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Home>Learn>Teachers>Resources for Virtual Learning>30 Minute At-Home Artmaking Challenges

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# 30 Minute At-Home Artmaking Challenges

Explore the artworks below and discover activities to make art with common materials. This resource is also available as a slide presentation.

Raphael, *Saint George and the Dragon*, c. 1506, oil on panel, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, 1937.1.26

**Create a Courage Mask**

You will need:Heavyweight paperPopsicle sticksCrayons or colored pencilsGlue

Think about a time when you felt afraid of something. Everybody has moments when they need to face something scary! Now imagine you could turn into an animal that would make it easier to face your fear. What would that animal be? What about that animal seems brave to you?

Draw a large circle, about the size of your face, on a piece of paper. In the circle, draw your brave animal. Remember to add details that you think are important about that animal. When you’re finished with your drawing, cut out the large circle. Glue a popsicle stick on the back so you can hold the mask up to your face.

*Explore more about Saint George and the Dragon*

Odilon Redon, *Large Vase with Flowers*, c. 1912, oil on canvas, Gift of the Honorable John C. Whitehead, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.64.1

**Tissue Paper Flowers**

You will need:Tissue paperVase templatesGlue sticks

Using paper, make your own flower arrangement. On the template of Redon's *Large Vase with Flowers*, glue crumpled pieces of tissue paper on the flower outlines. Color in or use patterned paper for the vase itself.

*Explore more about Large Vase with Flowers and other Pre-K activities*

Joseph Cornell, *Untitled (Medici Prince)*, c. 1953, construction, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 1982.54.1

**Build a Story Box**

You will need:Shoe box or box lidFound objects such as shells, buttons, or small toysAssorted papers, magazines, and/or photographsScissorsGlueSmall pieces of cardboardString or wirePaint and paintbrush (optional)

To start, you might want to paint your box a solid color and let it dry. Then, think about the pictures and objects you want to put in your box. Which ones seem to go together?

To build your box, first create a background by gluing printed or patterned paper to the inside of the box. Then arrange your objects until you are happy with where they are. For example, you might hang things from the top of the box with string or wire or use small pieces of cardboard to raise them up. When you are finished, glue the objects in place. What will you name your box?

*Explore more about Untitled (Medici Prince)*

Lyonel Feininger, *The Bicycle Race*, 1912, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1985.64.17

**Drawing Action**

You will need:PaperPaints, colored pencils, or markersLook at how Feininger’s The Bicycle Race uses rhythm of repeated diagonals and circular lines to create a sense of movement. Draw your favorite sport in action, stressing movement by using repeated lines.

*Explore more about The Bicycle Race and other Pre-K activities*

Henri Rousseau, *Tropical Forest with Monkeys*, 1910, oil on canvas, John Hay Whitney Collection, 1982.76.7

**Create an Imaginary Jungle**

You will need:Heavyweight paperPaintsPaintbrushesCrayons or colored pencils (optional)Before you begin, you might want to visit a garden or park and, like Henri Rousseau, draw the plants you see there. Notice the colors and shapes of the leaves, and how they are arranged on their stems.To create your own imaginary jungle, first paint a background of sky and soil (or use colored paper). Add trees, branches, stems, and leaves, referring to your sketches for ideas as you paint. Try mixing paints—add black or blue to green for dark greens, and yellow or white to green for lighter greens. Are there any animals hiding in your jungle? If so, go ahead and add them now!

After the paint dries, you may want to use crayons or colored pencils to add the final details to your imaginary jungle.

*Explore more about Tropical Forest With Monkeys *

Rembrandt van Rijn, *Self-Portrait*, c. 1637, red chalk, Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.7048

**Make a Self-Portrait**You will need:A mirrorPaperCrayons, markers, colored pencils, or paintsMaking a self-portrait is a way of getting to know yourself. First, think about these questions: What makes you who you are? What are your interests? Your dreams? Select clothing that reflects something about you. You might want to include objects in your self-portrait that help describe your personality. Think of a self-portrait as a personal introduction. What do you want to tell people about yourself? How do you want people to remember you?Next, study yourself in the mirror. What features make you unique? Try out different facial expressions—smile, frown, or laugh—and strike different poses. Do you want to look relaxed, physically active, or deep in thought? Then, try to capture your appearance and character on paper. Like Rembrandt, experiment by creating many different self-portraits. You might even wish to put yourself in a landscape or place that is special to you.

*Explore more about Self-Portrait*

Arshile Gorky, *Organization*, 1933-1936, oil on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1979.13.3

**Shape Box**

You will need:Construction paperGlue sticksBoxScissors

Make a game of composing abstract compositions. Fill a box with varied geometric shapes cut from brightly colored construction paper. With eyes closed pick five shapes from the box to glue onto a piece of paper. Experiment with a few different arrangements before deciding on one to glue down.

*Explore more Organization and other Pre-K activities*

Diego Rivera, *No. 9, Nature Morte Espagnole*, 1915, oil on canvas, Gift of Katharine Graham, 2002.19.1

**Make A Cubist Drawing**You will need:PaperPaints, colored pencils, or markersFirst, gather ordinary objects from your home or, like Rivera, include things that have a special meaning to you. Make the composition interesting by selecting objects with distinct colors, patterns, shapes, and textures. Arrange the objects on a table in a way that pleases you.

Next, draw what you see in your still life arrangement. Focus on basic shapes— spheres, cubes, and cylinders—and textures.Then, draw your still life from a different viewpoint. Draw some objects while standing up, draw a few from another side, and draw some by looking up at them from below.

*Explore more about No. 9, Nature Morte Espagnole *

Georgia O'Keeffe, *Shell No. I*, 1928, oil on canvas, Alfred Stieglitz Collection, Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe, 1987.58.7

**Make a Series of Drawings**

You will need:A pad of paperA pencil, colored pencils, crayons, colored chalk, pastels, markers, and/or watercolorsFirst, select something from nature to study—a flower, leaf, shell, or stone. Place it on a table and sit nearby with your paper and drawing materials. Examine the object carefully. Study its colors, shapes, patterns, and designs. What makes the object unique? Explore this object in a series of drawings on separate sheets of paper. Try to fill the entire sheet of paper each time as you draw.

*Explore more about Shell No. I *

Isamu Noguchi, *Untitled*, 1946, collage with graphite on graph paper mounted on black construction paper, Gift of Regina Slatkin, Carole and Laura Slatkin, 1990.58.7

**Make an Automatic Drawing**

You will need:PaperPaints, colored pencils, or markersMake an automatic drawing by closing drawing by closing your eyes while drawing. After a few minutes look at your drawing and complete the image.

*Explore more about Untitled *

Canaletto, *The Square of Saint Mark's, Venice*, 1742/1744, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Barbara Hutton, 1945.15.3

**Create a Postcard Picture of Your Hometown**

You will need:White cardstock or watercolor paperScissorsA pencilColored pencilsA stampMake a postcard by cutting a piece of white cardstock or watercolor paper into a rectangle (3.5 × 5 inches or 4 × 6 inches). On one side, use colored pencils to draw a view of your hometown. Choose a well known park, school, monument, or shopping center. Add details of the landscape, buildings, and people.

Divide the other side in half. On the left side, write a note to a friend, a family member, or yourself! Share a special memory of your hometown. On the right side, write the address on the postcard, place a stamp in the upper right corner, and send it in the mail.

*Explore more about The Square of Saint Mark's, Venice *

Henri Matisse, *Beasts of the Sea*, 1950, gouache on paper, cut and pasted on white paper, mounted on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1973.18.1

**Paint with Scissors**

You will need:ScissorsColored paper (or painted paper)Heavyweight white paperGlue sticks

Use colored paper or, like Henri Matisse, make your own colored paper by painting entire sheets of white paper in one color. Paint on heavyweight paper or cardstock so the paper doesn’t curl as it dries.

Next, think of a theme or place for your artwork, such as a garden, a city, or the sea. Use scissors to cut the colored paper into different shapes likes trees, buildings, or waves. Arrange your cut-out shapes on a large piece of white paper. You can use the leftover pieces of colored paper too! Move the different pieces until you are happy with the design, then glue your shapes in place.

*Explore more about Beasts of the Sea *

**Make a Color Square**

You will need: Paint or paint sticks Heavyweight paper cut into 8 × 8 inch squares 

Choose one color from your paint or paint sticks. Use it to make different shapes and lines within your paper square. Use just one color, like Alma Thomas, to make small blocks of color that build a larger painting. Try experimenting—turn the square or hold the brush or paint stick differently—to create new marks and patterns! With a friend or a group, try combining your color squares in different ways to make one larger, multicolored square.

*Explore more about Pansies in Washington *

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