Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Canvas With Texture!

   I'm back! Today we are going to learn how to make a texture canvas! In a textured canvas you are making a creative abstract painting with a hint of something unique. When you touch it, you can have all different kinds of textures like rough or soft! All you need is a few materials:
  • Molding Paste
  • A plastic cup
  • A plastic knife
  • Fork
  • Small things shaped as a circle
  • Canvas (any size)
  • Paint and paintbrush
    Above is the best brand for molding paste. You can get it at any craft store like Micheal's or AC Moore.

   Now we are ready to start! First, take your canvas and open the molding paste. Take the plastic knife and spread it on the whole canvas but not the borders on the side. Make sure it is smooth. Do not make it bumpy or add any design. Before it dries, you can create designs on top of the paste. You can take the fork and create a squiggly line across the canvas going horizontal. In addition, you can take the end of the cup and press it down on top of the squiggly line. Under the line, you can just dot it with the bottom of the fork to make a beautiful design. You can also take other materials and create any design of your imagination.

   It takes about 24 hours for the paste to dry. After it dries, take a color of paint and paint the borders of the canvas with any color of your choice. Next, paint on top of the paste. You can color the negitive space (outside) one color and the circles another color. Make sure to keep it colorful and neat. Try to color it based on each material. For example, you can color the things with the fork, blue and the things with the cup, yellow. Once that is dry, you are finally done! Have fun making your textured canvas!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Day Parade! *special*

   Hey guys! Happy Thanksgiving! Today, lets take a small break from art and focus on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! The first parade started in 1924 but it will once again come every year. Well, when do people have all this time to get the parade ready and to make sure that everything is perfect? Well, lets find out! Two days before Thanksgiving is full of activity. Its one of the most hectic time of the year for them. They have to take 25 floats, 44 balloons, and dozens of push floats to go through the Lincoln Tunnel from the Hoboken Studio the day before Thanksgiving. From the famous singers to Broadway shows. They also have to close the road in New York so they can make room for the parade.

   Now lets talk about the balloon inflation and deflation. Inflating and deflating the balloons are also really hard and time consuming. To inflate a balloon, it takes about one hour and a half to about two hours. They have to do to it really early in the morning on Thanksgiving day before the parade. Plus, since the balloons are so gigantic, they can't even see what it is until it gets really big which takes a long time! Deflating the balloon takes double the time because they have to pack them up nicely so they can use it for next year. They also have to bring it all the way back to the Hoboken Studio.


Thanks to:
http://www.history.com/videos/thanksgiving-day-parade

Monday, November 19, 2012

Candles!

   Do you have any old crayons that you don't use anymore? Well, instead of throwing them out, there is a way you can recycle them! You can make beautiful candles out of them! All you need is a few materials:
  • Container (About 2-3 inches tall and microwave safe)
  • About 10-15 old crayons of one color
  • microwave
  • toothpick
   Now we are ready to start!  First, you need to rip the wrappers off the crayon. Make sure the color of the crayon you chose is a colorful color. Do not use any black or brown. One you have done that, drop the crayons into the container. If some don't fit, just break the crayons in half. Furthermore, take your container and put it in your microwave for about two minutes. After you take it out, the crayons you put in the container should be melted. Keep the container out and don't touch touch it for about five minutes because the wax needs to rest a little bit.

   Now we have to put the wick in the melted crayon mixture. You have to use the correct wick size in order to have your candle work properly. It should be about a half an inch taller than the container. First, take a toothpick and poke a hole in the middle of the mixture. Make sure it is big enough for the wick to fit in. Once you are done with that, you can put the wick in. After it is in, you should see about a half of an inch out so you can light it up. If it is more, just cut it so it is the right size. If it is less, you need to put another wick in. In summation, let it rest for five minutes and then you are done! Have fun making candles!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Rangoli! An Indian Piece of Art!

   I'm back! Today we will learn how to make rangoli! What is rangoli? Rangoli is an Indian piece of artwork done on a special day called Diwali. To make it, you have to use different colors of sand and make a beautiful design! All you need is a few materials:
  • A big piece of white cardboard
  • White sand
  • Orange sand
  • Blue sand
  • Purple sand
  • Pencil
   There are many ways to make rangoli. You can do any design you want but here is the one we will focus on today! First of all, you should know that rangoli is not permanent just like chalk. Now we are ready to start! First take the pencil and draw a small circle in the middle of the cardboard. Next draw a bigger circle around it. It should be an inch bigger. In addition, make six small ovals coming out from the bigger circle. There should be one on the top, bottom, and then two on each side. Furthermore, make triangles coming out from the big circle but draw them more curved. It looks just like a leaf. These are going to be the petals. If you need a visual for how to make the petals, please look at the picture above.

   Now we are ready to use the sand. Take a little bit of the white sand in your fingers and sprinkle it down onto your pencil work. All you need to do is to trace it with the sand. After you finish tracing, take the purple sand and sprinkle it inside the small circle like you are coloring it. In addition, take the orange sand and color the big circle and the ovals with the the sand. Finally, color the petals of the flower blue. Make sure the sand does not fall into the wrong place and keep it neat and clean. The sand part might feel a little uneasy at first but you will get the hang of it later. Have fun making your rangoli!

 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Duct Tape Bows!

   There are tons of things you can make in art! There are fun crafts and many things to paint! One of my favorites are making things with duct tape! Today we are learning to make duct tape bows! All you need is a few materials:
  • Two different designs of duct tape
  • A scissor
   Now we are ready to start! First, you need to pick which duct tape you want to use to make the bow. You have to cut about 18 inches of duct tape. After you have done that, you have to hold it straight and fold it so the sticky side touches the other but leave a one inch sticky side out. In addition you have to fold it again so the sticky part can stick both of the folded sides together. It should look almost like a cuff. We are almost done! We have to make the shape of the bow by folding it like a hot dog and then pinching the middle together. Make sure to keep your hand in the middle of the bow. You will now be able to see the shape of the bow.

   Next, you have to pick up your other design of duct tape and cut one centimeter of it. You are using this to wrap it around in the middle so that the bow stays keep. Now your bow is done! Duct tape bows are very simple. It's a really fun craft for girls! Here are some things you can do you bows. Put it in your hair, tape it on a pen, folder, binder, etc. Stick to me to find how to make more duct tape crafts! Here is one really good tutorial! Have fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NFOwtZSVqo0