Inside the Spin-Mosaic Studio

SUPPLIES:

Paper: 8.5 x 11

Prop: Any small toy on wheels...just as a visual aide.

Markers: Markers in color-wheel spectrum work best for this activity and doubles up the learning potential by adding color wheel theory to the mix. Each "race" will involve two markers. The effect is best when the two markers selected blend well and  clearly create a new color when mixed. Forgive the racetrack analogy, but choosing two primary colors to use will help "drive home" the learning message. Ha!

Red + Yellow = Orange

Red + Blue = Purple

Blue + Yellow = Green

Activity:

As you can see in the pictures, my son was absolutely addicted to this activity. He. Did. Not. Want. To. Stop. To start, be mindful of position and proximity. My boys did well sitting adjacent to each other at the corner of the kitchen table. Side-by-side also works. If you have multiple kids in the mix, watching it is really fun, too.

Lay one piece of paper on the table between 2 participants. Each person chooses a marker color (different colored pens or colored pencils can also work if markers are not available, but the effect is not the same). Crayon is not recommended as the feeling of the stroke is not smooth and grates slightly against the fiber surface of the paper. Pencil is not recommended as both colors need to be different. Markers are bold, colorful, and the "glide" as they draw feels very smoothe.*

Explain that this activity is like a Race Track, but it is only a one-lane road. Adjust your story according to what your child is "into". It may be a car race track, a horse-race or a unicorn race. Brandon really likes Tasmanian tigers, so that's where we went with it.

As the story goes, there will be a "leader" and a "follower" who is "trying hard to catch up". To begin, I would recommend YOU start as the leader and take turns as the kids get the hang of it.

Rule #1: no stopping.

Rule #2: lead or follow at one steady pace (start pretty slow and maintain).

Rule #3: the "follower's" marker tip must remain on the leader's line as closely as possible...but behind the leader by 1/2 to 2 inches at all times.

Rule #3: there will be no crossing over or touching of lines by either racer.

The game is over when the leader has nowhere else to go but off the paper, or crossing over lines...or, you are both giggling so hard you can't continue. This was literally the picture I took the second we finished our first round. He was stunned by the instant design and JUMPED for a new piece of paper to do it again.

The SCIENCE behind it.

This game is fantastic for hand-eye-brain coordination. The challenge of following the leader on the line and at a steady pace + the constant adjusting for curves causes the student's responses to go from premeditated to instinctive.

The intense effort to follow along accurately at a steady speed becomes a multi-sensory challenge. Brandon was paying such close attention to following the course and pace of the track, that he had not realized he had helped to create a really cool design. Kids will want to practice making designs like this so they can be better at playing the game. Designs like this are therapeutic to create.

I will be posting a time-lapse video of me creating this type of design on the Creativity IQ & Kids Fb page connected to these 30-day blog posts. Brandon loves to watch me make them. Here is computer generated design to use as a resource.

When kids reach a certain age of the awareness of perfection, drawing can reach a stagnate by way of what I call the "white paper syndrome". Kids can be afraid to begin because they are afraid of the gap between what they want to accomplish and their awareness of their lack of ability to accomplish it. Brandon is 8 and he is reaching this stage. He is beginning to see the difference between what he is trying to draw, and his awareness of his own limitations to perfectly represent accuracy of proportion, straight lines, identical colors, recognizable faces, etc. Fortunately, perfection is not the goal. 

An an Art Teacher and as a Mom, perfection has never and will never be the goal.

Shifting into design-oriented drawing skills continues to elevate brain-hand-eye coordination simultaneously with the mental envisioning needed to allow drawing and artistic skill to continue growth and momentum...just like a racetrack.

Look closely at the colors in the example above that my two boys then did together. Yes, it's a little more shakey, but look what happens when the pink crossed over the blue: PURPLE!!! Imagine what this could look like with multi-colored highlighter pens. Newsflash! Here is a great teachable moment to talk about the science of color blending.

"What color will the cross-over lines be if one person is using red and the other is using yellow?"

ADAPTIONS:

Young artists are still learning to hold the marking tool (marker) between their fingers, let alone follow another mark with speed. Practice patience. Start with straight lines and big curves and go slow. Praise their every effort. Teach them carefully to notice when the color changes when they stay on track with your line. This realization will delight and motivate.

Advanced artists and varying personalities may like to take the concept a step further:

Add markers: Each of you hold 2 markers in one hand at the same time. This will create an end-product design with four colors instead of two and take more coordination to hold two markers and control curves.

Get creative with paper size: Find larger paper to create larger designs. The white backside of wrapping paper works well. Kids can relocate to the floor and lay on their tummies.

Line Design: focus on recreating the one-line design alone at a faster pace.

Greater Detail: focus on recreating the one-line design with a ball-point pen and finer, tinier detail.

Compare: Find and arrange a variety of art marking supplies; markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens or pencils. Let your child experiment using each for the same Race Track training exercise. Encourage their awareness of the feeling, smoothness, or drag of each medium on the fiber of the paper. Ask which works best and why. Ask why Mrs. Z suggested the marker might work best (for constant speed as well as blending of color.)

The picture above is Brandon's first attempt at creating a similar design. He was very proud of his efforts. Realize that part of teaching creativity (even if you can't draw a stick figure!)...is to encourage kids to GO FURTHER. Ask the question, "Can you think of anything to add to this design?" Let there be no end to the paper, or end to ideas.

I took another piece of paper and said I would like to try another one. He added lines and then THIS HAPPENED...

Variations are beautiful brainstorms. Let there be no end to creativity. When you show this picture to your kids as inspiration, don't give it away.

Ask, "Look at this design Brandon is working on...

In what ways does it look similar to the Race Track game?

In what ways does it look different than the Race Track game?

What do you think his marker drew first?--the squiggly race track?--the lines between the race tracks?--or, the colors between the spaces?

Answering these questions help develop reasoning and sequential thinking skills.

VOCAB:

SEQUENTIAL: placing events in a specific order to attain a specific outcome

DESIGN: art that contains repetitive patterns, colors, or shapes without intention to look like anything in particular

REALISM: The attempt or desire to draw or paint something to look as close to a photo as possible

Have fun and stay creative! See you tomorrow!

I will post a time-lapse video of my boys doing this on the Fb page. Be sure to check in/follow at the Creativity IQ & Kids Facebook page @creativityartblog. This is where you can post photos of your kid's masterpieces each day for the Creativity IQ community (we are small, but fierce, and growing!). Each morning, I will share when the day's Activity has been posted on the blog. Feel free to leave comments if you have any questions that I can help with. 

If you are new to the blog, check out a few posts back to read the introduction. This is what I am doing with my son for the next 30 days and I thought there might be a few other mom-friends out there who would like to come along for the ride.

Special thanks to my handful of "cheerleaders" out there whose eyes lit up like stars when I told them I would do this 30-days! You know who you are...

This photo was sent my way from Katie, Ryan and Henry.

Love the bright colors. Excellent job following the lines. Love the cross-over colors.

WAY TO GO!!!

Mrs. Giem of Valley View Elementary sent this my way. A big HELLO to her class!

Hope you all had fun!!!

One artwork or sibling group will be chosen to post each day.

If you would like to share your student's work, send artwork to:

[email protected]

or the Creativity IQ & Kids page on Fb