Art for Kids

Creating Art in the Key of Rhythm & Fun

Art education can come to life when you engage a child’s senses during the creative process. Creativity is such an important part of every child’s development. You can inspire your child’s creativity by adding music and even movement. Art for kids can be made more magical when you combine art forms, such as tuning your child into some Japanese folk music while working with Chigirie (paper art) – for an activity go to: http://www.abrakadoodle.com/press/chigirie_0906.htm. It is a great way to give your child an appreciation for the arts and cultures while exploring them. Music can also help set the tone for a creative sketch. Your child may find that certain classical or jazz or contemporary soundtracks help activate his or her imagination. Encourage your child to show movement in an art creation – whether it be a modeling compound or swirling paint on paper – and then suggest that your child move or dance as a further expression of that creation.

Use art combined with music and movement next time your child wants to express his or her creativity. Ask your child what kind of music will help set the mood for making art. Play with creative movement by suggesting that your child demonstrate how a butterfly moves, and then set it to paper while listening to music reminiscent of spring and summer. Talk with your child about his or her feelings and the energy of his or her creation as this creative process continues, because emotions, beliefs and ideas are such a big part of art education. Your child will love it! Art for kids can come to life in beautiful ways by adding a few art supplies, music, movement and interactive encouragement with just a dash of guidance.

Artists for Kids

Art education can inspire creativity and originality by opening children’s minds to the imaginative works of contemporary artists. Joan Matsui is a “Paper Artist”, who creates beautiful artwork using the Japanese technique of torn paper collage, which is called Chigirie. Joan discovered her passion for paper art at an early age. As a child, she used to made doll clothes from facial tissues. When she was a teenager, she created her own stationery to write to her friends. Later, she married and traveled with her husband to Japan, where she discovered Chigirie.


What Kids Can Learn From Matsui

(Art for Kids)

Chigirie is the Japanese art of tearing paper to create a collage. It is also known as painting with paper, but there are no other materials involved except paper and glue. Children can do basic Chigirie when their motor skills allow them to tear paper and paste scraps on just about any surface. The paper needn't be fancy or the design elaborate, just about any decorative gift wrap or colored tissue paper can be used to teach children how to use paper to paint a picture. Finished Chigirie is a collage comparable to a painting. Matsui brings creativity to children by introducing this new media using her style and technique for inspiration.

Matsui’s art is wonderful for kids. It challenges the children to use their right brain while they apply this new art technique. Children will continue to develop fine motor skills by tearing the paper and by learning to overlap pieces of paper. By creating layers of paper they will create different colors and textures in their collage, all without using scissors or paints. With Matsui’s art style art education takes a new twist!

Learn more about Joan Matsui on the web at:

http://www.chigirie.com/

Art for Kids

Let’s bring back old-fashioned play
A child’s art education and creativity development begins at home with simple yet powerful art materials (no batteries needed). Art is one of the most inventive ways children can play and express themselves with originality and creativity. With the proliferation of expensive, interactive toys that are supposedly better and more stimulating for your child, simple but sensational play activities may be shelved. Over the past few decades, mass marketing has convinced many parents that the more a toy does the better.


Less is more when it comes to creative play. Children would benefit immensely from a move back to natural and open-ended toys and activities. The 50th anniversary of the Crayola 64 Box, which remains one of Crayola’s most popular products, serves as a colorful reminder that toys do NOT need to be interactive. The goal is to get children to interact with toys and creative materials. This is where creativity and problem-solving blossoms. A box of crayons or chalk or water-based paints and some blank paper encourage the kind of interactive, open-ended play that helps develop a child’s imagination and fosters inventive learning. Remember that a child’s art education and creativity development begins at home.