Growing up, my siblings and I would have coloring sessions for hours on end. With stacks of artwork, we’d then set up a gallery exhibit. Today in partnership with Tuesday Morning I’m sharing a bit about how we’ve continued this family tradition…
A Children’s Art Exhibit
Did you ever listen to Little Thinker Tapes growing up? They were story telling adventures on tape (yup, I’m at 80s child!) with prompted times to drawing while listening to music. My siblings and I all loved them, and I’m sure my parents appreciated this extended quiet time as well. We’d spend hours listening and drawing stacks and stacks of drawings on the back of my father’s company letterhead he’d bring home from work in Manhattan.
Then, probably suggested by my mother, we started putting on art exhibits to showcase our work. We closed off the dining room, taped our art to the walls and then sold tickets to our parents or other family members for admission into the gallery. I have such fond memories of it that a few months ago I started doing it with my own children as well.
We started with a bunch of new art and drawing supplies from the craft aisle at Tuesday Morning. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a store filled with discounted home goods, toys, and craft supplies from brand names we’re already familiar with. The deals are great and the employees are so helpful. I was especially impressed with the craft section! Everything from paints and paper, to tape, stationery, banners and chalkboard frames. So many things to inspire creativity and creation and at really great prices. You can find Tuesday Morning locations right here.
Edie, like myself at her age, can sit for hours coloring and listening to stories. We have a few digital copies of the Little Thinker Tapes my parents created for us from the original tapes, and we also love kid podcasts (a roundup of our favorite kid podcasts right here). Often, in the afternoon while I’m cooking or doing homework with Henry, I’ll start playing a story and leave out some paper and colored pencils for a little creative invitation. Isn’t this rainbow set of colored pencils we got from Tuesday Morning beautiful?
As we were preparing for our art exhibit, we first worked on a splatter paint banner. At Tuesday Morning we found a pack of these triangle cutouts with holes pre-punched to to hang it. The kids splattered paint across them with wide brushes, and we let it dry. Then we hung the banner with string and ribbons (all supplies from Tuesday Morning as well).
We also made some ‘About the Artist’ plaques. We used a flip board kit from Tuesday Morning and took some polaroids with our mini Fujifilm Instax camera. I asked each kid what they wanted to say on their plaque, and then I wrote it out word for word. Edie also dictated one for Dot. I love how she introduces Dot as ‘Edie’s little sister’. Of course. These are so precious to me. I’m going to make sure they end up in their keepsake boxes (yes, I’m a mom. I totally have keepsake boxes).
Next, Henry set up a chalkboard sign to do a little advertising for the event. The board was from Tuesday Morning as well and I tried something new I found there, a chalkboard marker. Usually I use chalkboard pens, but these chalkboard markers are way easier to apply (no shaking for the paint!). Easy and smooth, similar to a pastel. I’m totally converted to chalkboard markers.
The kids also made tickets for the event with some kraft paper tickets and fancy gold envelopes, both from Tuesday Morning’s craft section as well.
While they were working on the banner, tickets, and sign, I hung up the art. Each child had their own section of the room. Here’s Henry’s corner with some drawings, pastels, and sculptures from this past year. I picked one piece from each of their collection to hang with these wooden dowels. A great ways to temporarily hang art.
Edie’s wall features a sweet little heart painting and a few other pieces from her art class and afternoon drawing and watercolor sessions.
Dot didn’t have much to show (being barely able to use a marker without poking herself in the eye). But she did love making this confetti piece which we hung from the dowels. Edie was concerned Dot didn’t have enough art to show, but I explained she was an ‘up and coming artist’ and Edie was cool with that. Dot loves her wall!
Every week I host a little art class with Edie and a couple of her friends, and we’re planning on throwing an art exhibit next month with the families to showcase their art from this past year. We’ll make plaques, and serve fancy treats and bubbly drinks. The kids are so excited about it. It’ll be really fun, I’m excited about it too!
Did you ever make an art exhibit as a child or for your own children?
Thanks to Tuesday Morning for sponsoring this post and sparking some creative ideas to put our art exhibit together.
Love this idea. What do you use to hang the art to not affect the wall paint?
sticky tack!
Love this! Where did you find the cute frames that have just a piece of wood at the top and a piece at the bottom? And “about the artist” is so cute – especially for the little up and comer!
Those are from urban outfitters!
This is so sweet, I love it. I might even go a step further and have each child pick their favorite piece of art work and have it put on mugs for grandma and grandpa at Christmas. Also might be fun to have Edie help Dot with a painting. Have you done a ziploc bag painting before? http://www.candokiddo.com/news/2014/11/18/tummy-time-finger-painting-sensory-play
This is such a fun idea! What are the dowels/where did you get them? They look like a really good way to hang art.
Urban Outfitters!