Monthly Archives: December 2010

Follow The Line

Follow The Line is a clever book by Laura Ljungkvist, which explores the idea of using one continuous line to make a drawing. Simply start at one end of the paper, illustrating whatever you like until you reach the other end. Just remember, no lifting or back tracking!  Shapes will be formed when lines overlap, which can then be filled in with colour at the end. You’ll need nothing more than a stack of paper, some markers and kids in need of something to do. Enjoy, have fun, and I bid you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and plenty of vices to see you through it!

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Paul Klee Project

Insula Dulcamara by Paul Klee, 1938. Image:www.artchive.com

The Swiss/German artist, Paul Klee, was born in 1879 and today would have been his birthday. He was a great admirer of children’s art, primitive art, and deeply influenced by music, which he studied for years. Klee’s work has been associated with many different styles including Expressionism, Surrealism and Abstraction, but he generally liked to work independently, coming up with his own interpretation of trends. This combination of skills and interests, coupled with his mastery of colour and experimentation with different media, made Klee’s work unique.

In this project, we will focus on Klee’s use of geometric forms, symbols and figures applied to dreamlike coloured backgrounds.

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Santa Jack Gift Tags

Legendary Santa and his many incarnations have been with us a long time. From Sinterklaas to Father Christmas, he has evolved into a plump and  jolly soul, overflowing with kindness and generosity. But it’s always refreshing to reinvent things, and when the spider-like Jack Skellington donned the red hat, I knew he was the one. Though initially a little misguided, with help from his friends he becomes the essence of kindness. His dashing good looks and humour make him perfect for gift tags, and children will have a lot of fun making him.

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Filed under Christmas, polymer clay

Japanese Paper Ornaments

This is the time of year when thoughts of plastic icicle ornaments dance in my head and send shivers down my spine. For I was a child of the seventies, when tinsel garlands strangled trees, spray snow ruled, and perky santa stencils adorned far too many windows. As a consequence, during this time when the ubiquitous homemade ornament is upon us, I feel there’s no reason why children can’t be taught to make beautiful ones. After all, you’ll be staring at them for weeks on end, and dusting them off year after year. While there will always be room for that first glittery pine cone carried lovingly home from kindergarten, these ornaments, made with delicious Japanese papers, will really stand out.

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Holiday Cards

With so many gorgeous greeting cards to choose from today, it may take something really special like Japanese paper to motivate you to make your own. Everything about these papers is inspiring, like their texture, patterns, colours and visible fibres. And if children can use a glue stick, they’re old enough to make these wonderful collages.

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