Tag Archives: Kids

Kids

Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography, Sumico Net Blog

Light Arts by Kids on Earth Hour 2011

We had a small gathering for the Earth Hour on Saturday, 26 March 2011.  We have been participating Earth Hour since 2008. This is our 4th year.

Some Kids who joined us this year for the first time made lanterns using recycling materials;  decorate a empty jar with papers, ribbons, confetti, cello, and etc. I tied the jar on a stick from the garden with wires.

We did other recycle crafts using plastic bag to make some badges – cut the plastic bag into the shape, draw on them, place on the felt, place the baking paper on the top, then press by the iron. The artwork sticks onto the felt and cut the felt along the shape. (when you use the iron, place the baking paper on the top and press for 20 sec. or so)

When we turned the light off at 8:30pm, a candle light concert was started. Talented kids played flute, clarinet, piano and violin.

After the concert, kids enjoyed light arts. I asked kids to draw with the flash lights and I  took the photos.  I divided kids into two groups – boys and girls. Boys are young kids between 6 to 10, so the drawings were basic, but quite effective. Girls discussed what they wanted to draw, and they drew a cat, a bunny and peace sign. Girls worked well as a team and their drawings were impressive.

Please have a look at their artworks.

Note:  Last 5 photos were not taken on the Earth Hour.   Photo taken by Nikon DS3100 with slow shutter speed.

[Show picture list]

Art with Kids, Arts, Books, Sumico Net Blog

21st Century art for kids (Book review)

Gallery of Modern Art (GoMa) Queensland, Australia is displaying an exhibition called “21st Century Art in the first decade”.  http://qag.qld.gov.au

This is a fantastic exhibition and it is free!

I have visited a couple of times and each time I really had a great time!

I liked many artworks such as live birds flying called “here to ear” by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot,  “Soul under the moon” and “Narcissus garden” by Yayoi Kusama, Katharina Grosse’s Spray painting eggs, walking in the 3000 purple balloons, sliding in the sack from the third floor to the ground floor, creating white lego buildings and so on. There are so much fun for adults and kids!

When I visited there last time, I bought the book called “21st Century Art for Kids” and I recommend this book for your children who are interested in the arts.

I often wonder what kind of things the artists did or liked when they were kids.  This book has an answer. This books tells you what the artists liked doing when they were kids and how they became artists.

It includes activities for kids which relate to each artist’s work. We tried spray paints by Katharina Grosse’s.  It has a wonderful story included  by Arthur Koo-Ekka Pambegan Jr.

The book cost around $30, and it has a great value.

This books tells about 36 artists telling the kids followings;

Yayoi Kusano - Artist
About the Artist
Yayoi Kusama - Artist
When I first became interested in art, What I liked doing when I was a child
Yayoi Kusama - Artist
About my art work, What will I do next?
Kids art activity
Your turn - Activity
Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography

Light Arts with Glow Sticks

Light Art with Glow StickEvery time we go camping, I take glow sticks.

At night, I  let kids to move them as they wish and I take photos with slow shutter setting.

There were three kids moving the sticks in these photos.

They moved sticks left to right quickly and tossed them into the air and so on.

Every time I took a photo, they checked the image, and they decided the next movement.

Kids enjoyed and it was fun for me, too.

[Show picture list]

Art with Kids, Books, Sumico Net Blog

Making Japanese Paper Doll Puppets

Japanese Dolls
Japanese Paper Hina Dolls (Sumico Net Original)

March 3 is Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival or Girls’ Festival) in Japan, when people pray for the happiness and healthy growth of girls.

The family who has daughters place the doll set for this festival.

Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形, hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.  (from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri)

I made these dolls for my son’s class (year 1) and I will show the kids how to make Japanese dolls next week.  I thought that it would be a good post for people who are interested in Japanese culture.

You can download the template and try to make ones.

>>Download Japanese Doll Template (Note: Sorry, but  it is not the best resolution)

It is hard to buy the Chiyogami (Japanese paper with patterns) here in Australia, so I used the patterns from the book called “Kyochiyogami to Wa no Monyo Selection” (ISBN978-4-8843-2522-2 by Impress Japan Corporation.

Materials for Hina dolls
Materials: Download the template, coloured papers, sticks
Hina Dolls Parts
Cut out of the Hina Dolls parts, and glue the hair on the face
Hina Doll assemble 1
Fold left side of Kimono
Hina Doll assemble 2
Fold the right side of the kimono
Hina Doll Assemble 3
Fold the bottom parts to the back and finish!
Wano Monyo Collection
Book by Impress Japan ISBN978-4-8443-2522-2

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Read another popular kids activity -Marbling with Shaving Cream

Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography, Sumico Net Blog

Light Arts by LED Colour Lights

I would like to share my experiments about the light arts. I have been trying using different kind of lights.

In the last post, we used Fire Sparkles. This time, I would like to show you the effects by LED colour lights.

The first image was used blue, red and white LED lights.  My son moved the lights and I took the photo with slow shutter.

I found these colour LED lights at $2 for three at the shop near my home.

My son wanted to buy them to put on his fingers to be like a super hero.

I wondered what kind of effects that we can see using different colours of lights with slow shutter shot and you can see the effects below.

Camera Setting:  Manual Setting – Speed – Slowest with my camera 8 sec.  F6.4. Self timer.

Red Light ArtRed Light Art HeartBlue Light ArtLED lights, red, blue, white

Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography, Sumico Net Blog

Light Arts : LED White light

I would like to show the light art using a LED flash light.

You may have better effects if you cover your flashlight with a bubble wrap. It helps to make the light’s line clearer and sharper.

I took these photos and wrote the letters by myself.  I took the photos for each letter and put the letters together later.

Light Art Sad Face I tried to draw smiley face, however, it came out as a sad face….

I should have turned the light off when I finish one line and turn the light on again for a new line.

I had only 8 seconds to draw because it was the maximum time that I could set with my compact camera. I did not have enough time to draw something more complex.

If you can set the shutter speed slower like 15 seconds or something, you can draw something more interesting.

Materials: Flashlight, Bubble Wrap, and Camera

Camera Setting:  Manual Setting – Speed – Slowest with my camera 8 sec.  F6.4. Self timer.

I asked kids to draw letters. It should be read as “Earth”.  It was a bit difficult for little kids to draw  mirror letters.  It would be much easier for kids over 10 year old.

Have fun!

Art with Kids, Sumico Net Blog

Kids Art: Marbling with Shaving Cream

Art with Kids, Shaving Cream Swirl I would like to share some ideas of the arts with kids.

Today, I would like to show you one of my son’s favourite –  Marbling with Shaving Cream.  We have tried this when he was four.

It is very easy and effective. Kids can have lots of fun.

You can teach kids how to mix the colour to make other colour;  yellow and blue turn to green, blue and red turn to purple, yellow and red turn to orange and if you mix many colours, everything turns to brown…

Materials: Baking tray, Foil, Shaving Cream, a Bamboo stick or fine thin stick, Food colouring (I use primary colours such as blue, yellow, red but any colour would be good), A4 paper

 

Step 1.  I cover the area with a plastic table cloth which you can buy 2 dollars shop in Australia at $2.

Step2.  Cover the baking tray with foil and place in the centre of the table cloth.

Step3.  Ask kids to spray the shaving foam into the baking tray. (Kids love this) – You can do it if you think that the kid is too small.

Step4. Drop some food colouring into the tay.  Pick up the bamboo stick and stir. Ask kid to change directions.

Step 5. When you and your kid satisfied with the marbling, take a sheet of A4 copy paper and place over the top of the marbling.  Press the paper gently and take it off. You can see the marbling on the paper.

 

 
Step 6. Add another colour of food colouring and start mixing with the bamboo stick.

Step. 7 Fold A4 paper into half and place the paper on the top of marbling.  Take the paper off from the tray and fold inside to have mirror image on the paper. You can draw butterfly after it dried.

You can let kids to use their hands. Kids love it doing with the hands too.

It will take a while for the papers to dry.  After they dried, we use them for wrapping papers and greeting cards.

Enjoy :)

 

 

Fairyland I keep some marbling images for texture.

This is what I created with one of the swirl images for a fairyland.

Read another popular kids activity -Making Japanese Paper Dolls

Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography, Sumico Net Blog

Light Art: Happy New Year 2011

Hi, I would like to share an idea of Light arts with sparkles.

I have been trying and comparing the effects of the Light Arts with using different kind of lights.  I think that the Sparkles are the best so far.

I will introduce you different type of lights what I have used in the past in the near future.

You do not have to have a special camera to achieve this light art.

Camera: Fuji Film FinePix F70 (Compact Camera)

Camera Setting:  Manual Setting – Speed – Slowest with my camera 8 sec.  F6.4.

Enjoy!