The importance of setting up simple art projects is something I’d like to chat with you about today. Have you ever gone to an enormous amount of trouble crafting a wildly complicated art lesson for you child or students, only to have it overwhelm you with all the prep, fall flat out of lack of interest, or completely drain you by the time it ended? I was invited to a potluck and signed up to bring an appetizer. I love small food. ? Now, what to bring? Flipping through my cookbooks I found wild retro ideas like skewered pineapple aspic and fancy things like smoked eggplant dishes. They pulled ..read more

We recently got back from a camping trip in Big Sur. In February! Weather is wildly unpredictable this time of year and we lucked out by squeezing in this trip between storms. ? It was so beautiful – the fresh air, redwood forest, ocean views. I packed a small kit of art supplies so we could capture creative moments in the quiet gaps of time that camping allows. And of course there was all that nature to absorb! There had been a lot of rain before we arrived, and I noticed water pushing down the mountain in multiple directions, finding the easiest paths downhill. This got me thinking about ho ..read more

If you enjoy making art and want to form a consistent habit of it, I made a Daily Art Log that you can download today. I’m using this tool and find that it’s a fun and helpful way to track progress and boost to my daily art practice. If you’re in the same boat, I imagine it can help you stay focused and consistent with your artistic projects and goals, too. Art making fuels ideas, balances the soul, engages our senses, acts as a therapeutic outlet, and nurtures our creativity. However, staying consistent and keeping creating an art habit may be a challenge. For making art a regular habit, a c ..read more

Like many others, and perhaps you’re among them, when the new year starts I begin musing over my intentions for making improvements to my life and growing into a better version of myself. This year, what’s resonating with me is the idea of cultivating daily creative growth in the new year. Some say January 1 is no different from March 5 or July 17, meaning, if you’re going to make a change, do it now, whatever date that might be. Any day can be a January 1. I agree with this of course. There’s no reason to put off change to the new year when you could be doing it starting pretty much any day ..read more

Do you have a child who struggles with perfection at the art table? Or maybe a student who holds themselves back from trying because they don’t know where to start (and likely fears making a mistake)? And how about you? Are you waiting to master a particular technique before calling yourself an artist? If you want to be an artist, do this…? Make art! ? Good Art/Bad Art isn’t what’s important; it’s showing up to create that matters. Becoming an artist isn’t about mastering the brush strokes of Van Gogh or repeating techniques of other famous artists. It’s about the spirit of creation, the joy ..read more

You’re officially invited to join TinkerLab for the November Art Challenge, a month filled with a variety of art prompts to get your creative ideas flowing. November is filled with maker words to help you dream up new ways to interpret art materials and processes. The main goal is to have fun through the process of play and experimentation. No experience necessary. Kids and adults welcome. I’m excited about view (I love making viewfinders) and broad strokes (a chance to use my super-size brushes). How about you? Don’t worry about the outcomes and let yourself play! Copy this image and save to ..read more

This playful process drawing and painting exercise can help you get started with art, even if you only have 15 minutes (promise, that’s all the time I allowed myself to take with this one). ⏳ Mistakes and bad art encouraged. Fight perfection and just get going! “To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” – Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country Scroll down for the video tutorial ⇣ Supplies: Thick paper Chalk pastels Acrylic Paint Brushes, water Anything goes. Make adjustments if you don’t have these exact supplies. Start with thick paper. U ..read more

Are you looking to inject some creativity and spontaneity into your daily routine? If so, have you considered setting up an art jam session? This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking in an afrobeat jazz concert featuring a band we’ve been listening to for some time. When they announced a show close to home, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch them live! I had my art teacher hat on (it’s hard to leave it at home), and what struck me most was their playfulness. As the band members jammed and improvised, their delight in playing together was absolutely moving. Even with 25 years of ..read more

When it comes to making cards for Valentine’s Day we love finding projects that give kids room to express themselves, be creative, and think imaginatively. This project is fabulous because children are invited to paint anything they like on a piece of paper, which is then cut into a heart shape. A message is written on the back and the heart itself turns into the envelope! The whole thing takes just one sheet of paper, making it easy and affordable.  If you want to take it a step further, tuck a small candy, eraser, or stickers inside before sealing it up.  This project has been a ..read more

Making paper with kids is a rewarding experience, and today I’m going to share how to make paper with kids. These steps work for anyone interested in learning how to make paper, and I give specific tips and advice on how to make paper with kids (even toddlers!) Papermaking with kids is a fun and creative activity that can be done with common household items! Making paper teaches children how one of our most commonly used materials — PAPER — is made, and it’s also a fun sensory project for kids of all ages. You will need a blender, water, a few sheets of paper or paper scraps, a screen, and a ..read more