEL
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Orange EaselContent inspired by the artists and art created in our studio. Orange Easel began as a small art studio in my basement and continues to grow and serve our community. Read more about our story here.
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