Did you enjoy your first day of the Art Start Challenge? I hope so!
Today’s Task: Set up an Invitation to Create
You’re probably familiar with traditional art projects or crafts that encourage children to make objects or images that have a specific goal in mind. Let’s call those projects Guided Art-Making. On the other end of the spectrum we have open-ended projects that are child-directed and don’t have a specific outcome in mind. Let’s call these Art Provocations.
An art provocation, sometimes called an Invitation to Create or set-up, is a carefully designed prompt that invites a child to make something from the materials in front of them.
Here’s a quick run-down on how to set up an Invitation to Create…
- Clear the table of anything that won’t be used in the invitation.
- Artfully arrange the materials to provoke ideas.
- Limit the choice of materials to just a few items.
- Provide clues about how to use the materials, but keep the project open-ended so that original ideas can flourish.
- Ask a curiosity-building question or comment such as “I wonder what you can make from these materials?” or “Let’s experiment and see what we can come up with.”
Today we’re going to play with chalk or chalk pastels. Chalk is such a simple material, but one that a lot of adults don’t often consider introducing to children. The colors can be vibrant and the texture is unlike traditional crayons or markers, so it can open up a child to a larger world of art possibilities.
Prompt: Chalk it Up!
The vibrancy of the bright chalk against the dark paper is a welcome change from the usual crayon or marker on white paper. Chalk can be blended with fingers or a tissue. It can also be dipped in water for a more vibrant effect. If you or your child is chalk-averse, try this with oil pastels or wrap pieces of chalk with a small tissue for easy handling.
- Chalk Pastels
- Dark Paper
- Bowl of Water
- Tray to gather dust
- Damp towel to wipe hands
- Set up chalk pastels and paper.
- Tape the corners of the paper down to keep it from sliding around.
- Add a small bowl of water (this can be used for dipping the chalk into).
- Invite your child to draw by saying something like, “I wonder what we can make with these materials?”
Offer large pieces of sidewalk chalk and take this outdoors to bricks or concrete. Add a bowl of water for brighter drawings.
- Blend Chalk Pastels with a cotton ball, Q-tip, or piece of tissue.
- Try making Frozen Chalk Paint.
- Set up a limited choice of colors, such as pink, orange, and yellow.
- Smear the chalk with your fingers.
- Draw all over large sheets of newspaper.
- Take it outdoors and draw on bricks or the sidewalk. Try using two hands at the same time 🙂
Watch a video of 17 year-old David Ambarzumjan create a night sky scene with chalk pastels.
Upload pictures of your art table, snap images of your Art Start creations, chat with new friends in the Facebook group, tag your photos on Instagram, and et the world know that you value open-ended art because it helps your child use creative thinking skills. Share what you’re working on this week on Instagram.This is also a great way to get friends and family involved and let them know what you’re up to!