To which I should have said, "Gee, you're a massive tool. Let's break up right this second."
Or at least, "You know why Impressionism is so popular and well-loved? Because it's freaking beautiful."
One of the many Monet posters in my house.
I can at least say that my love for Monet and his friends has lasted much longer than that romance did. Anyway, I am a huge fan of introducing artists - or any subject, really - through picture books. While you can of course do the project even if your kids have never heard of impressionism, I like to tie the two together. Some books to get you started are:
(These are affiliate links.)Oil pastels and watercolors are ideal for letting kids experiment with impressionism. However, they are also messy and can be pretty expensive. They are not for the lazy (or maybe I should say energy-challenged?) parent.
Colored chalk and construction paper are for the lazy parent.
That totally looks like the ocean, right? Right? RIGHT?
Let kids draw whatever they want on using colored chalk on sturdy paper, like construction paper. You can talk about things that the Impressionists liked to paint - Monet with his gardens, Renoir with his portraits, Degas with his dancers - or just let the kids draw whatever. Encourage them to use lots of colors, but not to color anything in.
The final step - the fun step - is to blend the colors together, rubbing all the lines together with your fingers.
Probably your kid's picture will look much better than mine.
But I still had fun making it.
When I used to do this with classes of kids, I learned the hard way to make sure they washed their hands IMMEDIATELY after the line blurring. And to make sure to hang the finished projects in an area where brushing against them is unlikely.
49 comments:
What wonderful ideas! I always wanted to be good at crafts but I'll stick to knitting blankets and scarves. What an interesting and wonderful post.
Not only am I lazy when it comes to crafts, I truly dislike doing them. My poor kids....
This is really good. Truth be told not even with the lazy tips do I think it will succeed for us. Haha
Great ideas for parenting who may not enjoy crafting too - I'm going to forward this to a friend.
I remember doing this kind of thing in grade school! My daughter loves doing it at home.. Lazy parent? Maybe sometimes!
Lazy or not, the pictures still look amazing! I definitely give you a lot of great, and thanks for sharing this cool type of art! I was not familiar with it.
Those are really great and simple ideas! Thanks for the share.
I love this idea so much! Thanks for the tip, now I have stuff to do with my kiddo on low spoon days this summer <3
I haven't heard of Chalk Impressionism before. It looks amazing! Like something I'd like to try because I love being creative using construction paper, been doing that since I was a kid. Great idea especially for lazy parents. I'm quite lazy myself lol
I love this idea. Been thinking about some art stuff for summer so will have to add this to my list. :)
True love lasts forever they say :) I'm not good at art at all and I wish I was just a bit so my daughter could learn something beautiful from me. Your kids are so lucky to have you as their mom.
Oh those chalk impressions turned out so great! I love doing chalk. just wish it wasn't so messy. lol.
what a fun project to do with your kids totally going to try this with son.
What an interesting idea! I could never come up with this kind of stuff on my own.
Yes, totally looks like an ocean! And, glad you got rid of that rude tool!
How cool-- I would love to do that!
Great idea! Simple and inexpensive are the best way to do crafts.
For lazy parents? Hahaha how about for busy parents? Nice and easy craft though thanks for sharing
My son loves drawing with chalk on our patio!
That is a really neat idea! So much less mess than paints!
I would really enjoy those even as an adult. I studied impressionism and I am very, very fond of it!
That's fun, easy, practical, and not at all expensive. I like it. :)
My son has an easel right now that he loves, this would be a fun twist to add to his easel time. :)
This is cool. I see the ocean and I all see the top of the clouds. This would be a cool project for kids and something that they could actually frame and keep forever.
This looks like a fun craft! Impressionism is one of my favorite art styles as well.
I love this idea.
Impressionism is beautiful. People who don't think so are crazy. Or just trying to make themselves sound more cool than us.
I love how that turned out. My youngest has no interest in doing crafts once we start. Maybe he will like doing chalk art of some kind.
I think I have done this myself as a child, and I know it is something my kids would enjoy! In fact, we just might give this a go this weekend to keep them busy! Thanks for sharing the idea!!!
What a fantastic idea - I used to love doing art and crafts as a kid :) x
I *still* love doing stuff like that.
I'm not lazy. I'm just not crafty, I have no talent when it comes to that.
My poor daughter suffered so much I am so not crafty and I am lazy too on top of it.
That is such a cool idea. I would do that with my daughter when she is a little older.
Michelle F.
That's creative indeed - and you'll never know what the kids might draw - it might surprise you, haha!
That does look like a lot of fun. I bet my daughter would enjoy it.
Wonderful crafty ideas! I dint do crafts as often as I should. I need to get back to that because they are good for relieving stress
Great and simple ideas thanks!
I am big on teaching children art, these are wonderful ideas! Geared on a child's level!
I just love this idea & Monet as well! My youngest is such a little artist I he would love to do this :)
Hahah, okay, so this makes me think of a funny story! I went to a lot of art galleries with my parents as a kid. One time we visited the opening day of a big Monet exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada. We'd just read about Monet's history and how his eyesight was failing toward the end of his life.
Well, the museum had recently started using those self-guided tours with the little boxes and headphones that you carry around.
And (keep in mind this was a big event with lots of art fans) my mother forgot she had headphones in and loudly "whispered" at one point to me, "He must have painted these ones when he was blind!!"
I was 12 years old and mortified. And yes, people turned around and stared, disapprovingly.
This is such a great way to introduce little ones to art. I never thought to do something like this with mine when they were smaller, but even though my youngest is now 10, I bet it would be something she would still enjoy doing!
My daughter loves art. I will show her this.
absolutely, i draw my ocean like this too with the addition of a boat. That's a wonderful idea and it's a good thing that despite of the busy everyday life yous till able to find time to do art stuff. wtg
Oh I love Monet! I have several paintings in my house (well copies haha). Love the chalk craft for the little ones!!
I love the chalk craft! I'm a lazy crafter, I go for the easiest possible ideas. Doesn't get much easier than this!
It's not so much that I am lazy, just that I kinda stink at crafting LOL. This would be right up my alley.
Great idea! And it totally looks like an ocean ;) But seriously speaking, a really fun idea to do with the kids.
I love easy crafts like this one because I am not that good at arts and crafts.
This is SO great!! It's exhausting trying to put together a million different things just to do a craft!
Tiffany
This sounds like a great project, I will try with my preschoolers in my classes!
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