Art and kids are a natural combination. Use an Art Studio theme to create a fun and engaging birthday party for kids aged 4 and above.
Do you have a child who loves to draw, can’t wait to read the Sunday Comics, or is a developing artist? Well, a Cartoon or Art Themed Party may be a fantastic option for you. Follow the simple instructions below to create a fun and engaging party for all in attendance.
Concept
The party space is an art studio that encourages the creative juices of the host and guests. You can create stations for different types of artwork, or just lead the entire group in one activity.
Invitations
This is a fantastic time to let your youngster create the invitation. Well, actually your child can draw or paint a scene for the invitation, but you will need to fill in the actual party information in a legible manner. Request that each guest bring an old shirt to act as a paint smock to protect his/her clothing.
Decorations
- Decorate your party space with a variety of art items, such as artist brushes, palettes, tubes of oil, watercolor and acrylic paints, and some artistic works in progress that you can create using inexpensive canvasses from your local craft store, a little bit of watercolor or oil paint, and a healthy dose of creativity on your part.
- Display a painting or poster that says Happy Birthday – try using an easel for the display.
Activities
- Finger Painting: Cover the work space with newspaper or butcher’s paper, and give each child a large sheet of freezer paper (shiny side up). Using squirt bottles of water, dampen each child’s paper. Have the kids spread the water evenly over the entire paper. Give each child a dab of finger paint. Let them use their fingertips and hands to create their masterpiece. Make sure to check the dryness of the paper as the kids work. You may need to reapply the water, if the paper dries before the artist is finished.
- Artist’s Clay: Cover the workspace with butcher’s paper – do not use newspaper, as it will stain the clay. Give each child a ball of clay about the size of their fist. Use homemade clay from cornstarch and water, or salt to keep the cost down. Otherwise, use one of the store bought clays that harden without firing. Show the kids to roll their clay into a ball and then create a pinch pot or some other simple sculpture. Once the pot or sculpture is shaped to the guest’s desires, show them how to use a toothpick to add texture and decorations to the piece. Set the clay aside to dry before the party ends.
Check back here for the next article in this series.
© Text by Janice Benoit. [August, 2007]. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright
