Little Learning Labs: Art for Little Kids, abridged paperback edition 26 Playful Projects for Preschoolers; Activities for STEAM Learners

by Schwake, Susan; Schwake, Rainer

• ISBN13: 9781631598135
• ISBN10: 1631598139
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2019-09-03
• Publisher: Quarry Books

Summary

Packed with 26 fun and colorful exercises geared toward 3- to 6-year-olds, this book offers parents and teachers an outstanding source of creative art activities to inspire and enrich this wide-eyed and open-hearted age group.

Activities are organized by medium and designed to encourage self-expression. Each Lab also features the work of a prominent artist for inspiration. Gorgeous photography shows different results from different people using the same lesson, exemplifying the way the lesson brings out each artist’s personal style.

Have fun:

• drawing with food coloring–tinted ice cubes.
• painting using a spray bottle and tempera paints.
• printmaking using balloons, lace, and potatoes to place ink.
• sculpting with tinfoil, cups, and papier-mâché.
• creating mixed media art with magazines, oil pastels, and wallpaper samples.

Targeting one of the most critical developmental periods for children, Little Learning Labs: Art for Little Kids is the perfect book for both parents and teachers who are seeking enriching and unique experiences to offer this age group. This inspirational book stands out as a unique reference for creating fine art with children through finding the student’s own voice, marks, and style and with playful lessons that result in significant skill building.

The popular Little Learning Labs series (based on the larger format Lab for Kids series) features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, geology, math, and even bugs—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Little Learning Labs.

Explore a fun and inspiring collection of wonderful art activities for the preschool set!

Author Biography

Susan Schwake is an artist, art educator, and curator. Her passion for teaching art has led her to working in diverse settings for over 20 years. She has inspired thousands of people in private and public schools, museums, community organizations, special needs agencies, summer camps, intergenerational facilities, libraries, and her own art school, artstream in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, which she co-owns with her husband, Rainer. Most recently she has taken her classroom online with a series of e-courses for artists, including a parent-child class based on her best-selling Art Lab for Kids series of books. She is also curator of artstream studios, where she has brought over 100 group shows of contemporary art to her corner of New England.

Susan is the author of Art Lab for Kids (Quarry Books, 2012), Art Lab for Little Kids (Quarry Books, 2013), and 3D Art Lab for Kids (Quarry Books, 2013). Her latest book, Art Lab for Kids: Express Yourself (Quarry Books, November 2018) is an all-new edition of her first book, Art Lab for Kids, with 52 original projects that encourage self-expression through art making. 

Follow her adventures.
Blog: www.artesprit.blogspot.com
Website: www.susanschwake.com
Gallery: www.artstreamstudios.com 

Rainer Schwake is a versatile and talented media designer holding a master's degree in graphic design. His photography has been used in hundreds of business- and arts-related design works for print and websites. He is co-owner of artstream studios (www.artstreamstudios.com) and lives with his wife, Susan, in Rochester, New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4
Setting the Stage for Making Art 5
 
Drawing: 12
Lab 01: Buttermilk Chalk 16
Lab 02: Crayon Fun 18
Lab 03: Ice Drawings 20
Lab 04: Ink & Cotton Swabs 22
Lab 05: Marble Drawing 24
 
Painting: 26
Lab 06: Spray-Bottle Paintings 28
Lab 07: Watercolor Magic 30
Lab 08: Mixing It Up 32
Lab 09: Cotton Ball Color 34
Lab 10: Where We Live 36
Lab 11: Sweet Paintings 38
 
Printmaking: 40
Lab 12: Spuds! 42
Lab 13: What’s the Rub? 44
Lab 14: Watercolor Monotypes 46
Lab 15: Glue Prints 48
Lab 16: Lace Prints 50
Lab 17: Balloon Prints 52
 
Sculpture: 52
Lab 18: Paper Vases 56
Lab 19: Royal Crowns 58
Lab 20: Mat Board Mobiles 60
Lab 21: Paper Mâché Minis 62
 
Mixed Media: 64
Lab 22: Torn Paper Collage 66
Lab 23: Wonderful Wallpaper 68
Lab 24: Oil Pastels & Magazines 70
Lab 25: Junk Drawer Collage 72
Lab 26: Sand & Glue Paintings 74
 
Resources 76
About the Author 78
Acknowledgments 79