Article Source:https://theconversation.com/how-to-set-up-a-kids-art-studio-at-home-and-learn-to-love-the-mess-196026

Many parents want to encourage their children to be creative. This is not just about training the next Archibald Prize winner. Young people develop important emotional and cognitive skills when they make art.

But at the same time, it can be tricky to know where to start. Or how to overcome the fear of a big clean up.

I am a visual artist and art educator of big and small people. Here are some ways to support your child to set up their own art studio at home.

All you have to do is make a space for them, supply the materials and not get too hung up on the mess!

How to set up a kids studio

First, you need to set up a space or a “kids studio”. Ideally, this is a place where your child can make and leave work in progress.

Artists need time to mull over ideas. If they have to pack up their work at the end of each session, it disrupts the creative process. Artists like to make, take a break, think and go back to their work in spurts. Spurts can be five minutes or five hours.

Not everyone has a separate backyard studio in their home. So your studio could be the dining table or a corner of the lounge room. You can always cover the studio with a tablecloth to signify it is “closed” during dinner or for other activities.

Another excellent option is an easel. Standing at an easel to paint and draw helps the artist see their work better, as it allows them to stand back and look at the proportions of what they are doing.

Kids are also happy to make on the floor! A simple mat can help designate a studio space. The important thing is your child can come and go as the urge takes them.

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