Kids Artwork From Found Objects!

You know that children are naturally curious and they really like to be creative. This is a challenge for them. With a small amount of guidance and encouragement, children can have hours of fun making arts and crafts from found objects.

A Two Part Activity

I like to look at this idea as a two part project. By dividing it in to two parts you actually get two seperate activities that produce a finished product. This is great for the adults because it allows for good positive interactions with the children at two different levels. First you have the hunting for objects and next you have the taking it back to the house and creating activity. Let's take a look at each one separately.

The Hunting

One of the best places to go hunting is the beach. Now you can do this almost any time of year but sometimes the dead of winter is a little uncomfortable. We often do this when we go out fishing and the kids get bored because the fish are not biting. You can also do this hunting while you are on a regular, go to the beach swim/play day. All you need to carry along is a bucket to hold the things they find. You do not even have to tell them about the second part of this activity until you are ready to partake in it. You know some children have a way of driving you crazy with begging for the answer to WHEN are we going to do something. The found objects can be carried home and cleaned and kept for later use.

Hunting The Woods And Fields

You can also find interesting items when you take a hike in the woods or just walking through the woods. Rocks, sticks, dried leaves and just about anything that strikes the childs imagination can be used for creating there unique work of art. The key is to let them use their imaginations. It will help keep them off of the video game machines too.

Creating Artwork From Found Objects

Now that you have enjoyed the first half of this wonderful activity for children it is time to turn something they have picked up into a special work of art. Depending on what you have allowed them to bring back to the house, there are some things to consider. If their magical finds are dirty or wet they will have to be cleaned and dried. You might also find it useful to disinfect the treasures if they are very dirty. This can be done in several different ways.

Cleaning The Found Treasures

I use to put everything i found in the back window of my car for a couple of weeks so thet the sun would bake on it. This is a great way to dry things out and works especially well in the heat of summer. You might like to try it. I suggest using a flat cardboard box to lay the items out in. i do not do this now but the only reason is because I am driving a van and do not have the good back window.

I like to use a little bleach water to dip everything I find in. I put a sink full of water in and add a small amount of bleach. Then I just leave it for a while. I return in about 20 min. and pull the sink plug to let the water drain away. I will let it drain all night if possible. Sometimes I need the sink so I spread my collection out on newspaper to dry.

You can use a small, soft brush to carefully scrub any real dirt away. It is good to get the children involved with cleaning the items. They will learn about hygene from the practice and also learn how to clean things up. Be sure to talk to them about germs while you are working together.

Part Two, The Fun Of Creating

After the found objects have been cleaned and dried you can set them aside unyil you are ready to start the creative work. This can be done and probably should be done on a diffewrent day. It is a smart idea to give the things you have selected time to dry out real good.

Part two is a great project for a rainy day or even later in the year, after the weather gets cold. That is, if you live in a seasonal area where the weather changes this is great indoor fun. All you need is the stuff you have gathered from your outings and some glue. I like to use Tacky Glue because it bonds great and dries clear. They also have a Tacky glue that is a quick dry formula so the set up time is faster.

It also helps to have a tay or an old plate to do the work on. Using a tray is a good idea for several reasons. It allows the finished piece to be carefully moved to an out of the way location for complete glue drying. It also helps keep the small pieces from getting lost. It protects the table surface from getting glue all over too.

I also like to put a piece of waxed paper down under my base so that any excess glue will not stick to the work surface and cause a problem after it dries. It is best to remove as much excess glue as you work but it often happens that some glue might drip down. The waxed paper will allow the finished and dried artwork to be peeled away easier.

There Are No Rules In Creativity

Any flat surfaced area can be used for a base as long as it will allow for gluing. I have used small pieces of flat plywood, cardboard, driftwood boards, and groups of items that are just piled together. It is best to use something that is porous so the glue will bond to it and hold. I use toothpicks and tiny paint brushes to remove excess glue when I have glued and poitioned the pieces where I want them to be. Excess glue can be carefully removed with a dry brush or the edge of a toothpick.

It is best to lay out all the pieces and position them the way you want before starting to glue. This is the fun part and the creative part. Smaller children may need to have some help with their project but try to let them do as much of the work as possible. This is a learning project. It is also a great time to talk to your children.

Take advantage of the situation and try to stimulate your childs mind with thoughtful conversation. You can learn a lot about who they are and what they are thinking during this kind of interactivity. Most of all have fun. When the artwork is completed just set it aside for a few days to dry real good. Have fun and happy creating.................... C.S. Alexis

The Artwork Pictured Above

I found all of the things in the artwork pictured above at the beach. The toy soldier must have been left in the sand by a child playing there one day. the gase is a piece of board that is covered with what i think are chicken bones from many picnics gone by.

There are also somebones from seagulls, washed glass that has lost the sharp edges from rolling in the sand for many days or years, until the edges have smoothed. I also added some small shells.

The entire work is glued together with Tacky Glue. I like this glue because it dries clear and has the ability to bond a lot of different materials. I have used it for years and find it to be a superior glue for assembling my artwork.

The theme of the above piece is the devastation of war. It is a small piece that measures about 3"x 3"x5".

Beachcombing Bags

I like to walk on the beach and collect various items that wash up from the water or are left behind by previous visitors. This is great exercise but is also good for the spirit. The beach, the sand, the sounds of the wind and the waves are very relaxing to me.

I think many people also share my affections for this past time. When I know I will be beachcombing, I am sure to take along a bag to deposit the items I want to carry back to my art studio.

I suggest that if you are a beachcomber or want to give it a go, use a cloth bag. You can wash it and recycle it for continued collecting. Old pillow cases work well, or a garment bag or laundry bag. Cloth works the best because it will be less likly to tear and will not hold water inside but,it will probably get wet. Be careful where you set it on your way home. You may not want to get other nearby items wet on the return trip.  Happy hunting.