Artists for Kids

Art education today takes many new twists. Creativity can be exercised in any daily activity. Lisa Cherkasky is a food designer and she creates art using food. Cherkasky graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1979 and since then she has been applying her creativity in several fields.
She is a Washington, DC-based food stylist, chef, pastry chef, culinary educator, writer and crafter. She is also a regular contributor to the Washington Post Food and Home sections, Vegetarian Times and Ducklings magazines, and the author of the Artful Pie. Her creativity can be a source of great inspiration for children’s imaginations. Cherkasky brings art to kids by participating in the Abrakadoodle Artist of Distinction program.

What Kids Can Learn From Cherkasky
(Art for Kids)

Teachers of art education will be interested in this artist. Cherkasky’s art can expand children’s creativity boundaries. Cherkasky’s broad work can motivate children and invite them to use their imaginations in a number of ways. Children can start by designing a menu or a cookbook. They will learn how to create new recipes, how to design a lay-out, how to create a logo for the restaurant and how to balance all of these elements.


Cherkasky’s food designs show children possibilities in creating with food. Children may want to set up a food picture for their menu or cookbook. Using colored paper or tissue they can cut and glue a collage picturing their favorite recipe. While creating a hamburger, an ice-cream treat, a salad or a pizza and naming their food, children will be developing their imagination. Cherkasky’s artistic ways with food lends themselves to art education at its best!


Learn more about Cherkasky on the web at:

http://www.lisacherkasky.com/

Art for Kids

Host a Neighborhood Art Gathering & Show for Children

Art education takes a fun spin when you make an event out of it! What better way to promote creativity in your neighborhood than to host a get together for kids to make art and then show it off for everyone to appreciate. Dust off your easel, pull out a laundry line and get ready to whip up a fun outdoor art display! Add some lemonade and light refreshments and let the creative celebration begin!

Art for kids need not be elaborate. You can set up a couple of art stations, where kids can create model magic sculptures, paint and draw, as well as experiment with a group project (see below).

Creativity Gear - You’ll need some art supplies, such as:

Watercolor paints, brushes or sponges (fingers and hands work, too), bucket of water, roll of art paper (perfect for a group of kids), recycled computer paper, construction paper, box of crayons & markers, model magic, old newspapers (both to protect surfaces and also to roll up and sculpt), string, ribbon, a laundry line, an easel or a picnic table to display creations.

How can you inspire creativity? You can give the children a theme, such as fantasy creatures, outdoor plants or critters, or you can play music and have children tap their own imaginations.

Recycled newspaper art

What you’ll need:

Stack of old newspapers; a narrow wood rod (about 10-12 inches long); tape; scraps of ribbon or fabric and string

What they'll do:

• Take a couple of sheets of newspaper and place the wooden rod on one corner


• Roll the sheets of newspaper on a diagonal


• Gently shake the rod out of the rolled paper and tape the seam


• Collect a bunch of these rolls


• Have kids work together to create a paper sculpture, which may look like a piece of modern art or perhaps it will take on a specific shape.


• The rolls can be tied or taped together, although an adult may need to help the children (depending upon the ages) to secure the growing sculpture so that it does not fall over.


• Kids can paint or embellish their work(s) of art as they see fit.