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Notice the way the sunlight animates your home. Which spots are touched by the morning sun? The setting sun? On sunny days, light and shadow are deeply contrasted and sharp. On overcast days, the light is gentle and diffused. How do these differences change the way you see the objects being illuminated? Perhaps take photos of the same place in your home for several days in a row. Or maybe attempt to capture the fall of light and shadow in a drawing. Take a video of the movement of light and shadow on a breezy day. Place your body or your hand in line with the sun so you become a part of the composition. Making is secondary to seeing so you can always just observe. For more art prompts and tutorials, check out our Creative Classroom.

The little ones love this process based way to create a colorful background for their artwork! Four ingredients and you’re on your way: watercolor paper, tissue paper, scissors, and a spray bottle. When the background is complete, a marker or crayon drawing can be added on top. Consider keeping the now- multicolored tissue pieces and using them to add three dimensional detail to the work. Simply put down some double sided tape, wade the tissue up and stick it on! Et voila! ? For more creative ideas, visit our Creative Classroom.

Last quarter in our Art Academy classes, we focused on collecting as an act of remembrance, of study, of transformation and of joy. Put on your collector’s hat today and wander out to your backyard, or the closest open space, and gather nature’s remnants- seed pods, leaves, stems, and flowers. Arrange them, display them, photograph them. Identify and locate each plant or tree from which they came. Look at them through a magnifying glass if you have one. Draw them. Place them in small bottles and allow them to dry. Remember, transform, and study them. Find joy?

Take a walk today and notice all the lines and shapes painted beneath your feet. Street lines and markings are a great place to find inspiration for an abstract art work. Notice textures especially. Time, wear, and weather create interesting differences. Find something that sparks your creative mind, and take a picture to work from. Be curious about the role of these markings. What purpose do they serve? How can we transform them into something new? For more creative activities, check out our Creative Classroom.

Start simple with basic shapes that have varying color and texture. From there, build a bug friend! Add some wings, some legs, eyes, and antenna. Like most of our featured activities, the supplies are basic- magazines or newspaper, scissors, glue, and sharpie. You could take this same idea and make people, animals, or creatures from your imagination. Glue them on a card and send them to your best friend, your Grandma, maybe even your neighbor! For more inspiration, visit our Creative Classroom.

Sometimes the simplest forms of mark making are the most satisfying. Press print celery heart roses are a good example! All you need is a celery heart (or two or three), paper, and acrylic paint. Add creative flourishes with marker or paint. Cut your roses out and use them in a collage. Make a card or wrapping paper. Layer them on top of a pastel or watercolor background. Make a spring time banner. Use this simple technique to celebrate the season. For more activities and prompts, visit the Creative Classroom on our website.