Make Art Part of the Decor
Classic artworks are often available as inexpensive and surprisingly good quality prints. Consider putting some of these on your walls or doors. Visit college art shows and purchase student art. Or why not paint your own.
Make Art Scrapbooks and Posters
Track down some old art books or magazines cheap at a thrift or 2nd-hand bookstore, let them cut out their favourites, or print some out off the internet. Arrange them in themes - animals, colour, landscape, whatever they like.
Visit the Art Gallery
A trip to the art gallery can be fun - I don't belive in tiptoeing round! Many galleries produce guidebooks specifically for children, or you might ask one of the staff to suggest items in the collection that will be of interest. Sculpture gardens are the great for boisterous littlies. If photography is permitted, take pictures of your child's favourite pieces. Ask what they feel about the art - don't worry about dates. Jot down the artist's name so you can look them up later. Find art that relates to other interests - animals, beautiful dresses, heroes, aeroplanes. There is fine art on every subject you could imagine.
Even if you do not personally enjoy modern art, approach it with enthusiasm - many modernist painters attempted to capture a childlike freshness in their works, and you can use this as an opportunity to praise your child's work: 'Look at that lovely bright picture. It's like the one you did last week. Perhaps your work will hang here one day!' Your child should never hear 'Oh, my 6-year-old could do that!' as a criticism of a picture; if they do (from someone else) follow it with a comment like 'What a clever artist to draw as beautifully as a child.'
- A few more ideas:
- Check your local phone book for art museums and galleries
- a trip to a real ceramics workshop (maybe even a lesson)
- see if a local cafe will put on an kid's art exhibition (You can make cardboard frames that can look great)
- try the local community center for art and craft groups
