Artists for Kids
Marvelous Matisse
(Left is one of his most famous works, "The Joy of Life")



Known as the greatest colorist of the twentieth century, Henri Matisse was a painter and sculptor recognized internationally for his use of color, expressiveness and unique form. He was about 20 years old and recovering from appendicitis when his mother bought him art supplies to keep him busy as he recuperated. He refers to this time as discovering "a kind of paradise.” Within two years, he left his legal career to pursue art. His early works were influenced by post-Impressionist Paul Cezanne, in particular. Matisse had famous friends, too, including Pablo Picasso, a fellow modern art pioneer.

What kids can learn from Matisse?

(Art for Kids)
Matisse created colorful pictures that helped show how he was feeling. He also liked to use scissors and cut out a wide variety of shapes in all sizes and would make collages with them. Matisse was inspired by nature.

There are many ways to promote creativity in children. Make sure they get outside to gain an appreciation for nature, just as Matisse did. Children can enjoy the idea of Matisse’s shape collages by experimenting with Abrakadoodle’s Matisse Artist widget. Widgetbox™ helps people express, connect, create and inform using web widgets that can be easily shared and distributed anywhere on the web. The best part is: it's free! Visit Matisse Artist and check out other inventive applications at http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/MatisseArtist


Kids can also use colorful paper or create their own colorful designs on white paper and cut out interesting shapes in all sizes. They can use these cut-outs to make a collage or a card with interesting overlaps or with white space as they envision it. Encourage children to express their emotions using color, shapes and style. Perhaps they will find the comfort that Matisse did when he made art in his own style!

Creative Kids Need Art

The “Other IQ” can help ensure school success

Just two short years ago a new buzz started around the concept of the “Other IQ,” which stands for Imagination Quotient, as opposed to the familiar Intelligence Quotient. Results from a study conducted by Dr. Robert Sternberg of then Yale University revealed creativity was a very important factor in a student’s success in school and life. According to Dr. Sternberg, anyone can be creative, commenting, “It’s never too late to start developing a child’s creativity or even your own. Creativity is like exercise. If you make it a habit and regularly engage in creative activities that build the Other IQ, you’ll develop your creative muscles.”

How can the visual arts help children develop creativity?

Imagine children creating on canvas with bamboo brushes or working with fine sculpting material or designing a mosaic and learning the art of embossing. Exposure to a variety of art forms helps to challenge children to use their right brains as they problem-solve and apply diverse techniques. Art education can help children develop their imaginations; especially art classes that focus on Process Art (read more at www.abrakadoodle.com/process.htm). In no other venue can children actively express, explore, create, innovate and challenge without fear of rejection or negative judgment. Building creativity is so very important starting with toddlers and continuing throughout children’s lives. By the time children reach school age, the focus in education increasingly moves toward testing and conformity, which means that children get less opportunity to be creative. Today’s youth need to develop both intelligence and imagination– a strong pairing of competencies to serve them through life.

What’s your child’s imagination quotient?

Take the quiz: http://www.crayola.com/theartofchildhood/quiz.cfm

Artists For Kids

Natasha Wescoat is an artist from Michigan. She is a painter, illustrator, photographer and a videographer. Her works range from contemporary abstracts to pop art cartoons and her favorite medium is acrylic paint. She is an Abrakadoodle Artist of Distinction and she has works in private and corporate collections worldwide. Wescoat creates vibrant, whimsical paintings that are inspired by landscapes in which she expresses emotion, energy and movement.

What Kids Can Learn From Wescoat
(Art for Kids)





Natasha creates beautiful pictures using vibrant colors and swirling shapes. She likes to feel the movement, energy and life coming from her artwork. Children can learn about soft edge shapes using wavy lines, swirls and dots.


Wescoat is inspired by the lighter side of life and she wants the viewer to smile. Her artwork inspires children to express their feelings through colors and shapes while developing their creativity.

Learn more about her work at:


http://www.natashawescoat.com/

Art Education for Kids

Nature is in the eye of the beholder

What if we never came to know Georgia O’Keefe, with her vividly enchanting, bigger-than-life nature paintings? The world would have missed out on her giant, colorful flowers and the emotion captured in her desert landscapes. Hers is a cautionary tale for those who over-direct, restrict or push children to imitate the ideas and art forms of others. Georgia O’Keefe is one of the most famous American female painters, and she revolutionized modern art. She had to overcome the need to satisfy someone else’s idea of how her art should look in order to fully develop her potential. Early in her career, O’Keefe became discouraged and decided to destroy her work because she felt that each piece was created to satisfy someone else’s ideals. Ultimately, Georgia’s own design sensibilities won out, and her paintings won the hearts of viewers everywhere.

Are your children passionate about nature? Encourage creative expression by sending your children outdoors with a large tablet, pencils, markers and/or paints (Crayola® has a whole line of “Outdoor” products!) and suggest that they explore nature in search of something special to them. Prompt them by asking, “What do you see that looks interesting to you?” Send them on a nature treasure hunt. Use that flower, tree, insect, animal or plant as an object of inspiration to create their unique works of art. Ask them how this living part of nature makes them feel and to use this feeling when they create their artwork. Perhaps they are attracted to the changing colors of the sunset and wish to paint a watercolor capturing the scene. You should remind them that they do not need to make their art in any particular size, shape or color. Let them react to their setting in a way that works best for them, and remember that the process is as important as the finished product!

Creativity for Kids

Old media made new again

We’re not “lion” when we say that CD’s are not biodegradable. According to the CD Recycling Center of America, “Each year, billions of CDs and DVDs are manufactured, while millions of these discs end up in landfills and incinerators.” Equally disturbing, these plastic-based products emit toxins when burned. Recycling can help stop pollution, prevent health hazards, slow global warming and conserve natural resources. In addition to sending away your CDs to recycling centers, you have another option: transforming your CDs into art.

Go to Abrakadoodle’s website to discover an array of fun projects you can do at home:

http://www.abrakadoodle.com/project_cds.htm