Blog — Pop Up Art School (2024)

When you sprinkle salt on wet watercolor paint you’ll see a magical transformation. The salt absorbs the watercolor paint from beneath the salt granules which leaves behind a crystalline texture. If you use a large grains of salt like Epsom salts, it will create a different texture than if you use table salt.

Pinch pots are a basic clay technique that's fun and easy to do for kids and grown-ups. In the video you’ll learn how to make a closed pinch pot. Closing a pinch pot so that there is a bubble of air inside stabilizes the form so that you can make additions without collapsing the pot!

Lori Siebert is an artist that radiates positivity and is enthusiastic about creativity. She lives in Kentucky and works in many art mediums including: drawing, painting, collage, stencils, clay and embroidery.

Mantra's enormous murals turn buildings into butterfly and insect specimen cases. The trompe l'oeil insects appear to be behind glass and recessed into the side of the building. Mantra paints the insects and their shadows which heightens the optical illusion.1

Stephanie Kilgast is a contemporary sculptor and painter who depicts the natural world and humankind's effect on our environment. Since 2017, her Discarded Objects series, uses discarded objects, to which she applies sculpted animals, plant life and insects that seem to consume and overtake the trash. "Her work has a cheerful post-apocalyptic feel to it, a reassuring reminder that nature has the capacity to grow back, if we only let it."

Wildsmith felt that children should be introduced to art and culture at a young age, and he believed that illustrations were an effective way to bring the world of art to children. Wildsmith's illustrations are lively and colorful. The variety of mark making and mediums breathes life into his animals.

Here's a roundup of handmade gifts kids can make with a minimum of supplies. There's only a few more days until Father's Day, and if you’re like us finding a the perfect Father's Day gift is always a struggle.

Kenojuak Ashevak depicted many animals indigenous to the Arctic. The animals are drawn in a simplified manner, often with radiating geometric shapes. Her style is bold and graphic and she often used negative space as part of the composition.

Contemporary art is relatable for children, because it's about the world that they live in; it's about what happening now, and in recent history. Learn more about Sonni a contemporary artist and muralist.

Tips and techniques for making art with kids Janell Scannell 5/5/21 Tips and techniques for making art with kids Janell Scannell 5/5/21

Our favorite is Crayola Air Dry Clay. Its texture is similar to "real" clay. Learn how to easily smooth clay in tight spaces and how to finish the clay with paint. When you work with Crayola air dry clay you learn the same techniques needed for working with real clay.

When we are specific with our praise it shows children that we are really looking at their work. Start with open ended questions. Open ended questions allow children to tell you more about what they made. Instead of saying, "What is it?" say, "Tell me about what you made." Let the conversation unfold based on what they tell you.

What are rainbow salt lines? Essentially, lines are drawn using liquid glue, salt is sprinkled on top of the wet glue, then wet paint is applied to the salt lines. The paint is absorbed into the salt and it’s mesmerizing to watch the paint travel along the salt line!

Art Lessons, DIY, homeschool, Remote Learning, Shadow and Light, Videos 4/5/20 Art Lessons, DIY, homeschool, Remote Learning, Shadow and Light, Videos 4/5/20

Light & shadow art projects for kids, teens and adults. Keep your kids busy and help relieve stress through creating art.

Anamorphic Art, Art Lessons, homeschool, Remote Learning 3/21/20 Anamorphic Art, Art Lessons, homeschool, Remote Learning 3/21/20

Engaging art activities for remote teaching and homeschooling. Boredom busting art enrichment for children and teens!

Art Lessons, body painting, Freelance Business, Interview, libraries, Mobiel Art Business, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, teacher side hustle 2/19/20 Art Lessons, body painting, Freelance Business, Interview, libraries, Mobiel Art Business, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, teacher side hustle 2/19/20

In college, Vonetta Berry, did face painting to earn extra money. After earning a degree in illustration and animation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago she moved back to Houston, Texas. She was pregnant with her first child and could not find a job, so she fell back on face painting. Today, her college side gig has transformed into a full-time occupation. Now, she not only paints faces; she also transforms people’s bodies with paint.

Art Lessons, DIY, Freelance Business, Interview, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, sign painting, teacher side hustle 1/15/20 Art Lessons, DIY, Freelance Business, Interview, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, sign painting, teacher side hustle 1/15/20

Kim Rutherford has always loved being creative and is a self-avowed craftaholic. She was flipping chalk painted furniture and wanted her pieces to stand out, so she used her Silhouette machine to make a custom stencil to use on a furniture piece.

Art Lessons, Freelance Business, Interview, libraries, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, teacher side hustle 12/24/19 Art Lessons, Freelance Business, Interview, libraries, mobile art business, Mobile art lesson, side hustle, teacher side hustle 12/24/19