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Arts & Entertainment

Setting a Painter's Table

Encourage creativity (and clean-up too!)

Parents often ask me about painting with children at home.  One of my favorite authors, Muriel Silberstein-Storfer, compared setting out art supplies to preparing for a dinner party.  

One sets a table in much the same way.  After a dinner party, we expect stains on the table cloth, dirty dishes and utensils and even a few spills. Likewise, an art-making session has gone well when the materials set out have been well-used and enjoyed.  

Setting a family table for painting can have other benefits too; it is a way to model routine and creative practice.  Painting together can be a great way for kids and parents to unwind at the end of the day, enjoying these long spring evenings.

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Begin by gathering paint and paper as well as tools.  Thicker construction paper works well for painting.  Paints can be liquid tempera, acrylic or pads of watercolor. The pads of paint are less likely to spill but children will need additional coaching to get the idea of keeping the paints wet to activate the paint.  

Whichever paint you choose to use, provide each painter with a brush or brushes, a shallow jar of water, a dry towel or washcloth and a space at the table.  If sharing paints, make sure containers are large enough to be passed around the table and are accessible to all who are seated.  

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To create individual palettes, use ice trays, muffin tins or paper plates and add dollops of paint.  Individual water color sets like those used in schools also work well.  A "place setting" includes paper, paint, brushes water and towel.  Decide ahead of time if you want to cover the table with a vinyl table cloth or other surface or if you will just wipe up the table when finished.

Just as you might explain sauces and ingredients to guests at a dinner party, begin your painting session with some reminders about caring for tools and use of paint. Remind young children about washing their brush between colors and using a towel to blot and dry the brush.  The towels on-hand are also helpful for those unexpected spills.  

Maybe suggest a theme for the paintings - the season, fresh flowers on the table, portraits.  Keep it open-ended and ask the children for suggestions.  Paint and experiment along-side your child.  Experimenting is contagious and this is a great opportunity to model use and care of tools and materials as well as creative risk-taking.  

Don't feel limited by the need to "make something" have fun experimenting with lines, colors and brush strokes.  Painting can be very soothing - for adults and children.  I knew an art teacher who told me that breathing slows and deepens when people work with watercolors.  Enjoy the flow and feel of the paint on the paper.

As your children paint, enjoy watching what develops.  Sometimes saying less is really saying more.  If at a loss for what to say, focus on what you see - notice colors, kinds of brush strokes, energy level.  It is normal for young children to be very energetic painters.  Older children may want more guidance in how to begin - suggest playing with shapes and color to see where it leads.  

I often find children who are reluctant to begin worry about doing it right and are reassured to know that many "real" artists begin simply by playing with color, shape and ideas.  It is also helpful to have plenty of paper available.  When "mistakes" are made, it is great to encourage children to see these as an opportunity to make something new.  Sometimes a new start just feels necessary and an abandoned paper can be put aside to return to later or use for collage.

Painting together at a table can also be a great opportunity for collaboration and story telling.  Many young painters have elaborate characters and stories that go with their paintings.  Take some notes on these to preserve this wonderful imaginative time.

Finally, just as children help clear the table after dinner, be sure they are a part of cleaning up.  If spills do happen, let kids help mop up water and get a clean towel. At the end of a painting session, young artists can put brushes in their jar of water and clear it to the sink.  Once paintings are put aside to dry, everyone can help clean the table.  Having routines for set up and clean-up makes painting more fun for everyone at home.  Be sure to display your creations once they are dry too.

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