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- Complete Visual J cover at home

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Intro to sculptures

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T1: Kandinsky (collab with Music, PE gymnastic movement)

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T1: Kandinsky (collab with Music, PE gymnastic movement)

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[DE] Part 1: Abstract Drawing of Musical Man
EOA: Lines, Shapes, Colours
Part 2: Abstract Art using Music

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Part 1: Graffiti Art
Elegant Art Task: On template provided

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Part 1: Exploring organic shapes using modeling clay

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2D to 3D forms, Shading
Imaginary Creature

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W9- Start taking photo for SeeSaw
W10- Gallery Walk (peer assessment/voting)

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DE: Body Movements from On Strike & Here They Come
Wire Sculpture?

PE: Bouncing to local music
Music: Local music and artists

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Art discussion on Pollock + paper brush

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Using painted papers by paper brush, create a character that is based on the titled "My Mysterious Creature"

https://babbledabbledo.com/16-homemade-paint-brushes/

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Today's art project for kids doubles as a wonderful STEAM challenge: Ask kids to make DIY Paint Brushes. The sky is truly the limit with this project, all you need are some clothespins and some creative ideas for what might make an interesting paintbrush. So if you are ready to make some DIY Paint Brushes let's get started!

When I was planning projects here on Babble Dabble Do I remembered seeing some homemade paint brushes on Fantastic Fun and Learning. Given that clothespins can hold just about anything I decided to make this an art experiment for my kids.

My daughter and I collected materials, made brushes, and then decided which brush was the most fun to use. And guess what? We both picked the same brush as our favorite. I'll let you know our hands down winner at the end of this post.

Materials

Brush Ideas:

Instructions

Step One Gather your materials and cut larger materials down to size. We cut strips of the fabric and foam to fold into brushes.

Step Two Use the clothespins to clip in each material and make a brush

That's it! I mean it! Read my lips: YOU.ARE.DONE.

Get some paint and paper together and ask your child to start testing out the different brushes. We tried both painting and stamping with them. Some of them made great homemade stamps. My daughter and I had a blast testing each of the brushes out.

You may also want to keep brush materials handy to make new brushes once you see how they are working. My daughter made an awesome pipe cleaner brush shaped like a "Y" that made two lines. What a great idea!

Looks Like

Fabienne Verdier. One thing I love about writing this blog is researching artists, designers, and scientists to tie into each post. I had never heard of Fabienne Verdier until I researched artists who use unusual brushes and now I am completely awestruck by her work.

Ms. Verdier is inspired by calligraphy and uses enormous brushes to make calligraphic type paintings. And when I say enormous, I mean gigantic! Google her, you'll see! She needs a special steering device to control these brushes which hang from the ceiling of her studio. She is an inspiration!

More

So which of the DIY Paint Brushes did Clara and I decide was our favorite after trying all of them out? Drum roll please..... the cosmetic wedge! It can be used like a stamp or a brush and nicely absorbs just enough paint to make it useful and controllable. Plus it makes a super squishy sound!

What I love most about this art project for kids is that it was all about the process, not the product. It truly is an art experiment and a great way to show your kids how to be resourceful and imaginative when it comes to art. So the next time you run out of paintbrushes, stop and scour your house for some materials and make your own brushes from scratch!

If you enjoyed making paintbrushes you'll surely love making a homemade stamp! And for more ideas on DIY art materials be sure to visit a super popular post here on Babble Dabble Do: 40 Art Materials You Can Make At Home.

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STEAM Challenge For Kids: Make DIY Paint Brushes

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Try this STEAM Challenge For Kids: Make DIY paint brushes out of clothespins and found materials. Then test out your brushes with paint!

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Sun & Moon activity, landscape

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- After Graffiti Art
- Can assess
- Step-by-step WS & Shoe Phone WS (final)

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Music: Quarter Quarter Half

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Art Discussion on Wandering Series
Paper batik exploration of flora fauna using watercolour
Possibility: Glue Resist
Drawing Experience: Drawing flora fauna/Observational Drawing
Artist Reference: Georgia O'Keefe

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Part 1: Digital Collage using Ppt
Artwork References: Walking Through Time  by Catholic High, artist William Sim

https://www.google.com/doodles/doodle-4-google-2015-singapore-winner

Artwork ref: Within Space, Beyond Time

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Part 2: Create a Google logo that shows an imagined SG in 2050

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Part 1: Create a realistic self-portrait
- Use coloured pencils
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478859372861568683/

Part 2: Create a Cubist portrait
- Explore oil pastels

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How to Draw Faces Like a Renaissance Master

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Aug 7, 2016 - Blog post at PragmaticMom : How do you draw faces like a Renaissance artist? I turned to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts for inspiration. [..]

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Creative Ex Collage using Geometric Shapes

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Observational Drawing of birds
Exploring watercolour colourpencils on birds/nature
Possibility of art task: Stamp series- including trees, plants
HA class: Concept of composition
Artworks: Lim Cheng Hoe, Monet vs an artist that does detailed watercolour

Artist Reference: William Farquhar, National History Drawings

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Part 1: Making marks using oil pastel
Part 2: Use scratch card to create their own landscape inspired by Van Gogh
Music: Song Starry Starry Night (theme: famous artists and composers)

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Using magazine cut-outs, create a surreal character/creature
Possibility: Using laminated organic shapes as an entry point to introduce Surrealism

Art Discussion: Beginning-Middle-End, background/foreground

Filler activity: Rene Magritte (eye creativity exercise)

Gallery Walk: BME for artist statement and peer feedback

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T3: My Shape City (SG theme) (Music + PE)

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T3: My Shape City (SG theme) (Music + PE)

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SG shape city (magnetic shapes)
Music: Chan Mali Chan

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Part 1: Tuning in-Black Book of Colours, Unpack color wheel
Part 2: Monochromatic Colours using watercolour exploration to create tints and shades
Artwork Reference: It's Not Me, Anthony Poon Monochromatic range of artworks
Possibility of Choice-based: Oil Pastels

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Part 1: Tessellation Art

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Create 3D patterns of a fish using found objects

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Proportion, Movement, Figure Drawing
Figure Foil Sculpture, cut down Chibi drawing
*Need to figure out how to store/present figures using modeling clay/blue tack

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Intro to 3D by creating a paper pyramid

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T3: (Supplementary Artist) Henri Matisse

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T3: (Supplementary Artist) Henri Matisse

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Dream House

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Part 2: Paper-cut Mirror Symmetry, Anthony Poon

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Arcimboldo Digital Portrait using Sketchpad

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Part 3: Radial Symmetry Plate Design

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Part 1: Watercolour Exploration

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Part 2: Creating a landscape through collage-making

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Use found objects to create a line

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Art Discussion on Life By The River
Draw neighbourhood inspired by Maeve Wright style, choice of colours to show the mood of the place (max. 8-10 colours)
*Yip Yew Chong- artist comparison to support National Identity, compliments Liu Kang:
*Ah Guo: https://www.littledayout.com/ah-guo-dreamy-illustrations-advice-for-aspiring-artists/
Possibility: Post-card Idea (start of T3)

https://www.google.com/doodles/doodle-4-google-2015-singapore-winner

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You would have seen Ah Guo's illustrations or read his columns in Lian He Zao Bao, or even seen Ah Guo merchandise sold at various stores like Jewel Changi. We speak to Ah Guo and get to know the person who has been encouraging us with his heartfelt illustrations which appeals to everyone on so many levels.

A picture always says a thousand words, doesn't it?

Let's hear it from the artist behind the whimsical and dreamy scapes of Singapore.

Little Day Out Interview with Ah Guo

Can you tell us how you began illustrating and writing?

I have loved to draw since I was a young boy. I was enrolled into the pioneer class of AEP (Art Elective Programme) during my secondary school days at The Chinese High School. However I stopped art lessons after the 'O' Levels. And it was after many years when I started blogging, somehow I began to draw again so I could share my illustrations on my blog. And also because of that, I discovered the amazing wonders of digital drawing.

My earlier stage of illustration was purely digital art. I only decided to switch back to working on paper around 2013, and since then, it has been mainly watercolour illustrations for me.

I decided to create picture books for a very simple reason, for that art form combines drawing and writing, both of which I enjoy a lot. In 2009, I took a no-pay leave for slightly over a year to pursue a Master's degree in Illustration for Children's Book in UK. And that's how I embarked on a journey of no return 🙂

How did you find your art style?

It's hard to say really. I never intentionally pursued any specific art style seriously. I'm just depicting whatever I find pleasing in my art. But of course along the way as a picture book creator, I tend to focus more on kid and animal characters, and now I'm getting more and more comfortable drawing them.

What are you inspired by?

I'm inspired by basically anything in everyday life. The best resources are simply out there everywhere, we just need to open our eyes to see and feel. I'm also inspired by love, hope and dreams 🙂 To put it short, I'm a hopelessly dreamy person. :))

Who are some of your favourite artists?

I have many illustrators I love. I was very much influenced by Jimmy Liow 几米 when I started off , I also enjoy books by Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers and Sempe. There are also many amazing Japanese illustrators out there, such as Hideko Ise, Komako Sakai, Mitsumasa Anno just to name a few. And yes, I'm in love with Hayao Miyazaki's animations!

I think the best tip would be to love art, to love what you draw, and to love life. Have the love to share whatever you think is beautiful in your life. And if that's too abstract, just tell yourself: you could derive endless enjoyment in creating art. That will become a motivation in pushing yourself to do more, practice more and learn more from others. No effort will be in vain.

Let's talk about your artwork amidst the pandemic. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

To help people to stay calm and positive, to feel hopeful and bring a sense of happiness. That's in line with what I've always wanted to achieve through my art. Of course, I'm also hoping to use the illustrations I'm doing during this period as a form of personal visual record of the trying times we are witnessing right now.

We appreciate your colouring sheet initiative which is available on your Facebook page. Any other plans or projects for the rest of the circuit breaker period?

The initiative was never a planned one really. A friend of mine was requesting on my Instagram for a possible colouring activity and I thought that was a good idea to help everyone out there to cope with being cooped up at home. And then I managed to get DID-Delighting Ideas to chip in to sponsor some prizes, that's how it became an informal online competition 🙂 For now I will share a new template once a week for the circuit breaker period.

What are your hobbies and your favourite go-to activities for relaxation?

I love horror shows, haha! It's hard to imagine that sometimes I actually watch horror show while painting my whimsical illustrations. My other favourite go-to activities include having breakfast and kopi-o at the local coffee-shop, I love the lively vibes and energy at kopitiam and hawker centers, very down-to-earth and full of local flavour. I also used to enjoy jogging but with my knee pain, I'm doing evening walks more often now. In short, I'm a very uncle-person 🙂

What is your advice to all aspiring artists - parent or child?

Firstly, you don't have to prove to anyone how well you can do art. Art is meant to be enjoyed and to express how you feel. Always tell yourself, you are doing art because you have something to tell and to share. Secondly, always believe in yourself. The most important person to love your art should be yourself. Thirdly, there's never any shortcut in life (unless you are a born genius), so work very hard. Lastly, do remember art is more than technique. Art should be done with passion and emotion.

Words of Wisdom from One of Singapore's Well-loved Illustrators, Ah Guo

We hope some of Ah Guo's aspirations and dreams rubbed off on you as you read his words. His emphasis on passion, love and positivity is a timely reminder during this pandemic to continue to hold our heads high. If you would like to paint your blues away, download one of Ah Guo's colouring templates from his Facebook page or simply enjoy his art pieces and writings which can be found on his site.

Ee Jia is a #mumofboys who loves heading outdoors to expend their endless energy. She writes, reads and bakes sourdough to keep her parenting stress at bay.

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Ah Guo Shares His Whimsical, Dreamy illustrations And Advice for Little Aspiring Artists - Little Day Out

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We speak to Singaporean illustrator Ah Guo and get to know the person who has been encouraging us with his heartfelt illustrations which appeals to everyone on so many levels.