Vincent Van Gogh for Kids

Vincent Van Gogh had his own way of seeing.  While his art went unappreciated in his lifetime, the world regards him as one of the most famous artists who has ever lived.  You'll know this to be true should you have the opportunity to view a Van Gogh in person.

Here are some kid-friendly interactive sites to increase your knowledge of Vincent Van Gogh. 

Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night; Museum of Modern Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art; How Van Gogh made his mark

KidsKonnect.com

 

Homemade Stamps

 

Patterned-based thinking allows children to discover, analyze and extend.   Exploring patterns and problem solving can be integrated with art by making and printing with these homemade stamps. 

Simple bold shapes created from these printed images are appealing to children.  Printing not only involves problem-solving skills, it is a preview to graphic and textile design. Children will become more aware of patterns in their environment.

Making these stamps for printing patterns is fast and easy.  All you need are some old blocks, scissors and sheets of fun foam.  You can use the foam with adhesive backs or glue on yourself.

 

Cut foam into size of the blocks.  Free cut your designs with straight or crazy edge scissors.  If you are gluing the foam to the block, allow drying time.

Printing:  You can use stamp pads or apply a thin layer of acrylic or tempera paints with a sponge. 

•   Have children explore with a simple AB pattern (two alternating images) or more completed a,
•   Drop pattern (Shape, space, shape, space – a good example of a drop pattern is a polka dot pattern. 
•   Rotation:  Have children change direction with a single image. Left , right, or more complicated, North, East, South, West.  You can number or code the block to take the confusing our of turning.

Have children explore the stamp itself.  Why does only the image print and not the entire block?  (the design is raised like a thumb print, the design is in relief).  Discuss the use of negative space and positive space; how is the negative space just as important to the design as the positive space?

 Extensions:

Paint and decorate papers.  Keep them for collages.

• Try stamping fabric
• Create wrapping paper
• Design note cards
• Create a logo and print calling cards
• Make a mini book of stamped images
• Decorate a plain box
• Use acrylic paint to make a personal t-shirt 

Talk about the similarities and differences in the patterns created.  Making stamps at home in the classroom is easy, fun, and inexpensive.

Happy stamping!