With a son who has already stated that he wants to be an artist when he grows up and "paint masterpieces" it's important that we keep a well-stocked art table. We have pom-poms, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scraps of paper in different sizes, watercolors, markers and a ton of construction paper. We also have pinking shears and rubber stamps and pads.
Depending on what kind of creative mood he's in, we have to restock on our supplies quite frequently.
Our favorites (and his) include:
•Pom-Poms - Perfect for making new friends
•Sculpey - Bake it in the oven and it hardens
•Alex Jumbo Shapes Watercolors - We like the big cakes and bright colors
•Crayola Colored Pencils - Less likely to break in pencil sharpeners than other brands
•Ikea Mala Colored Paper - Vibrant Colors and a great price
•Mala Scissors - Great scissors for the intermediate cutter; cuts zigzag and straight lines
What items can your fledgling artist never be without? We'd love to hear your recommendations.
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I hang my child's artwork from school and home on the Ikea DEKA curtain wire. I get compliments about it all of the time and it is easier than changing out frames.
I'd love to make an art table like that for my son... how old is your son? I'm not sure my (almost) 3 year old is ready...
http://notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
Hi Harpa,
My son has had some sort of art table since he was 3 and loves it. For a 3-year-old, I would recommend scaling way back and maybe just having some assorted paper handy, a cup with crayons, a glue stick and bits of paper.
As long as you have a place for everything, he'll put it back where it belongs and will love having his own little space.
Alex
I have seen it recommended to have at least three different mediums so the child can have variety.
I would recommend watercolour paints (you can get fairly inexpensive puck style ones), crayons, and various pencils (2B, 4B, 6B). From there the sky is the limit with markers, pencil crayons, acrylics and soft pastels (chalk). If your child loves working in pastels, charcoal or other dusty mediums get some fixative or a aerosol hairspray to keep things from transferring. (Hairspray won't be archival quality, but chances are neither will be the paper you're working on).
It's nice to give children their very own sketchbooks, and with kids and art bigger is better. Encourage their drawings to fill the pages, this will help later on when they want to move into more realistic drawings with tonal variations and perspective. Try a sketchbook that is 11x14 or bigger-no smaller than 9x12 if you can help it, and have some bigger drawing paper on hand... maybe on a roll, or a couple of pads of newsprint or cartridge paper.
Extra things that make a child feel like "grown up" artists include an easel, charcoal, stretched canvas, and drawing mannequins.
Last tip, for those working with paintbrushes, wash them properly and even the most inexpensive ones will last longer. Use lukewarm water (hot will melt the glue holding the bristles), stroke the bristles with a bit of mild dish soap (don't mash them flat), and dry flat (so water doesn't collect in the metal ferrule). The can be stored upright when 100% dry to protect the tips.
Have fun!!