Family Portraits are more than just art projects; they are precious keepsakes that capture a moment in time and the unique perspective of a child. There’s something incredibly special about seeing your family through the eyes of your little one, and these homemade portraits become treasured mementos as the years pass. If you’re looking for a delightful art activity that results in heartwarming keepsakes, creating family portraits with your children is a fantastic choice. While my own almost four-year-old sometimes resists direct requests, turning art time into an exploration of family can be surprisingly engaging. Here’s how you can guide your kids in making their own unique family portraits, hopefully with a bit more cooperation than I sometimes encounter!
Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin your artistic adventure, gather these simple materials:
- Watercolor Paper: Opt for watercolor paper as it’s thicker and designed to handle wet mediums without buckling, providing a sturdy base for your portraits.
- Black Oil Pastels: Black oil pastels are excellent for creating bold outlines and adding definition to the drawings, especially for young artists.
- Watercolor Set: A set of watercolors offers vibrant colors and allows for beautiful washes and details to bring the family portraits to life.
- Water Cups (Two): Having two cups of water – one for rinsing brushes and another for clean water – helps keep colors bright and prevents muddy mixtures.
- Paper Towel: A paper towel is essential for controlling the amount of water on the brush and for cleaning up any spills.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Family Portraits
Step 1: Discussing Family and Sketching the Portrait
Begin by engaging your child in a conversation about your family. Ask questions to get them thinking about who makes up their family unit. Consider prompts like:
- “Who lives in our house?”
- “Do we have any pets that are part of our family?”
- “Would you like to include our cat/dog/etc. in our family portrait?”
- “What are some important details we should include in our drawing of each person?”
- “What makes each person in our family unique?”
- “Do heads float in the air, or do they need bodies? What body parts are important to show?”
This discussion helps children conceptualize their family and think about representing them visually. Once they have a framework in mind, provide them with a black oil pastel and the watercolor paper. Encourage them to sketch their family portrait. When working with younger children (ages 3-5), remember that the process and their unique expression are key.
It’s crucial to embrace their artistic interpretation, no matter how abstract it may seem to adult eyes. Resist the urge to correct or alter their shapes. Those “potato-looking shapes with stick legs,” as some might describe them, are part of the charm and unique perspective of a child’s art. These are the details you will cherish and smile at for years to come.
Step 2: Bringing the Portrait to Life with Watercolors
Now comes the exciting part – adding color! Provide your child with the watercolor set, two cups of water (emphasizing the “clean bath” and “dirty bath” concept), and a paper towel. Explain how to use watercolors, demonstrating how to dip the brush in water, pick up paint, and test the color. The two water cups help teach them to rinse their brush in the “dirty bath” and then use the “clean bath” to get water for more paint, keeping colors vibrant. The paper towel is for dabbing excess water and checking brush cleanliness.
Encourage children to take their time and enjoy the process of painting. While they are working, offer positive reinforcement and focus on their effort and attention to detail. Try phrases like:
- “Wow, I see you are really taking your time to add important colors and details to your painting.”
- “I really like how carefully you are working on your art, not rushing at all. That shows me how much you care about your work.”
Before starting to paint, you can even playfully ask if this is a “super-fast” or a “take-your-time” kind of artwork. You might even pretend to rush through your own painting to playfully emphasize the value of taking it slow and being deliberate.
The Lasting Value of Child-Created Family Portraits
Witnessing children immerse themselves in creating these portraits is truly rewarding. The concentration, care, and pride they invest in their artwork are evident. And the finished pieces? They are often met with admiration, joy, and even tears of emotion from family members. As educators and parents, these reactions are incredibly fulfilling, highlighting the powerful emotional connection art can create.
These family portraits are destined to become cherished keepsakes, many finding their place in frames, ready to be enjoyed by the whole family for years to come. Creating family portraits with your kids isn’t just an art project; it’s an opportunity to foster creativity, encourage self-expression, and create lasting memories. So, gather your materials, embrace the artistic process, and prepare to be delighted by the unique family portraits your children create.
