Sometimes I realize I need to write a post about something based on your responses elsewhere. Take, for example, this week. The weather has finally, blessedly, changed for the better here in New Hampshire. The dreary gray skies have cleared, the sun is out, and we have shed our jackets.
Anyway, my kids have been on a bit of an art kick and it is perfect timing. I love when we can take the mess outdoors. Everyone is happier and there is less clean-up involved. Win-win, folks!
So we’ve been taking our art outdoors and I’ve shared some photos over on Instagram and you guys have had lots of questions! Today, I’m sharing how you can enjoy easy outdoor art, too!
Easy Outdoor Art
Before we get started on outdoor art, I wanted to share three incredible art membership sites
If you’ve followed our site for any length of time, you’ve heard me gush about these resources before… and with good reason! I am sharing these resources in alphabetical order because we adore them all!
1. Art History Kids
Art History Kids is a fantastic homeschool resource for parents who would like to explore art history projects but don’t know where to begin. Art History Kids provides easy art history project ideas and fun ways to explore art with your children, even if you have zero artistic ability or background!
The Studio at Art History Kids is a membership site with oodles of easy to use, engaging, and educational art history resources at your fingertips!
2. Masterpiece Society Studio
I’m not at all surprised, but my kiddos are *loving* this membership site.
My oldest was sick as a dog on Valentine’s Day. Everyone was grouchy (self-included) and feeling a little crummy that our day didn’t go as planned.
Thankfully, we had access to amazing art lessons and they saved the day.
3. The You Are An Artist Clubhouse Annual Membership
We *love* Nana and her Chalk Pastel tutorials. Now, Nana has created an entire clubhouse for artists!
The Clubhouse annual membership includes:
- Instant access to oodles of video art tutorials
- A new art course added monthly
- A new art lesson each week
- … and Chalk Pastels at the Movies
You can read more or sign-up here.
Keep your little artists happy (and decrease mess!) with outdoor art
With three little artists at home, I like to make art easy. If it is easy, we’ll do more of it! I’ve mentioned our love of Doodle Diaries before, and we almost always pack our doodle diaries in our backpacks when we go hiking. Nature inspires so much art and it’s amazing what kids can create with a sketch pad and some colored pencils when they are outdoors.
Do you love art?
Portable easels make outdoor art super simple!
Recently, we’ve added a new tool to our art toolbox: a portable easel.
And I love it!
This easel had been in my Amazon cart forever. I kept going back and forth about whether we would actually use it. And, of course, I worried that one kid would break his or hers and then there would be drama and fighting over the remaining ones and all that good stuff that comes with kids and siblings and breaking things.
But I decided to go for it. It gets great reviews, it will fit in the kids’ backpacks, it is lightweight, and it is only fourteen dollars. I figured it was a gamble worth taking.
Let me tell you – I haven’t regretted our purchase and, truthfully, I wish I had ordered one for myself. I might cave soon because I’m a wee bit jealous of all the fun they are having!
When the easels arrived, I had three very happy children. The easels are unfinished wood and so I gave the kiddos my sharpies (this alone is a special occasion) and let them go crazy. They personalized their easels. This way, if one breaks we know who it belongs to.
The cool thing about these easels is that they have a little drawer. It doesn’t hold a lot, but it can hold some colored pencils, chalk pastels, or paints. The easel comes with a palette. It is pretty basic, just a flat wooden one, but it does the trick. (My kids freak out if paint touches so if we are painting in our backyard I use these instead.)
Doodle diaries help to calm kids down
Recently we’ve combined our doodle diaries and easels. The other day, we even did an online art lesson on our patio! Even though I was easel-less, I had a blast doodling alongside my children. I’m always amazed by the calm that comes over us when we create together.
Here are a few of the other tools we use and love:
If your family loves art, be sure to check out these related posts:
And from our littlest blogger:
How to Make an Art Portfolio for Your Child
