Dive into the world of art, past the usual crayons and paints, to explore art made of unusual materials or in unusual ways!
Dive into the world of art, past the usual crayons and paints, to explore art made of unusual materials or in unusual ways!
Embedded Files
Activities
Activities
Salt Painting
Salt Painting
Take watercolors to the next level with salt! The salt dries up the watercolors making the painting rise above the paper. For instructions, click the button below.
Shadow Tracing
Shadow Tracing
Shadow tracing uses light to make art! All you need is paper, something to write with, toys, and a light source. Click the button below for detailed instructions.
Clay Impressions
Clay Impressions
Capture your favorite piece of nature with clay impressions. Press the nature object into the clay to create the design. If you would like, add paint for color! For directions, click the button below.
Don't have air dry clay? Try a recipe for salt dough instead! Directions are found below.
Nature Paint Brushes
Nature Paint Brushes
Do you have paint, but nothing to paint with? Make paintbrushes from nature! Using items you find outside, you can create a fun paintbrush . Click on the button below for instructions.
Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls
Before Barbie dolls became a popular item, paper dolls were exciting fashion toys. Print and color your own paper dolls by clicking the button below.
Name Writing Nature Hunt
Name Writing Nature Hunt
Turn a simple walk outside into an adventure! Find nature items on a walk to form the letters of your name. Let the exploration and creativity begin!
Materials Needed
Materials Needed
Do not be afraid to improvise materials if you do not have the exact thing!
Salt Painting - sturdy paper (card stock, watercolor paper, uncoated paper plates, etc.), glue bottle, table salt, watercolor paint & brush
Shadow Tracing - paper, writing materials (markers, crayons, etc.), toys, light source
Clay Impressions - white air dry clay or salt dough, nature objects
Optional: wax paper, paint, water, paint brush
Nature Paint Brushes - twigs, string or rubber band, materials for bristles (pine needles, spruce needles, cypress foliage, even tree buds, etc)
Paper Dolls - print off PDF in the link above, crayons
Name Writing Nature Hunt - nature objects
Fun Facts & Resources
Fun Facts & Resources
People used to create amazing art on unique canvas made of cobwebs! Learn more about cobweb painting and its history by clicking the button below.
To read about tramp art's mysterious past and see beautiful examples, click on the button below.
The supplies used to make paint found in the Blombos Cave are up to 100,000 years old! To learn more about the history of paint, click the button below.
Learn more about this unusual Victorian-Era tradition by clicking the button below.
Artists like Jackson Pollock and Max Ernest try to replicate fractals in some of their art pieces! Learn more about fractals by clicking the button below.
Paper dolls were published in newspapers and magazines both as a toy for children and to share fashion trends with girls and women. Learn more about the history of paper dolls by clicking the button below.
Art Section
Art Section
How many of these things do you do during the summer?
Brotman, Judith(b. 1958, Wilmette, IL)Natural Selection2005Mixed media: leaves, embroidery thread6 ½ x 4 ¼” (overall, irregular)2016.21.005, Gift of Chuck Thurow
What color of leaves would you have chosen to use in your art?
What color of leaves would you have chosen to use in your art?
Derek Webster(1934 – 2009, b. Porto Castillo, Honduras, d. Chicago, IL)Church Lady, 1995Mixed media: wood, paint, glass, cloth, plastic gems, metal, wax, pine cone petals, cementGift of Chuck Thurow, 2016.21.09914 ¼ x 3 3/8 x 5 ¼ “
Tell a story about the picture you see above.
Tell a story about the picture you see above.
2019.031.004Leslie WolfeKeykinese, 1995AssemblageGift of Jane StevensIllinois Legacy Collection, Illinois State Museum
How many keys do you think were used to make this piece of art?
How many keys do you think were used to make this piece of art?
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