We love to include the kids in what we do and make them feel an equal part of the family. We want them to feel important. Tristan has been interested in art for a long time, even having sold a painting when he was just 5. Last year the children started taking a home art class by Artistic Pursuits. One of the projects in the course was to make an art gallery.
We’ve always had the kids’ pictures up on our doors and walls with fun tac but we went a small step up. I put command hooks on the wall and then put the kids’ artwork from the class into page protectors/poly pockets to help protect them and then hung them from the hooks.
I added new art in front of the older art until they built up and then we filed them into a clear folder (affiliate link) so they could still look at their pictures when they desired.
Click here for more Homeschool Art Classes For All Ages
I’ve always wanted something a little nicer for the kids to display their art. Something a little more professional. We often walk down to a couple of galleries in our town and admire the art installations. What the children were missing were proper frames.
So last month when we were in town I looked for some frames and finally found some that would work in our small space and that were affordable. Each frame cost £1.00. I bought 4 frames to fill the space at the end of our hallway.
To tell you the truth, the frames sat on the kitchen counter for a couple of weeks…there always seemed to be other things during the day that took precidense. Then with a childminding inspection coming up, I wanted the house to look its best. So I got busy and it only took me an afternoon. Actually, it only took 2 hours to do all the frames, but there was of course drying time between paint layers.
The frames were lightweight wooden frames. I took out the glass and backing and gave the frames a quick, light sanding and a wipe off. Then I applied 3 light coats of cream-coloured paint to the frames. I already had the paint on hand from a couple of years ago when I refinished an old dresser, and when I turned an IKEA kids’ dresser into a set of shelves last spring. No sense in letting the paint go to waste!
Once the frames were dry I cleaned the glass and chose the art that would go in. I put them back together and the frames just happened to be the right size and weight to fit on the hooks that were already on the wall. I did use a little bit of funtak just to hold the bottom of the frames in place so they won’t wobble if someone happens to brush past them.
I’ll be honest with you….there was one casualty to my project. Just as I was closing up that last frame, the front glass snapped! Isn’t that always the way? We went back to the shop but as they were closing down they were out of stock. We did find one at anther shop in the chain when we in Belfast for a Japan Society Hina Matsuri party. Perfect timing, too as the inspection was in less than 40 hours.
I painted up the frame the next day and now the kids have a beautiful ‘adult’ art gallery all their own. It’s at the end of the hallway and in plain view to anyone who comes to visit.
Now…all I need to do is order up some prints to fill the frames we currently have hanging in our bedroom that I fixed up a year ago! One project at a time…we’ll get there!
How do you like to display your children’s artwork? Do you hang it on the fridge, or elsewhere?
If you enjoy doing a little DIY around the house, here are a couple of items you may be interested in:
