I don’t always know where a creative idea will take me. Admittedly I often have grand ideas of what a project will look like when it’s complete and it rarely ever looks that way. This is especially true when working with a preschooler. A few weeks ago when I set out to make a tree design. I don’t know where the idea came from really. I had these beautiful Real Art Supplies provided by Jerry’s Artarama and the metallic acrylic paint was screaming “leaves” to me.
So I walked outside, gathered some dry twigs, used this really cool texture paste to adhere the twigs and let my 4-year old go to work. The result was far from my dream for this project. It was, however, all her own creation. I might have set the tools in front of her but she made it her own and that’s what counts when it comes to creative time whether it be for yourself or your children. You don’t have to skimp on the cheap stuff. There are some great art supplies out there and they can yield spectacular results if you give them a try.
So what do you do when that spectacular idea looks more like bird droppings on your canvas? Hang it on the wall with pride. “Those are MY girls’ creative marks.” Cover the canvas with a new creation and let that texture shine through something beautiful. Or scrap it and start something new. I did just that.
I’ve seen this mask tape and canvas technique done a few times and have wanted to try this out since the good ol’ days of Trading Spaces (back when I had cable TV and nothing better to do). I got out those beautiful acrylics and a fresh canvas and this time provided a bit more direction.
Don’t get me wrong. Creative freedom can be wonderful but sometimes kids can surprise you within a few boundaries too. My 4-year placed every piece of tape where she wanted to, picked every paint color and its location, and did all of the painting without any direction from me. I did however limit her to using one color at a time and after she filled in the shapes with paint I took the brush and smoothed out the paint strokes all into one direction. There’s certainly a time and place for creative brush strokes as well but she loved that fact that we worked together on this one. My mind is sort of spinning thinking of all the ways I could do variations of this technique!
Be sure to enter for a chance to win $50 E-gift card from Jerry’s Artarama online where you could buy a First Impressions Complete Art Studio Set For Kids.
Tips: Be sure to tape and paint the edges of your canvas so it’s ready to hang when complete. Use the metallic paints in a well-ventillated area as they tend to be a little stinky.
Take a peak at this video for a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this beautiful metallic canvas project.
Supplies
- Canvas or canvas paper
- Brush (any cheap brush should work)
- Masking tape
- Acryllic paint
DIRECTIONS
- Apply masking tape to your canvas being sure to cover the sides as well. Smooth it down well. (If you want a different color to show through your lines, paint that color first and allow to dry before taping.)
- Paint over the entire canvas with your background color – in my case white. I only painted over the tape edges and you can see that behind the metallic paint. It’s a cool effect but not what I was expecting. Such is the creative experience! This ensures that any paint that seeps under the tape (and it will) is the color you want in those lines. (Yes, I learned this trick from Trading Spaces.)
- Fill your shapes with whatever colors you’d like and let dry.
- Consider applying a fun texture or pattern over the entire canvas for interest. Splatter, spray, swirl.
- Slowly remove tape from the canvas and admire your handy work.
BUY IT!
Buy your own Real Art Supplies metallic paint at Jerry’s Artarama. I was so impressed with their supply of fine art supplies.
WIN IT!
WIN a $50 E-gift card for Jerry’s Artarama!
Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review however all thoughts remain my own.
sandra says
i’d love to get the First Impressions Art-to-Go Box
Kris I. says
I would get Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencil Sets
V says
I would put it towards buying the wooden children’s first impressions easel
Julie Lynn Bickham says
I would get the incredible 3D Drawing Kit with 3D Glasses for my son.
Jen F says
They have a lot of cool products. I would probably pick some scratchboarding stuff…because my daughter loves that for art class – http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/scratchboard.htm
Carrie Phelps says
My grandson is a great artist, I would love to get him the set of 30 Caran D’ache Neocolor I Crayons Plastic Case.
Nancy says
If I won, I’d get a wide selection of WInsor and Newton Watercolor Paints : http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/watercolor-paints-and-mediums/winsor-and-newton-water-colours-and-mediums/winsor-and-newton-artists-water-colours.htm
Nicole says
So much fun stuff! I would probably choose an array of oil paints.
Debra Hall says
i like the Stencil Tattoo Graffiti Drawing Kit
Casandra says
I’d love to purchase a new paint set for my daughter!
JLin says
watercolor-paints
Em Ma says
I’d love to get the Canson Montval Greeting Cards and Envelopes
ColleenMarie says
I like the
Martin MXZ Drawing Table
Mary Happymommy says
I would get a Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencil Set.
Charlotte says
I would get some new oil paints.
jacqueline says
id use it to buy the carolina easel
BusyWorkingMama says
I like the LUKAS oil paints.
Wild Orchid says
I would love to get some spray varnish–http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/graffiti-and-street-art-supplies/liquitex-spray-paint-and-markers/spray-varnish.htm
Entered the rafflecopter as “Wild orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Audra O'Hara says
I’d like to get the Complete Pam Carriker mixed-media set.
Jennifer T. says
I’d love to get the Faber-Castell Polychromos Pastel Set.
jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com
MelodyJ says
I like Speedball Block Printing Kit.
Angela P says
I would love to get the Creative Mark Butterfly and Pissarro Oil Primed Plein Air Panels
trixx says
I’d like to have the Cretacolor Black Box Drawing Value Art Set Beginner Drawing set. Thanks!
amanda hardesty says
I like the crown hi Jell roller pens for my son
Stephanie Hodges says
Cretacolor Artists’ Studio Set
Katie says
I would love to get the SoHo Urban Artist Acrylic Really Complete Painting Set!
marybeth says
I love Jerry’s! I shop there any time I am on that side of town. If I won i would stock up on Derwent Inktense
Lisa B. says
I might get the SoHo Soft Pastel Half Stick Value Set Beginner!
Kristie says
My kids would like the Ampersand Scratchbords.
Meredith says
I would purchase paint.
Sue J. says
I could really use some Gold Leafing supplies!
Melissa L. says
I think I would get Prismacolor Premier Art Stix set. Thanks for the giveaway! DamianMom at yahoo dot com
Sarah L says
I like the Col-Erase Erasable Colored Pencil Sets
Thanks for the contest.
Nannypanpan says
I like the jelly roll 10 PKU of pens and the kids art smock and brush set
Lisa Davis says
I would get the French School Gouache Set of 20
Renee Walters says
I like the LUKAS oil paints.
KT says
I would love http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/colored-pencils/cretacolor-karmina-colored-pencil-set.htm
Kimberly Schotz says
If I were to win I would choose the First Impression Complete Art Studio for my granddaughter.
Theresa N says
The acrylic paints and mediums.
april yedinak says
I would get the Derwent Inktense 24 ct color pencils for my daughter.
Marci says
Complete Art Studio Set!
Christy Anderson says
I would like the Drawing Sets for Beginners – Sets of graphite, charcoal and colored pencil drawing supplies!
janna johnson says
sapro gel pen set
Darlene Ysaguirre says
I like their selection of painting books and especially the expressive figure drawings.
dawn k says
I’d love to get the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Tin Set of 48 Assorted Colors – Assorted Colors.
Jennifer Dunaway says
I’d purchase Oil Pastel Duo Value Set Beginner for my daughter who loves oil pastels.
Bee C. says
I’d get my daughter a set of jelly roll pens and some paper to go along with it.
Sarah says
I would get a Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Pen Set
tina reynolds says
I love the Colored Pencil Easel for 72 pencils
Tom Lester says
I’d love to get the Chinagraph Marking Pencils
Danielle Jones says
I would get some of the Soho water color paints.
Melanie C says
I would put it towards purchasing the Fundamentals Easel For Kids
Autum says
I would put it towards the Jacquard Screen Printing Kit.
Heather B says
I would get the Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Amelia Drew says
My daughter would LOVE some pastel crayons
Candie L says
I like the SoHo Colored Pencil and Stonehenge Paper Pad Value Set Beginner Drawing Sets. Thank you
susan smoaks says
if i won, i would get the SoHo Urban Artist Oil Color Sets
Natasha says
I would probably get one of the easels!
Teresa Thompson says
Acrylic Painting Kits for Beginners
Kristen says
I’d get the Faber-Castell Young Artists Learn to Paint Set.
Karen Gonyea says
LOVE the fundamental easel 🙂
Brittney House says
SoHo Urban Artist Oil Color Sets
Richard Hicks says
I would get the Newton Air-Tight Deluxe Brush Washer
Rajee P Pandi says
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Lily Kwan says
The Creative Mark Space Station looks very nice!