Krishna is the Supreme Artist. There are examples of Krishna’s artistic sense and design everywhere- the shape of a leaf, delicate shoots of new green grasses, the full moon, handsome faces, lacey flowers, varieties of sea shells and snowflakes, colorful birds, the shapes of seeds, and patterns in nature ...
Everything man-made are examples, too- furniture designs, interior decor, architecture, clothing designs, even book covers and web pages- since Krsna is the source and ability in man to create . Art is everywhere, and if you think about it, the whole world is art.
Art can help us remember, glorify, and serve Krishna in many, many ways. Art, therefore, is an important part of education and life. It develops an eye for beauty; an appreciation for color, creativity and imagination; an eye for detail; an awareness of how things are and it increases observation skills. It is another way to communicate altogether, to express oneself. Plus talking about art expands one's vocabulary.
Art is a wonderful way to spend time with children. Ample practice can be gained just drawing and creating projects together or to give them engagement in their free time. Art projects can be used also in helping with homework assignments such as creating colorful arrays that were learned in math class.
Here's more ideas for getting yourself and children immersed in art and artistic processes
NURTURING CREATIVITY AT HOME
Save those odds and ends- bottle caps, string, broken pieces from machinery, foam from packagaing... Many things can be used for shaping clay or printing with objects or turning into some useable craft.
Create a space to store various art materials. A favorite art supply store is DicBlick.com
One can simply start projects oneself and invite children to help in the process. Other times you may want to work on a project yourself first to watch for any snags. Until you get the hang of twisting those dry corn husks into useable twine, for example, hold off before trying to show the children how in a way that'll hold their interest. Or just go ahead and learn to do it together, demonstrating your own determination to learn a new skill. Either way is better than nothing.
GENERATING IDEAS FOR PROJECTS
Ideas are everywhere, really. Ideas can be taken from artwork you like, what other mothers are doing with their children, children's book illustrations, art books, children’s magazine submissions, catalog offerings or just a word, title or picture can invoke thought processes for art along with viewing the same things in real life. The Internet itself is a bottomless pit for ideas and projects, especially in a Google image search or videos on YouTube. Here is a fine example: Floral Landscape done by a school teacher. Plus all these may be varied in seemingly endless ways! Pinterest is a good place to store what you find or make lists of ideas or subject matter.
ART VOCABULARY
Type some of these into a Google search for kid's art ideas:
monochromatic
complementary
pastel
shade
shapes
contour line
template
negative and positive space
symmetry
background and foreground
horizon
shading
abstract
texture
lettering
art mediums or artistic media
pattern
proportion
For explaining symmetry you can simply hold up a mirror alongside half a symmetric picture or object. Or drip drops of paint onto have a half of a page of paper, fold and rub the other half of the paper on top to unfold and reveal a symmetrical painting.
ADAPTING WHAT YOU FIND You found an awesome, inspiring project but don't have the materials. Or perhaps it has sparked a new original idea? Get to the essence: What is it? Can it be used in some way or is it simply decorative? What skills are used to make it? What about using different colors, different shapes, different materials...? Or use just part of an idea. For example, there is a pillow to sew with a fish applique but you only use the fish as a model for a different project altogether such as a colorful fish mobile.
THE FINE ART OF PUTTERING
Just wandering around the house, yard, or neighborhood is another way to find ideas. Ok, so you are walking in the back yard after a rain and there's a big beautiful puddle formed. Time to make small, colorful boats to sail across it. You dig in the closet and find old calendars to cut and paste from or draw from or make cards from, You open a drawer and there's that jar of buttons for kids to make necklaces o...
MAKE MISTAKES, GET MESSY
To help students put their feelings into their artwork (ditto for story writing, poetry, cooking, etc.) they need to learn to relax and not worry about the result but get absorbed in the activity itself. This is wear illustrated books and projects related to art history or modern art come in handy. It appears there is no "right" way to do art!
Playing music can help everyone to relax. Most important though is to work alongside them and be enthusiastic yourself, an example of your own willingness to make mistakes and learn from the process of creating something.
READING AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT ART So many ideas and tips can be learned along the way while looking for ideas. The local library, book store or Internet is full of helpful instruction and ideas. Have an artistic neighbor living nearby? Go for a visit and ask them how to make something, what he learned in the process, as well as pitfalls to watch out for.
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
Whatever the project, what is very nice about doing art with children is you can't help but be reminded of the Lord in some way, since ultimately everything is connected to Him, everything is his divine energy, and therefore making and creating stuff can be a wonderful time not only for giving your presence to children but engaging in krsna katha also. For example, making sun catchers for a sunny window is a nice reminder of how nice light really is and it's original source- the gorgeous effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PERSONAL FAVORITES FOR ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES:
Krishna conscious dollmaking
Illustrations for homemade booklets,
Krishna conscious drama sets and costumes
Deity worship dress, jewelry, backdrops and decorations etc,
Homemade toys,
Simple living crafts,
Drawing and painting posters, murals, etc, for remembering Krsna always and preaching...
SHOW IT OFF! What to do with finished projects. There are so many suggestions on the web. Here's a few: take a photo and share it on Facebook or blog. Make it into a card for a loved one. Frame it. Pin it onto an indoor line along a wall with clothespin for an at home gallery. Fold it into a book cover. Use it for a home or altar decoration...
