Creative Classroom

Who wouldn’t want to adorn a llama given the chance?! We offered this activity last summer for one of our Saturday Make and Takes and there were 4 years olds, college students, and parents- all…

Pop-up cards are a favorite at Prairie Arts Center. Here are a few pro tips for your pop-up project at home: Make sure you don’t cut your supports too thin or too long. You want them stable. Also,

Come on over to Prairie Arts Center to pick up your FREE Valentine’s Lovebird art kit! All you will need at home is a pair of scissors and your crafting wits? Pro tip- make sure to position the…

Happy early Halloween and National Bat week (October 24-31)! Celebrate the season and these super-pollinators by creating one to hang on your front porch. Consider making multiples and stringing them…

Make a simple paper ghost garland and finish it with glow-in-the-dark paint! All you need is paper, scissors, a pencil, black marker, paint brush, needle and thread or yarn. For the glow-in-the-dark…

This Saturday, March 13th, our partners at the OSU Museum of Art will be offering free art kits that include everything you need to make this self-watering planter! If you don't make it on Saturday…

This making project could provide hours of imaginative play for your favorite aspiring fisher(wo)man! All you need is an egg carton, string, paint (optional), and a stick (aka fishing pole) and…

Write about your childhood. What do you remember, what do you wish you could remember? What has changed, and what is a lesson you were taught? For example, I remember being told how to load a…

Practice drawing hands by sketching out your name in sign language! This activity gives you the opportunity to brush up on, or learn for the first time, the sign language alphabet. Do this one with…

Think about what is working in your life.  For example, "a morning walk is working for me and helps get my day started. I enjoy how walking wakes my brain up." Another example is that my desk…

Happy Labor Day everyone! Here’s a fun one that combines getting outdoors and celebrating the outdoors. All you need are some gathered tree-like branches and bark, a few scraps of paper (regular…

Don't overthink this one! Rummage through some old magazines and cut out eyes, noses, ears, mouths, chins, and some hair, maybe a hat or two. Find a body and a background and begin to play. Don't…

Journal Prompt: ThisThere are many ways to use this prompt... this is how I feel, this makes me happy each day, this marks the end or the beginning. Sometimes one word can spark several different…

This project has four steps, all of which are good fun! Step one: paint your “cave” (a brown paper bag cut open with torn edges) with symbols and stories. Think hands, arrows, animals, spirals.

Consider creating a space in your home for a collaborative collection of found treasure! A miniature shelf, an old printer’s drawer like this one, even a jar would work. You make your collection…

Children love tactile experiences. This is a fun way to create the look of a true sand painting without having to buy colored sand. Not to mention, it’s less messy! This sweet turtle is an artifact…

Journal Prompt - On Mondays, we begin againIt always feels like a fresh restart on Monday. The week has not revealed itself, the previous week is in the past and we are moving forward. What is your…

f your children already enjoy painting with watercolor, introduce these two simple techniques to change it up a little and give their work some texture. The plastic wrap creates an effect that looks…

Replace a boring pencil cup in the house with a fun art project! This whimsical, big-eyed owl is upcycled from a tin can, jar lids, and bottle caps. Pro tip: give your tin can two coats of paint and…

Why purchase scratch art paper when you can just make it yourself? Kids of all ages like to have a hand in all of the steps of making. This activity offers kids the chance to create the medium AND…

This simple project will thrill your favorite small human. We promise! Art activities that double as objects of imaginative play are always a favorite. This beautiful butterfly only requires paper,

Explore your inner world with this fun art activity! Cut out a picture of yourself to start, lopping off the top of your head so you can peer inside. What would you see? Have fun looking through…

Journal Prompt - Around the Table For this week's prompt, take a look at your dinner table, your work table, or your craft table and write! For example: Around my table I gather the faces I love…

Use modest materials to create a whimsical dinosaur diorama! All you need is a couple of paper plates, a few toilet paper or paper towel rolls, glue, scissors, and some paint. We made a brontosaurus…

This ice cream cone print is so yummy looking, you’ll probably have to have some ice cream right after you make it! Pro tip: lightly swirl together two or more colors of paint for a fun marbled…

Have you wanted to document more of your life, daily routines, observations of this historic time? We will start to use our social media posts on Mondays for motivations to write and journal about…

Looking for a simple, whimsical gift for your favorite father (grandfather, brother, uncle, or friend) this Father’s Day? Raid the tool box for 5 hex nuts, a washer, 2 wing nuts, and a bolt. Add a…

Got some leftovers from last week’s egg carton craft? Well we did, so we thought we’d use them up making some whimsical egg carton critters! You’ll need some paper scraps, paint, pom poms, and…

We made these cardboard castanets last September at the Stillwater Music Festival and they were a big hit with the kiddos! Sometimes you just want to make some noise, right? Our castanets are animal…

Who doesn't want to color? These coloring sheets designed by Jenn Johnso will let you play in the ocean or take a walk through the woods. Breakaway for a few minutes and just color. It's good for…

This one’s got some serious yin (pretty flowers) and some hard core yang (hammer time)! For the best results, use vibrantly colored flowers, watercolor paper on the bottom, and either waxed paper…

This is the perfect time of year to collect botanical specimens. They are out in abundance- in the backyard, along the roads, in our ditches and waterways, at parks, and in pastures. Go on a…

This is a simple and rewarding way to experience the photographic process without all the mess and expense! And kids absolutely love it. There is such magic in the moment an image slowly takes shape…

Marbling paper can be a stand alone activity, or a way to add visual interest to another project like a birthday banner, a Father’s Day card, a letter, or even the chore list! This kid-friendly…

Jen Johnson created these taste of summer coloring pages. We have already had one of the kiddos enjoy coloring them colored pencils. These are helping us get in the summer spirit. Find more of our…

This project is a great way to upcycle old artwork. You know what I’m talking about, parents! That folder or drawer full of your child’s past work that you hate to throw away? Breathe new life…

Tired of puzzles but want something that scratches the same collective itch? Create a family-size zentangle! Start with an outline of a favorite animal on a large sheet of paper or, even better,

Does someone in your household have a soft spot for sweet, cuddle-y creatures? This simple, homemade heart plushie is a great project to develop a young maker’s hand work skills and satisfy their…

This project is a great way to bring a sculptural element to collage. Fold a large piece of paper into three sections. Cut the tops of each section into jagged peaks or rolling hills. The back…

Got a tinkering type in the family? A little person who likes knobs and screws and wires? These tin box bots are a perfect project for them! Clean out junk drawers and tool boxes to find all the odd…

DIY foam stamp making is always a huge hit at Prairie! There’s something so rewarding about designing something that can be used again and again. You will need small pieces of wood and craft foam…

Step One: Choose an artist that you love, that inspires you, tickles your fancy, makes you want to dance or draw or jump up and down. Step Two: Find a shallow box and decorate it in a way that would…

Jen Johnson has done it again creating these fun Pinwheel pattern designs! You could also use gift wrap paper, magazine pages, and colorful brochures are some examples of interesting paper options.

There’s something very satisfying about painting rocks. It’s always a hit with children and we know some amazing adult artists that like it too. So, paint some rocks and then turn them into…

Use this easy photo transfer method to decorate and personalize treasure boxes, ornaments, or wooden plaques. All you need is a porous, untreated wood surface, an image you like that has been copied…

A salon wall is a great way to show off a collection of artwork and found objects. It’s also a fun project that the whole family could help plan. On a traditional salon wall, dozens of objects of…

Call for Artists
Put Your Art On It!
A T-shirt Design Competition for Students ages 4-18

This one has something for everyone! For many, the fun will be hunting sticks that can stand and trimming them up just right. It’s not easy to get just the right balance! For others, the best…

Need a fun Mother's Day Card? Jenn Johnson created these sweet cards that you can use all her favorite colors to personalize them. Click the link below to print, fold them, and share with your…

Create your own set of found words and keep them handy for spontaneous word play. You’ll be surprised at how good the results are- sometimes funny, sometimes profound. Find your supply of words in…

Happy Earth Day, friends! Consider honoring our planet today by creating a temporary piece of art made only from nature’s treasures. Build a nest, make a mandala, a spiral, spell your name with…

Coloring is a great way to get the creative juices going! Thanks to Jenn Johnson for creating these fun coloring pages for us. Links to download below each image.

This week in Art Academy online, we took a virtual tour of the @pittriversmuseum , an archaeology and anthropology museum on the Oxford University campus. It was so much fun to explore the collection…

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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…

Find a matchbox or another small box around the house and make it a sweet shrine for your dreams. Make it a place for treasure or for a miniature book. Use paint, magazine clippings, old maps,

Create unique, expressive masks with just three ingredients: an egg carton, scissors, and glue (acrylic paint optional)! Older kids will enjoy cutting the carton into interesting shapes while the…

This little mini art book is simple to make and only requires one sheet of paper and a pair of scissors! Students always seem to love taking ownership of their own book. It could be a place for…

Reach out to loved ones with an art exchange through the mail. Have fun creating random watercolor marks on postcards or cards. Send them to friends and family, asking that they turn your “blob”

Ready, Set, Draw! This one is a favorite of Priairie Arts Center students. Simply create a way for kids to choose a noun and an adjective- this could be on popsicle sticks like in our studio or on…

Rubber cement resist is a fun, fluid, relaxing art project for any age! For the best results, use watercolors and watercolor paper. Apply the rubber cement first and allow it to dry naturally or blow…

Memory maps are a great way to explore, document, and understand any experience, past or present. Today's prompt is another celebration of the much needed sunshine and warmth in Stillwater. Go…

Today’s art prompt: go on a walk outside- in the sunshine! ☀️ Look for treasure. Allow yourself to connect to colors, textures, line, shape, size. Be curious. Look down. Bring your favorite…

At PAC, we love to see the combination of making + playing. This one goes out to our students who are BIG fans of artwork that can become part of their imaginative play. Caregivers- this one is for…

Mrs. Lindsey made this "Happy Little Gallery." Print off and follow the prompts around the frames or make your own.

When you’re done with all that TP, why not make something out of what’s left!? All you really need is a sharpie. For some added fun and flare, maybe haul out some acrylic paint. We made a king, a…

 All you need is watercolor paper, watercolor paint, a brush, a thin sharpie, and a paper towel. To get the fun bleed and spread of the paint for the flowers, make sure to paint on some clean…

In our first video all you need is paper and a pencil, pen, crayon, or marker. We’d love to see what you do so tag us @prairieartscenter on Instagram or Facebook. @prairieartscenter ❤️ Happy…