It's fun to see the projects your child brings home from art classes at Museo Art Academy. But maybe you're itching to make art with your child at home. After all, being hands-on in each aspect of your child's life helps them feel connected to you and confident of your support in their interests. This includes being involved with art!

If you don't consider yourself to be the creative type, it can seem daunting to plan and execute art projects at home. Luckily, no one expects you to come up with college-level art lessons...leave that to us! Even the simplest art activity counts. Here are a few ways to become more hands-on with your child when it comes to making art at home.

Create a Portable Art Bucket

Maybe you've avoided making art at home with your child because you simply don't have the supplies (or they're strewn about the house in various nooks and drawers). Make a portable art bucket with simple supplies. Take your artsy child to Walmart or Michaels and pick out basics like:

-plain white printer paper
-colored paper
-washable markers
-colored pencils
-crayons
-watercolor paints and brushes
-scissors
-glue

Then add fun extras like:

-stickers
-pipe cleaners
-tiny pom poms
-googlie eyes
-glue
-glitter glue
-popsicle sticks

Bring out the portable art bucket whenever your child says they're bored. You'd be surprised how fun it is to just sit and make something together without a prompt or a lesson. Believe us, your child will find something to make. And if you're stumped, try making a monster or a popsicle stick puppet.

Doodle

We've all been stuck at the doctor's office or the car wash with nothing to do. Instead of relying on the iPad, stash a little notebook and a couple of pens in your car or purse. Encourage your child to draw something they see, then take turns adding to the picture until you've drawn the scene in front of you. Or take turns drawing each other, then sign and frame your work! 

Use Art as a Reward

If your creative child can't get enough art, use it to your advantage and present art-making time as a reward. If they finished their chores early or came home with a nice note from their teacher, set aside an hour to do something artistic with your child. This could include making a larger art project (like a hand-painted doll house or a personalized, painted skateboard). Or you can take them to a local museum on a mommy/daddy date. 

Let Your Child Teach You

When you really feel unqualified to make any kind of project that resembles good art with your child, we understand. Instead of taking the reigns on an art project with the suggestions above, let your child teach you. They learn a lot at Museo Art Academy and would probably be excited to show off what they know! Ask them to teach you what they're making in class step-by-step. This not only reinforces their learning, but lets them feel like an expert, which boosts their confidence. The perk for you? You don't have to plan a thing.

Maybe you're already a hands-on art parent. What insights or tips do you have for other parents? Share them in the comments below. We'd love to hear your opinion! 

Have you ever been to a Friday Night Event at Museo Art Academy? Each Friday of the month, you can find instructors and students making art in the studio. We're excited for this Friday's Pizza & Picasso Night featuring Claude Monet! (Other Friday Night Events include Masters Night and Manga Night.)

Bring your kids to the studio this Friday to experience the awesomeness first-hand. The workshop starts off with a pizza dinner and fun facts about that night's featured artist. Then the instructor leads the class in an art activity. 

What is your first memory with art? 

My mom would put large paper on the fridge and give me paint to get wild with...generally I was not clothed. The pictures are priceless! 

What is your favorite medium? 

PRINTMAKING :)))

Who is your favorite artist (or art movement)? Ok, you can pick two. 

All of them... but I very much enjoy Art Nouveau and the impact of the art created by Alfonse Mucha and Toulouse Lautrec. I also like Post-Impressionists like van Gogh. 

Why did you become an art teacher?

I enjoy inspiring the same passion I have for art in my students and know it is something that lacks in the general education system. 

What do you love about teaching?

That "aha!" moment when a realization or the teaching has sunk in. Also, watching them improve. 

What are your hobbies outside of Museo Art Academy? 

I have no life outside of Museo...(just kidding). Working on my own art, planning my wedding, camping, fishing (all kinds), hiking, being with friends, and cats :)

What advice would you give someone who loves art?

Follow your passion. Don't let "them" tell you you can't make it as an artist. If you have enough passion you will be just fine. Go to art school or major in art if that is truly what you love. At the end of one's college journey everyone gets a degree, it is what you do with that piece of paper that really matters. 

You can read more about Miss Ashley here.