Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. This basically means that if you purchase from Amazon after clicking on one of these links, a small portion of the sale goes to me...all at no cost to you. Fine Art Adventures was given to me to review as well. All opinions shared in this article are my own though.
Hi friends!
So a while back I gave you a list of all of my favorite art books for kids. I thought I'd expand on that post today with some of my favorite art supplies for kids...and I'll include the book info as well so that you have one really complete long list. With Christmas coming up, I know that lots of you might be looking into fun art gift ideas for Christmas. I'd say this list is pretty good for kids 5+. A few things are good for the younger kids too. A lot are inexpensive and would make great stocking stuffers!
I love, love, love roundups like these and I really hope that it's a great resource for you! If you have something you love feel free to add a comment to the end of this post.
1. Oil Pastels. They are cheap and make a great stocking stuffer. Kids love the vibrant colors and the fact that they look so impressive with construction paper.
2. Gouache paints. My 8 year old got these for her birthday and she was thrilled. She really loves experimenting with using the paints at different consistencies--either full strength or watered down like watercolors. Throw in a palette and you've got a great gift.
3. Master Kitz Art Kits: My kids love these. They get to recreate a masterpiece largely using stencils and rollers. It's a great introduction to famous artists though and would be great paired with some of the books I shared below.
4. Spin Art: We have this paint spinner and it's been a favorite with my kids since they were preschoolers. My second grader is starting to be less interested now, but it's really great for preschool and kindergarten aged kids.
5.Polyform Model Air: This is the clay that I used to make ballerinas and doll food for my kids. I really like that it is air dry clay, so the kids can make their projects without adult help. You can also use markers to color the clay...just add in a little bit of ink while the clay is still wet and knead it until the color is taken up. For younger kids though I'd stick to play doh.
6. Glitter Gel Pens: I used to write notes to my friends in high school with gel pens such as these. My kids love them to draw and write notes with!
7. Glitter Glue: My kids love it. My husband hates it.
8. Pipe Cleaners: These might seem like such a basic art supply, but my kids can never get enough of pipe cleaners. They will play with them for hours, making little sculptures and animals. They love to add beads on them, and glue on googly eyes.
9. Scratch paper: Scrape away at this paper to reveal shiny and colored paper beneath. It's really fun for kids to make neat designs.
10. Pottery Wheel Kit for Kids: My kids got a pottery wheel last year for Christmas. It's something we've only used a couple of times, but it's really been an enjoyable experience for them.
11. Spirograph: A spirograph has to tug a little bit at your heartstrings, right? It's such a classic! I loved one as a kid, and my kids love it now too.
12. Flower Press: I'm a big fan of any product that kids can really own and take control of themselves. A flower press is so great for that! I let my kids collect flowers and leaves in the backyard, and they can press them themselves. Then we turn them into bookmarks, or add the dried flowers to their artwork.
And here are my favorite picture book and activity books, that I originally posted about this this post:
Let me tell you a little bit about these awesome books!
1. Sandy's Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone: Few artists captured my kids imagination as much as Calder and his circus. This charming picture book explores Sandy's whimsical circus inventions.
2. Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!: This book is Ellie's favorite. Picasso wasn't willing to just make art that conformed with the standards of the time, hence the title. Ellie loves everything about Picasso--from his rebellious spirit to his colorful and strange-looking art.
3. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art: This Caldecott Honor book is a lovely tribute to Vasya Kandinsky and it's BEAUTIFUL. Truly.
4. Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork: This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, and it still is. I love the charming illustrations mixed with real photographs.
5. The Dot by Peter Reynolds: I love Peter Reynolds' books. From the dot to Ish...they are simple and sweet. Great for any kid who maybe feels a little reluctant to get started with their own art.
6. Katie and the Sunflowers by James Mayhew: It's not the traditional art story book--it does involve kids jumping into famous paintings after all...but its a fun twist.
7. You Can't Take a Balloon into the Museum of Fine Arts by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman: I love all of the "You Can't Take a Balloon" series. The illustrations by Robin Glasser are just so captivating--Ellie spent so much time studying them!
8. Children's Introduction to Art: The World's Greatest Paintings and Sculptures by Heather Alexander: This one's more of an art resource book, but Lu ate it up. Lots of info for an art enthusiast.
9. Meet the Artist books: This series of books is amazing. We're talking 3D pop-ups and interactive pages. Really, really cool guys.
10: Degas and the Little Dancer by Lawrence Anholt: Maybe it's because my kids love dance, but this book really captured their imaginations. It inspired them to make their own ballerina sculptures.
11. Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet: Herve Tullet makes such fun interactive books. This book presents color theory in a way that's so fun, especially for the younger crew. Be ready to mix up the colors on the pages--who knew that just a regular book could be so interactive?
12. Uncle Andy's: A Faabbulous Visit with Andy Warhol by James Warhola: A lovely look into "Uncle Andy" and his exciting life. I'm pretty sure my kids were left wishing that they had an uncle Andy too!
13. Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty: Andrea Beaty's books speak to my heart. Ok, ok, maybe this book isn't about an artist exactly. The creativity of Iggy Peck though makes me feel like this book belongs on this list though, even if it has more of a science feel. After all science and art do go together!
14. Fine Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On-Projects Inspired by Classic Masterpieces by Maja Pitamic: I received this book to review, but all opinions are my own. There are lots of fun projects here inspired by lots of artists. I think my favorite thing about this book is that the projects don't require lot of expensive supplies. This makes this book perfect for teachers --or a last minute project at home!
15. Ed Emberley's fingerprint books: I think fingerprint sketches are so fun! And I love that my kids can do these projects all by themselves.
16. Scratch and Sketch book: There are a whole series of these books--including an art version! My kids can't get enough of them....I guess there is just something magical about scratching and seeing a color of rainbows underneath.
17. The Girls' Doodle Book by Andrew Pinter: I bring this book to any waiting room I need to bring my kids too. The prompted drawings hold my kids attention for so long. There's a boy version too!
18. My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook by Lisa Regan: The scientist in me loves this prompted activity book. My kids love it too!
19. Once Upon a Doodle by Hannah Cohen: This book stays in our activity bag alongside the Girls' Doodle book and the Crazy Inventions Sketchbook above.
20. Doodle and Design Fashion by Jennie Sun: This activity book is really simple--just outlines of girls in different outfits. Lu loves adding her own patterns to the outfits though, and it's provided hours of entertainment.
Have something to add to the list? Add a comment below!
XOXO,
Jill
I really love your art I am gonna get them for sure,its nice, attractive and creative designs.
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