Explore Fine Art with this Kids Art Gallery Activity!
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I am so excited to be a part of The Educators’ Spin On It’s awesome Summer Love Book Exchange again this year.
Last year we exchanged books and activities with Laura, of Play Dr. Mom, and made this fun Kids Emotions Matching Game inspired by the book Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day
.
This year, we were fortunate to be partnered up with Ariadne, and her kiddos, of Positive Parenting Connection. So we sent our chosen children’s book and project all the way over to Switzerland. And we got an awesome fine art inspired children’s book, Katie and the Sunflowers
, and lots of fun activities in exchange! Here is just one of the fun activities it inspired…
A Kids Art Gallery Activity Inspired by Katie and the Sunflowers
About the Book, Katie and the Sunflowers
:
“Katie visits five paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne! Katie tries to pick the sunflower seeds from the Vincent Van Gogh painting, but when the vase tips over, the flowers go everywhere. Mimi, a little girl from a painting nearby, comes to help Katie, but when Mimi’s dog Zazou comes too disaster follows! This imaginative fantasy about a mischievous character is an original and fun way to introduce children to art.”
What the Kids Thought about the Book:
Sawyer and Priscilla got a kick out of the idea of the paintings coming to life and really enjoyed guessing what might happen when Katie came to each new painting in the gallery.
They also loved making up their own stories of what might happen if they entered each of the paintings.
Fancy Picture Frames for Making Our Own Kids Art Gallery
Along with some fun sunflower themed crafts, Ariadne sent along printouts of ornate golden picture frames. The kids ooo’ed and ahhh’ed as soon as they saw the fancy frames. They excitedly started chatting about the art that they would create inside them.
The kids set to work with their markers
making colorful art inside the blank frames.
Priscilla and I used circles to make some sunflower-inspired art, while Sawyer did his own thing and drew a colorful snake scene.
Fancy Picture Frame Drawing Printable for Your Own Kids Art Gallery
Wanna make your own kids art gallery with your kiddos?
First, definitely read Katie and the Sunflowers
for inspiration!
Then download and print the free Fancy Picture Frame Drawing Printables for the kids to create their masterpieces on.
Get your own Fancy Frame Drawing Printables HERE:
There are 4 different picture frame styles, all with blank white inside the frames, for some colorful kids art.
You could even print them on heavier cardstock
or watercolor paper
so the kids can paint inside the frames.
Once they’re done, add your child’s name, and hang the drawing printable as is right on the fridge. Or trim closely to the outside of the frames and hang a bunch on one wall for your own kids art gallery.
More Love Book Exchange Ideas
Hope over to Positive Parenting Connection to find out about the book and trash-to-toys challenge we sent Ariadne and her kids.
Don’t Forget your Fancy Frame Drawing Printables:
Have you ever read Katie and the Sunflowers
? Do you think your kids would like to create their own kids art gallery? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
More Kids Art Inspiration:
- Glittery Egyptian Inspired Art Project
- Art and Science: Salt Painting
- A STEAM Filled Windsock Art Project for Kids
- Creative Sculpture Art Projects for Kids
- 25 Fun Finds for Creative Kids
Sari says
Thank you SO much for the printable frames. I can’t tell you how long I searched for these on the web. I cannot wait to use these in my K & 1st grade art classes!!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Yay! As a former art teacher, I’m so excited to hear that, Sari. So happy to help. 🙂
lisa says
I love this idea, but I wish it was larger like for legal size paper. Do you know how I could make it larger. It’s hard for younger children to draw in that small space.
Thanks!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
You’re right – they would be great larger. Let me see what I can do to make them bigger…
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
What a fun idea! So smart 🙂 Pinned!
JDaniel4's Mom says
This is such a wonderful idea! I wonder if children will draw differently knowing they are going to frame their work. I will be sharing this post on Facebook and Pinterest.
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
That would be an interesting experiment, huh?! My kids were definitely more motivated to draw with these frames. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Deirdre!
Ariadne - Positive Parenting Connection says
Oh cool, so glad you all enjoyed the picture frame activity!!! This was an awesome exchange – so happy we got to do this together 🙂
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Me, too! Thanks so much, Ariadne!!