Art on the Lawn

In the summertime, an outdoor space is a great place for kids to get messy. Your kids will have the freedom to let their creativity go wild and you don’t have to worry about the clean up. Making art on the lawn – or anywhere else outdoors, for that matter – is one to inspire your young Vincent Van Goghs and Jackson Pollocks. It’s simple and can be done on a summer morning. It’s your choice whether you want to involve other neighborhood kids, too.

Supplies

In order to make art on the lawn, you first need to decide on a project. When you’re working outside, the sky is the limit. You can choose something as big as a bed sheet – the finished product can make a colorful addition to your child’s playroom or bedroom, if space permits. You should be able to find a white sheet at a thrift store without breaking the budget. If your child has a different project in mind, try another medium, such as canvas, cardboard, plywood, or paper. If you have scraps from renovations lying around your garage or in the shed, they can be used as well. Choose paint that is water-based and works on the medium you’ve chosen. And make sure that you have paint brushes in different sizes. You should be able to find painting kits including brushes at a local dollar or craft store.

How-To

This is an activity for a sunny day – rain could spoil your child’s creative masterpiece. Make sure to check the weather forecast before you set up the project. The next step is to find a good place to get messy – this depends on the size of your project. Sometimes the front lawn is the best place because it has the most open space. But if you happen to have a picnic table in your backyard, it might come in handy as part of the artist’s studio. Make sure you have all you need in the way of supplies. You can use old yogurt containers or Styrofoam cups for different paint colors. Set them out on the lawn and give your kids free reign. Who knows what they’ll come up with!

Fun Ideas

If your kids are looking for some creative inspiration, the neighborhood is the perfect place to find it. Depending on their interests, they may want to paint the people in the neighborhood or the animals they have seen in the neighborhood. They can paint landscape scenes or opt for a more abstract approach. Of course, how old your children are may play a role in what they decide to paint. If you have more than one child working on the same piece of artwork, have them compromise on what they decide to paint so that a squabble over artistic direction doesn’t break out.

Summary

Art on the lawn is a great way to get your kids outside on a nice summer day. You don’t need much in the way of supplies, just a sheet to serve as a canvas and some paint from your local craft store. Your kids will love showing off their creations.