While prepping supplies in the Art Studio, there are often a lot of small pieces that are left behind. Small scraps of paper become large piles as we cut and hole punch materials for our Every Day Art Projects. And the more time we spend looking at them, even the smallest scrap becomes inspiration for art-making. This blog post will share some of the scraps we have been saving, and how they can be used for art-making. READ MORE

This week in our At Home Art Studios, we were inspired to create three-dimensional sculptures out of cardboard. Cardboard is one of our favorite materials in the Art Studio, it is strong, flexible, and can be folded and cut as needed. In this post, we will share some of our favorite ways to work with cardboard to create settings for storytelling and spaces for play. Many of the techniques we use with cardboard will also work for creating paper sculptures, so use whatever material you have available and join in! READ MORE

This week, we invite our At Home Art Studio community to explore bookmaking and art with surprises. We often make books in the Art Studio as a way to encourage storytelling. Books can be filled with all sorts of drawings and illustrations, and there are countless ways of making them. Design elements like die-cuts and lift flaps add elements of surprise and make artwork interactive for others to enjoy. Below you’ll find how the team explored making their own stories and surprises, we look forward to seeing what you make! READ MORE

Recently, Summer Art Studio intern Temperance Dewar designed an Open Book Open Play program for museum guests. She planned the event, prepared materials, and facilitated storytime and art making in The Carle’s orchard. The following is her description of the project: READ MORE

Recently an Art Studio Work Study Student, Helen Austin, designed and led a Special Sunday activity for our Museum guests inspired by the theme “Box Art.” The following is Helen’s report on her process and the day. READ MORE

Our ongoing fascination with cardboard boxes continues to evolve – there’s seemingly no end to the possibilities offered by this accessible, reusable material! Over the past month, the educational team at The Carle has collaborated on several projects exploring how cardboard boxes can transform a space. READ MORE

Over the past few months we have been experimenting with cardboard boxes and they have provided ongoing inspiration for Art Studio guests and Art Educators alike. We are always fascinated to see how many ways we can use, transform, and interact with one material over time. We just can’t stop exploring cardboard as one idea leads to another! READ MORE

Last month, Artist and Author Susan Schwake returned to The Carle’s Art Studio to share a project from her latest book, 3-D Art Lab for Kids. Guests of all ages had fun turning beautifully patterned papers into Rolled Paper Relief sculptures. READ MORE