Learning cartooning is a fun activity that can keep your child interested over a rainy day, and drawing classes for kids are a great way for parents and children to be involved together. It might look simple, but there is some skill to be learned, and it’s not just in drawing. Drawing cartoons is a beneficial art project that will teach a number of things that are useful.

Drawing classes for kids should be fun, first and foremost, and they are a way to spark creativity. Drawing cartoons is not copying the work of others; it is a legitimate way of learning about anatomy and movement. Cartoons are a miniature representation of life. A cartoon elephant, for example, may not be a realistic sketch of the animal, but a good cartoon drawing shows body parts in proportion, and it also mimics real-life movement.

Another reason why kids love learning to draw cartoons is because the payoff and reward comes quickly. It may take some time to master, but these drawing classes for kids can make kids feel good about their accomplishment early on. A completed cartoon drawing is a great thing to feel good about, and they can show off to their friends, inspiring further practice. What better time to sit and practice this feel good skill than with online drawing classes on a rainy day?

Drawing classes for kids are online activities that explain and show how to create the drawing project step by step. Later on, that drawing project can take on a life of its own. Different colored pencils or other materials really make the cartoon come to life.

Drawing classes for kids are your online art classes. Kids love cartooning and they will sit and practice them on their own. It is a way to really see that other people are drawing things that are strong and powerful. This is a future art career. When your child practices cartoon drawing themselves, they see that expression and a way to make their art come to life.

Give online drawing classes for kids to your kids. When you let them learn drawing and cartooning at their own pace, and according to their own interests, you open up a world of ideas to them—and a whole new skillset! In addition, art classes give kids a sense of pride, and it teaches focus as well. Cartoon drawing classes are a great project because it lets them look at art in a new way. Click here for more information.

The post Rainy Day Activities for Kids – Drawing Cartoons appeared first on Sparketh.

Today’s blog post is for any of you artists out there who are looking for some strategies for drawing better portraits. Of course, defining what “better” means also depends on your personal art style and what you are trying to achieve with your art. Every artist has their own unique style to cultivate and their own approach to Portraiture! Whereas one person may strive for Hyperrealism, another may be drawn towards a more Surrealist approach. On Sparketh.com,  our online art classes for kids and teens cover several different styles of Portraiture and teaches kids how to recreate them. This is an awesome place to start for young artists who are trying to discover their personal style. But whatever your preferred art style is, there are definitely some strategies that can help you to continue to improve your skills and draw better portraits!

The below portrait tips come from the professional artists and art instructors on the Sparketh team. Here are a few tips that have helped them increase their portrait skills and draw progressively better portraits. Below several of these tips, you’ll also find some visual examples that they created to demonstrate!

Tips for Drawing Better Portraits

1. Go from low to high detail.

This was the number 1 tip from artists on our team! When drawing portraits, always start with simple shapes. (For example, don’t start your portraits with a really detailed eye, even if eyes are your favorite!)  Once you have the shapes, you can get progressively more detailed as you add to your work.  One of Sparketh‘s art instructors compared this process to sculpting a face out of clay. In sculpting, you have to get the basic shapes and planes right before going in to add onto and tweak each one.

@sparketh

Community challege ends August 31st- for ages 18 and under! If you enjoyed this, check out the link in the bio for hundreds of creative resources for young artists #howtodraw #howtodrawface #arttips #arttok #myart #artistsoftiktok #artist

♬ original sound – Sparketh

2. Study proportions and planes of the human face.

While diversity is a huge point of interest when it comes to portraiture, there are some standardized features and proportions that you can study and practice to become more comfortable with facial anatomy! Learning some of the common planes and proportions of the human face can give you some great techniques to practice as you work on generic faces (or even as you develop an OC–original character).

As you become more comfortable with the basics, you can branch out and study features that are more common among certain ages, genders, and nationalities. The videos below from Sparketh’s social media channels will give you a couple of quick tips to get started, and our online art classes for kids and teens also contain several lessons on anatomy for portraits.

@sparketh

This should help with our self portrait drawing competition going on at community.sparketh.com! Submit one of your own for a chance to win $100 in art prizes #howtodraw #anatomy #drawingtips #drawingguide #arthelp #myart #artistsoftiktok #arttok

♬ original sound – Sparketh

3. Use a mirror to “check your work.”

Using a mirror may be an obvious tip for self-portraits, but did you know mirrors can help you with any of your artistic creations?

Reversing an image can help point out issues we may have missed in our artwork. If something looks off about your portrait (or any of your art) try looking at the piece in the mirror!  Since your eyes get used to looking at your paper/canvas from one perspective (sometimes for hours), this simple trick can be a good way to change your point of view. When you shift your perspective this way, you will often see flaws you may have not noticed before! Similarly, you can also try looking at your work upside down.

4. Try black and white.

Many of us love the fun of working in color, but sometimes going back to basic black and white can be a great way to hone your skills, especially when it comes to portrait work! Why? Charcoal or graphite (pencil) can be really effective tools to help you cultivate your sense of highlights and shadows, which adds a lot of depth and realism to your portrait.

Once you’re comfortable with adding shadows and light to your portraits this way, then its time to try a portrait in color!

5. Take a break.

Art can be such a meditative and high-concentration activity. It can literally take your mind off of everything else (which is one reason its great for helping kids learn how to focus and make decisions!) However, this also means that you can sometimes get hyper-focused on striving for perfection, especially when presented with a highly-detailed task like a portrait.

One quick and easy tip you can try when this happens?

Take a break!

Just like with anything else that demands your focus, sometimes a little break is all that’s needed to reset and approach your artwork with a new perspective. So if you find yourself getting frustrated: take a walk, eat a snack, chat with a friend or family member, play with your pet! We bet the next time you come back to your art, you’ll feel less frustrated and more ready to get creative and try a new approach.

6. Watch others create.

Watching other artists create is one of the best ways to get inspired! This is also a wonderful way to discover new styles and techniques that you’d like to try! When working on your portrait skills, you can follow artists who have both similar and different styles to your own. Getting inspired by a variety of different artists can be a great way to learn more about your own developing since of style. You can even watch a time-lapsed project and try to recreate it, step-by-step, in real time (and add your own twist!)

If you don’t already, follow Sparketh on TikTok, Instagram, Youtube or Facebook. Our team of artists is regularly creating free tips, tricks and challenges for young artists who are looking for artistic inspiration. For example, in the activity below, students learn quick way to recognize light and shadows in a fun and easy drawing activity.

@sparketh

To enter this art contest, you must be 18 or younger! Winner will receive $100 valued in art prizes- join the Sparketh Community if you haven’t yet and would like to enter! #artcontest #selfportrait #myart #arttok #drawingtutorial #howtodraw #artforbeginners

♬ original sound – Sparketh

7. Practice with a variety of subjects.

You knew this one was coming, right? The #1 tip for all things creative is to practice! The best way to learn how to draw better portraits is to get better every day by doing. Here are some ways you can encourage yourself to practice your portrait skills, every day!

• Set aside a little time daily to work through Sparketh’s Art Style Portrait Track. This will give you step-by-step guidance as you practice through several different art styles. It’s a great way to help you discover which style(s) resonate with you most!
• Ask your friends or family to sit for you so that you can practice drawing from life. It’s a whole different experience.
• Also practice drawing from a reference photos. Maria from our Youtube channel has some tips on this one, here.
• Don’t get stuck in a rut. Practice drawing people of different genders, ages, and nationalities!

We hope these tips help you in your quest to draw better portraits! We’d love to see your work, so please feel free to share it with us in the Sparketh gallery if you’re a Sparketh member, or in the Sparketh Community!

The post How to Draw Better Portraits! appeared first on Sparketh.

How to Draw an Original Character

1. What world does your character live in (setting)?

To get started with drawing an original character, first ask yourself where (and in what time) your character lives! Does your character exist in our world and time, or is your character from the past, future (or an alternate reality)? You might want to create an OC that would fit into a universe you love, like Star Wars, Marvel or Studio Ghibli.

In drawing and writing, knowing what world and time your character lives in is a great place to start. Establishing the answer to this question can prompt all kinds of other questions about your character’s visual design, such as: clothing, backstory, and what style you’ll use when you start drawing!

2. What is your character’s origin story?

We are all impacted by our beginnings, and your original character’s design will be, too! To make a more interesting and complex original character, ask yourself some important origin questions, such as:

• What was your character’s childhood like?
• How many family members do they have?
• Was their family rich or poor?
• Did they grow up safe and happy, or were there struggles?
• What was their family dynamic like?
• Were they close to one family member? Did they clash with another?

Also think about how these things might affect your character’s main goal or aspiration (another key question coming up soon)!

3. What are some basic facts about your character?

Once you’re starting to get a grasp on your character’s backstory, it’s a good time to figure out some basic information that will impact your original character drawing. Here are a few basic things to establish about your character:

• Age
• Gender
• Style
• Job/Role
• Basic personality: list a few good qualities as well as some bad ones!
• Don’t forget to consider quirks! These don’t have to be good or bad, they can just be funny, unique and memorable. The more specific, the better! (Ex: Garfield is a cat is obsessed with lasagna.)
• You could decide your character’s personality type using the Enneagram or Meyers-Briggs!
• It may even help to bring in some D & D concepts and decide your character’s basic personality alignment: Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, Lawful Good, Chaotic Neutral, True Neutral, Lawful Neutral, Chaotic Evil, Neutral Evil, and Lawful Evil.
• Does your character have any special powers or abilities? If so, is this something you could show in your drawing?

Note: I know that many people -especially kids – like to answer these basic questions as the first step in character development.  However, figuring out backstory first can give you more interesting and thoughtful answers!

4.What is your character’s goal/mission?

At this point in the process, you probably have a good grasp on who your original character is (whether you’re drawing them, writing them, or both!) What makes your character more dynamic, adding interest to their story and visual representation, is their mission! Considering your character’s personality and backstory, come up with a goal for your character. Again, specific is best! (Ex: In Wandavision, Wanda’s goal is to protect herself from more grief and trauma by using her telepathic abilities to create a fictional reality. This goal reflects her backstory, her abilities, and her personality.)

Think about how you can show your character’s mission in how they look. How will their goals affect their appearance, dress, and any objects they carry with them? How can you tell their story in a visual way? Make notes because it’s time to start drawing!

5. Now it’s time to draw, experiment, and draw it again!

Now you have a really good mental picture of who your original character is, and it’s time to get visual. Take into account all of the factors you’ve decided about your character, and choose a few specific things that you want to clearly show in your drawing.

Try different poses, hairstyles, clothing, each time considering how each change reflects – or doesn’t reflect- the character you’re trying to create! If you have are a Sparketh student, we have several courses that can help you practice drawing different portrait styles, hair textures, and facial features! Below you’ll find just a few to try out!

Basic Tips for Drawing Different Hair Textures

Hair Textures

Learning Facial Proportions

Facial Proportions

How to Draw a Manga Style Character

Manga Character

As you experiment with drawing some different drafts of your character, you’ll hone in on the poses and expressions that fit them the best! If your character has powers, you may try showing that a few different ways. The best way to find out exactly how you want your OC to look is to draw several different versions!

Whether you are drawing an original character to help you with your writing, or writing about your character to help your drawing, you’ll find that these two creative practices really work well together! In learning how to draw – or write- an original character, it’s important to know who they are, where they come from, and where they are going! We hope that these questions and tips help you get started on creating your own original characters. If you’re a teen or kid artist, we’d also love to see your creations! In addition to online art classes for kids, Sparketh also hosts a totally free community for kids and teens to share their artwork. You can join our free community here! Happy drawing!

The post How to Create an Original Character appeared first on Sparketh.

Whether you’re a hardcore original trilogy fan or a lover of prequels and sequels alike, May the 4th gives you a chance to share your Star Wars enthusiasm with others through dressing up, movie marathoning and – of course- creating Star Wars themed art! Our small creative team at Sparketh wanted to get in on the fun and share some Star Wars art ideas with you all. Below, you’ll find inspiration for creating Star Wars art that reflects your love of the Force (and characters who know how to use it.)

Adorable ‘Chibi’ Darth Vader 

It’s everyone’s favorite bad guy…but cuter! In the short video TikTok below, Sparketh art instructor, Amy,  provides inspiration for how to create a cute, “chibi” Darth Vader painting using watercolor techniques. All he needed was a little bit of love, right? Now look at him, adora-Vador.

@sparketh

Couldn’t skip out on a Star Wars themed post for May 4th! If you enjoyed this, check out the link in our bio for hundreds of creative resources for young artists! #arttok #maythe4th #darthvadar #starwars #starwarsart #watercolor #myart

♬ Scenes where Darth Vader and monsters appear(782200) – Hollywood Labo

Learn How to Draw 3 Cute Star Wars Characters

Sparketh art instructor and community host, Becca, created this tutorial to show kids how to draw 3 of their favorite, adorable Star Wars creatures. These quick tutorials are easy to follow. In the end, you’ll have awesome cut-outs of some of your favorite characters! Gift your drawings to other Star Wars loving friends or use them as decorations for your movie marathon.

Create a Stunning Portrait of Your Favorite Character

Maybe you’d like to flex your creative muscles and embrace a more involved art challenge this May the 4th! In the below video, Sparketh’s Youtube artist, Maria, tackles a beautifully detailed, soft-pastel portrait of Princess Leia. Princess Leia is an iconic character, known for her no-nonsense attitude and bravery. In many ways, she was ahead of her times in terms of female characters in film. If you love this character as much as we do, check it out and get some ideas for how to create your own Leia portrait with soft pastels.

Celebrate, Grogu style!

In this quick video, watch as Amy creates a stellar, gouache painting of Grogu–looking like he is celebrating Star Wars Day in high style! Many people like gouache paint because it has some qualities that are like watercolor and some that are more like acrylic.  Consider this as a prompt for how you may bring two different art mediums together in a new way as you celebrate Star Wars Day. After all, the Force has two sides, doesn’t it? There must be balance!

@sparketh

May the 4th BE WITH YOU! #starwars #babyyoda #yodaart #maythe4th #myart #guache

♬ original sound – Sparketh

As Yoda says, “Do or do not. There is no try.” Art is kind of the same way. You just have to go for it, and that’s the only way you learn! We hope you do some Star Wars art this May the 4th!

Don’t forget to share your creations with us by tagging us on social media: Instagram (@sparkethdotcom), TikTok (@Sparketh) & Facebook (@Sparketh)!

The post May the 4th: Star Wars Day Art! appeared first on Sparketh.

Paint them timeless with art.

Because if you create it,

It stays in your heart.”

Okay so YES – I know I’m corny- but I just can’t help myself.  I’m one of those people who loves Valentine’s Day. You’ve probably noticed that hearts are everywhere lately because it’s the time of year that we show our love. (Although showing your love is always cool.) At Sparketh, here are 3 of the things we love most!

1. Art (bet you saw that one coming).
2. Opportunities to be creative.
3. Helping you nurture your inner artist!

In honor of Valentine’s Day (and showing our love for the above things), our team has put together some  kid-friendly art ideas that you can try out at home for Valentine’s Day. Below, you’ll find several free art tutorials, online art classes from our course library, and 2 heart-themed art contests that we are hosting this month. We hope you enjoy trying some of these art ideas out at home in celebration of Love Day!

On Social Media: Creative Valentine’s Day Ideas to Try at Home!

Over on Sparketh’s Youtube channel, Maria has been creating several DIY videos that you can use to get creative at home this Valentine’s Day! From kid-friendly DIY Valentine’s cards, to tips for painting the perfect rose, here are some kid-friendly Valentine’s Day art ideas for all skill levels.

How to Paint a Rose in Acrylics

Drawing and painting roses is a skill that every artist needs to acquire! And of course, roses are also on-theme for Valentine’s Day. Watch this video to see how Maria sketches and then paints her rose in acrylic paints. I always love watching her paint, and she’s got some good tips to share, too. After you watch the video, try painting your own lovely rose!

2 Simple DIY Valentine’s Day Card Ideas 

In this Youtube video, Maria will show you how to create two simple (but adorable) Valentine’s Day cards at home! The first Valentine’s Day card is a “Love Bug” themed card that younger kids are sure to enjoy. The second card is a whimsical, heart-balloon card.  These tutorials are not too difficult to recreate, and are great for kids of all ages. They would also make a fun family projects.

DIY Floral Wreath

I feel this project calling out to the mamas out there, and it can be a great family-project, too! This beautiful floral wreath is a work of functional art that you can recreate at home. Watch our Youtube video and then try it out for yourself. It’d also make a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift.

Easy Cling Wrap Art Project

This Cling Wrap Heart is easy to do, but it looks so cool! This is the perfect Valentine’s Day art project to try with young kids. Just make sure you cover those surfaces before you get started.

Heart in Hand Artful Illusion 

Kids will love this one, but so will teens and young adults! Over on our TikTok channel, Amy uses this quick video to show you how to create some convincing illusion with the power of art. Once you’ve mastered it, try it out for all the friends you’d like to “give a little piece of your heart” to.

Online Art Classes that Make a Great Valentine’s Day Gift

We offer professional online art classes for kids and teens here at Sparketh! These two courses from our online library are perfect for creating some Valentine’s Day art. If you’re a Sparketh member, you should be able to follow the links below, login, and get started.

(Not a member? Click here to find out how to try Sparketh for 30 days for free.)

This course, “Valentine’s Day Card,” will explore adding a 3D effect to a basic heart shape! This course is at a beginner level, so it’s great for everyone.

This course (which was designed for Mother’s Day) is called “Happy Mother’s Day,” but it works perfectly for Valentine’s Day, too! Hands are a difficult, but important, subject for artists to master. This course was designed for levels intermediate and up.

We hope these art ideas spark some creativity in your heart for Valentine’s Day (and the whole month long!) 

The post Kid-Friendly Art Ideas for Valentine’s Day! appeared first on Sparketh.

When Sparketh co-founders, Tim and Dwayne started Sparketh in 2015, they wanted Sparketh to be a haven for “all things creative.”  Dwayne, a self-taught professional artist, always wished he’d had a resource like Sparketh when he was growing up: a virtual space that would offer creative support, community, and art education.

This vision is behind everything we do at Sparketh. We are always looking for new ways to nurture our digital community of creative kids and teens…and many of them don’t cost you a cent!

Online Art Class Memberships

The primary way that Sparketh is a creativity resource is by offering online art classes for kids and teens. Sparketh is unique in its Netflix-like offering of self-paced art classes, each of them created by working artists and art instructors. With a monthly or yearly membership, kids in your home can access their online art classes anywhere, anytime. The online art classes are the core of our business, so membership is not free. However, we do offer 30 days of membership for free. You can snag that here.

In addition to our online art classes for kids and teens, we also offer art education, tutorials, and art tips on our social media channels, along with access to a free online creative community. Below, check out all of the places around the Web where you can find us sharing free creativity resources– made just for you!

Sparketh’s Free Resources for Creatives

Why We Share Free Resources

Let’s go ahead and address this one really quickly with a little transparency, because I can hear you wondering over there: Why free stuff?

1.) We are a business,  2.) and our product is professional online art classes. 3.) However, we’re also a small company of real people who share a collective passion for creativity. It’s part of who we are as a brand–and as individuals, too.

By adding creativity resources to every facet of what we do (including the free stuff) we’re working towards our goal of growing Sparketh’s creative community  and making it a “resource for all things creative.”

Our free resources go along with our online art classes for kids and support your creative journey (whether or not you are a Sparketh member!)

Art Educators First & Content Creators Second

Social media is the primary way we share free creativity resources with you, and there’s something you should know about our social media team. We are all creatives and educators in real life. In the content that we create for Sparketh’s social media, therefore, our aim is primarily to inspire and teach! We use Sparketh’s social media accounts to share art content that’s inspiring, fun, educational…and free!

Sparketh’s TikTok Channel: Art Hacks, Short Tutorials and Inspiration

On Sparketh’s TikTok account, you’ll get helpful art tips several times per week to inspire you on your creative journey (whether you are a kid, teen, or adult!) Our TikTok content creator, Amy, is a professional artist as well as one of our online art instructors! She is always sharing new art hacks on TikTok for a variety of mediums, from painting to digital art. She also shares quick technique tutorials, art-related humor, and encouraging thoughts for young artists to give them greater confidence in their journeys!

Below, you’ll find examples of some content from our TikTok account. Give this account a “Follow,” to get regular art tips and tricks from Amy!

• 4 Important Colored Pencil Techniques 
• 3 Point Perspective 
• Rembrandt Lighting 
• 5 Painting Mistakes 

Sparketh’s Youtube Channel: Longer Art Demos and Art Ideas to Try at Home

On our Youtube channel, you’ll find detailed art demonstrations, tutorials, and inspiration for DIY art (and craft) projects. Sparketh’s Youtube content creator, Maria, is a talented artist. She has an eye for details and loves to create. Maria’s videos are very kid-friendly and can be a great resource for coming up with bigger art projects for your kids to try, or for you to try together as a family!

This resource is especially good for artsy and/or homeschooling families who do a lot of art projects together at home. Check out the below Youtube videos to get inspired!

• How to Make Bubble Art (Great for Young Kids) 
• Tips for Painting a Rose 
• 2 Simple Valentine’s Day Cards
• Easy Gift Idea: Stained Glass Jar

Maria uploads a new video every week, so be sure to subscribe so you’ll always have new inspiration!

The Sparketh Community: Connection, Challenges and Art Prizes for Kids and Teens

We also have a free community for young artists! The Sparketh Community is fully sponsored by Sparketh.com, but you don’t have to have a Sparketh membership to join and enjoy it! The Sparketh Community is monitored and hosted by Becca: an artist, art educator, and Sparketh art instructor! Becca works full-time as an art teacher. She talented and upbeat, and she loves encouraging young artists!

What you’ll find in the Sparketh Community:

• A positive atmosphere and a safe place for young artists to share their work. 
• A companion to Sparketh.com, where kids can personally connect with one of our course instructors.
• Personalized, professional feedback on art when requested. 
• Connection and community with other creatives in the same age group.
• The chance to enter monthly art contests (for those 18 and under). Every contest has art-related prizes! 

There are no fees or memberships required to join the Sparketh Community. We simply as that you answer a couple of questions about your age group and your artistic interests when you ask to join! You can get started here.

Sparketh’s Blog: Art Education and Creativity Resources for Families

“Hi!” The blog posts (and newsletters) are written by me–Katie. I’m the mom on our social media team and, as such, I write mostly for parents and families. I always picture parents as the ones reading this blog, so just know that’s how I am picturing you now–parent-ish.  I’m also the only non-professional artist on the team, but I am a creative of a different kind (mainly creative writing though I am a dabbler in various art forms.)  I also have a background in psychology and education, which plays a role here on the blog because I believe that creativity is one of the most important qualities anyone can possess!

On the blog, I share art tips and ideas (brainstormed from our whole team) that you can use to learn art at home. I also share interviews,  research about art and creativity, interesting art history finds, and current news from Sparketh! Check out some of the below blogs to get a feel for what to expect here!

• How Art Supports Good Mental Health for Kids and Teens 
• An Interview with Barbara Corcoran: The Power of Creativity 
• Students Need Art: Here are 10 Reasons Why 
• 5 Easy Ways to Connect Art and Poetry 
• A Sparketh Q & A with Co-Founders Dwayne Walker and Tim Samuel 

Instagram and Facebook

We know most of you have an Instagram and Facebook account, and we’re there too! On our Facebook and Instagram, you’ll find of a mix of things of that we share other places online, from  reminders about new contests in the Sparketh Community to new Youtube videos! These accounts are good ways to keep in touch and stay up to date, so you don’t miss out on art content that may be just right for you! We also love content suggestions, and Facebook/Instagram can be a great place to send requests for art tips or content you’d like to see!

• Follow us on Instagram (@sparkethdotcom). 
• Follow us on Facebook (@sparketh).

We hope that you’ve found some new, free art resources to love in this blog post. We love to connect with other creatives and encourage young artists as they develop new skills! Thanks for being part of our story here at Sparketh; we are excited to be part of yours! 

The post Your Guide to Our Free Art Resources! appeared first on Sparketh.

One thing my family has tried to do over the last few years is to embrace the “cozy side of winter.” For us, this has meant adding in a few rituals to keep the cold months fun, creative and festive (even without major holidays.) We’ve found that candles, hot tea or cocoa, board games, and – especially – art nights can go a long way in making January cozier and more fun.

In today’s post, I especially wanted to share some creative ideas that you and your family can use to “embrace the cozy” of wintertime with your own family art night tradition! At Sparketh, we believe that staying creative is an important part of thriving in any season of life. Below, you’ll find some wintery family art ideas and craft projects straight from our team of creatives!

Maria’s Stained Glass Candle Holder 

Candles are one of my favorite things to always have at home during winter. They definitely help me through that little post New Year’s slump that many of us experience. They make the whole winter season cozier, more relaxing and more beautiful! If you like candles too (or know someone who does), you will love this craft art project from Sparketh Youtube content creator, Maria. It’d be great for a family art night, especially if you have older kids!

Maria is a talented artist in many mediums, and in this video she’ll show you how to transform something ordinary into a beautiful, stained-glass jar using art! When you’re finished, you can put a real (or battery-operated) candle inside for a luminous, stained glass effect. Even if you’re not a candle person, you can still enjoy the beautiful result as a container or decoration. (You can also gift it!) Click here to watch the video and learn how to make your own stained glass candle holder.  

Amy’s DIY Snow and Snowflakes 

Were you dreaming of a White Christmas that never happened? Don’t worry, snow doesn’t have to stick to a holiday schedule.

January- February is still a great time to get excited about snow, so why not make your own? In the links below, Sparketh’s TikTok content creator, Amy, will show you how to make DIY Fake Snow that’s fun to fidget and play with.

Click this link to see how to make your own fake snow at home! This is the perfect activity for little kids (just make sure they don’t eat it!)

Before Christmas, Amy also did a tutorial on paper snowflakes that you can use for decoration, but honestly we think it’s cool to decorate your space with snowflakes anytime during winter (or whenever you want!) If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at cutting out those perfect paper flakes, this is your moment!

Click here to watch the DIY paper snowflake video on TikTok. 

Beyond just snow-inspired videos, Amy is always sharing fun, quick art hacks and tips to try at home. Don’t forget to follow to our TikTok channel so you don’t miss any awesome tips! We strive to contribute to the creative community and offer art education via our social media platforms!

Katie’s “New Year’s Word” Art Night

Have you ever heard of choosing a single word for the New Year instead of writing a list of resolutions?

One of my friends recommended it to me a few years ago, and I love it! Instead of starting off the year with a list of restrictions or rules, starting off with a one word focus can be a very mindful alternative.  I have found that choosing one word to focus on is not overwhelming. I also don’t forget it as the year goes by!

Over the past few years, I’ve adapted the process of choosing a word for the New Year into a reflective art night. It’s a great family activity too, especially if you have kids who are old enough to understand the concept of choosing a focus for the new year.

How to do it:

First, you may want to do some reflecting and brainstorming.  What was last year like? What do you want to be different this year? What would you like to do (or be) more of in the coming year? What priorities would you like to have, going forward? Try to think of a word that describes the focus you’d like to keep coming back to throughout the year. For example, a couple of my previous words have been, “bravery,” and “Hygge” (which basically means “cozy and peaceful.”)

Once you have your word, it’s time to get creative! Using any medium you like, create a work of art that features and reflects the word you choose. This is a great way to spend time thinking about the year ahead!

Maddy’s Birch Trees at Night 

Birch Trees is a newer course in the Sparketh online course gallery! This watercolor course shows students (of any age) how to create a mysterious, wintery painting that shows birch trees at night. As is the goal with all of our courses, Birch Trees also teaches some pretty cool watercolor techniques that can be applied to original works. We think this is the perfect choice for a family art night. Just gather your supplies and follow along with our super instructor, Maddy! It could not be easier (or cozier.)

Sparketh members can login and follow this link to get to the Birch Tree Course!

Becca’s Decorative Melting Snowmen 

Our Sparketh Community host, Becca, is an art instructor in the digital and physical spaces! In addition to being one of Sparketh‘s art instructors, Becca also teaches art in the classroom. Becca shared this fun “melting snowman” art craft that she did with the students at her school. You need just a few inexpensive supplies for this one, but the kids in your family are going to love it! This makes a great winter decoration (and could be a Christmas ornament for next year, too). Follow her instructions below to create some adorable, silly melting snowmen at home!

What You Need: 

• Clear transparency sheet
• Pipe cleaners
• Beads
• Hole punch
• Black and orange paper
• Ribbon
• Shaving cream
• White liquid glue
• Glitter (white or silver)

Prep Ahead of Time (helpful if working with young/multiple kids):

• Cut transparency sheet into a square a little larger than your hand (including fingers)
• Cut brown pipe cleaners into pieces for arms
• Hole punch black paper to use for eyes, mouth, and buttons
• Cut pieces of ribbon for the scarf
• Cut orange papers into triangles for the nose
• Cut black paper into the shape of top hats

How to Make it:

1. The recipes calls for mixing together equal parts of white glue and shaving cream- roughly one cup of each material. However, from my personal experience, I found that overdoing the shaving cream made it even better! Start with the shaving cream and add the glue as you go, checking the consistency. The more glue you add, the denser (and more rubbery) the paint will be. We also sprinkled in silver glitter because- Why Not?!

2. Stir the ingredients together and then play around with it to feel the texture! Smear it, poke it, squish it! (It’s like a fluffy slime!) After you’re done playing, it’s time to assemble! Take a spoonful and place on the transparency square pieces and smear as much as desired. I recommend keeping the shape organic and wobbly like a melted snowman, so you do not have to spread it all the way to the 4 corners! And leave it thick.

3. Next, add in your pieces wherever you want. Part of the fun of the snowman being “melted” is that things can be arranged however you want. Add in eyes, nose, mouth, buttons, hat, and arms! Since your puffy paint is sticky, all the items will stay on their own! Just lightly place and give a little poke. Poke too hard, and your pieces will disappear into the fluff! Once you have everything arranged the way that you want, set your snowman in a safe space to dry overnight!

4. Use a pipe cleaner and beads of any color to create a colorful handle! Twist together the ends to keep the beads from falling off.
Once the paint has dried, trim the transparency piece to the shape of the dried melted snowman, and hot glue on your handle! We twisted the pipe cleaner together at the ends to make a loop and I only placed a dot of hot glue on the twist and then stuck that onto the back side of the melted snowman, on the transparency piece!

TAH-DAH! A textured, melted snowman decoration! So cute!

We hope that these fun art ideas prompt you and your family to have some creative and cozy nights in this winter! At Sparketh, we believe that creativity blooms at home and that art can be a wonderful way to connect as a family. If you try some of these ideas, be sure to let us know on our social media channels! We’d love to see and share your art! Happy creating. 

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Many families enjoy their own traditions this time of year: recipes reserved especially for Thanksgiving, crafts, lists of things to be grateful for, outdoor sports, etc.

When I was growing up, my mom was always really great about coming up with a fun art project that the kids in my family could do as we waited for the turkey to cook. To this day, I can still remember those fun, simple art projects, and the quality time I spent working on them with my cousins. More often than not, a few of my adult relatives would join in on the fun before we were finished!

If you are looking for some fun, art projects to do with your family this week,  Sparketh has some great options that would be perfect for all ages and skill-levels. You could use these at an extended family gathering on Thanksgiving, or with your own kids sometime earlier in the week. We also have a gratitude-themed art contest going on throughout the holidays in our free Sparketh Community! 

First, we have this Simple Turkey tutorial that may remind you of nostalgic turkey art you did as a child. However, this fun turkey tutorial takes the classic turkey drawing one step further to help you create a comical, cartoon-version of the classic “hand-based turkey.” This would definitely be a fun project for everyone in the family to try!

Another project that I think would be perfect for this week is this beginner-level tutorial for a Fall Tree Painting! For this project, you’ll need paint, a brush (or brushes) and a canvas. While each person in your group may want to paint his/her own fall tree, I also think this would also be a fun group project! Each person could add leaves in a different color, so that the final product ultimately reflects your own family tree!

Looking for something fun, fall-ish, and a little bit different to try out this week? Try this hot air balloon course! Autumn is the season for hot air balloons, and the color palette for this tutorial is perfectly fall-esque!

We hope that these art ideas add to your fun as you spend time with your family or friends and celebrate Thanksgiving!

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Creativity is one of the most important qualities to nourish in kids for a huge list of reasons, but here are just a few:

• Creative activities foster essential parts of child development, such as: critical thinking skills, fine motor skills, and self-expression.
• Creativity helps children find their unique point-of-view, which helps them gain confidence and communication skills.
• Given today’s quickly evolving digital era, the ability to be creative and innovate are predicted to be some of the most sought after skills in future careers (65% of which do not even exist yet!)

I could probably come up with 100 reasons that being creative is important, especially for growing minds! But if you’re here looking for some simple ways to help boost your child’s creativity, there is a simple daily activity you can encourage your kids to do to help make that happen: drawing.

Helping your child get regular drawing practice is an easy and fun way to make sure your child is growing creatively. Here are 5 simple drawing activities to grow your child’s creativity!

1.  Schedule Time for Drawing

Like anything else, creativity can grow with practice, and the best way to make sure that practice happens is to make it a habit!

A really easy way to help foster your child’s creativity is simply to schedule some time each day to be creative. Drawing is a portable and minimalist form of art that is easy to do, everyday, so it’s the perfect form of art to work into your “daily creativity routine.” Simply pick a time of day (and an amount of time) that works for your family’s schedule, and make that time a time for drawing!

And sure, you can’t always predict when “creativity will strike,” but the truth is that creative moments will happen more often when creativity becomes a regular practice.  Sparketh offers drawing classes for kids that can be filtered by level and length-of-time, which can also become a part of your child’s regularly scheduled drawing time!

2.  Free-Drawing

Part of fostering creativity is letting go of control. Sometimes it’s good to simply give your child  a blank piece of paper and just let them draw whatever they want! They could use colored pencils and play around with shapes, doodles, designs—whatever wants to come out!

If they are stuck, sometimes an open ended-drawing prompt can be a good idea. For example, you could ask them to design an original character, or draw something they’d like to do, or come up with an imaginary creature! However, try not to guide them too in what they are doing, and definitely avoid critique!

For kids, free-drawing is an opportunity to let their imaginations run wild, and seeing their own creations come to life on the page is very rewarding! In addition, free drawing is a way that kids often discover what types of subjects capture their interest the most, and what they like to draw the most. From there, they can hone the skills that relate to drawing that subject by using our drawing classes for kids.

3.  Drawing Games

Drawing games are another fun way to incorporate drawing as a daily habit and boost your child’s creativity. Getting stuck on “what to draw” can be an obstacle for anyone getting started with art. Using games and drawing prompts can help break the ice and help your child feel at ease when drawing.

There are many ways you can make a game out of drawing. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Play a drawing version of “charades,” where your child has a limited amount of time to draw a picture and you get to guess what it is (the less time given to draw, the more fun the game will probably be!) For example, you could have a bowl full of bits of paper with simple prompts and a bowl with pieces of paper with different amounts of time written on them. Then challenge your child to pull out a simple drawing idea (say he or she gets something like “a baseball player”) out of one bowl, and an amount of time (such as “30 seconds”) out of another! This is a fun way to practice drawing different things and spending more (or less) time with various drawings. It’s a fun one for multiple kids to play together, too!

• A simpler version of this game on-the-fly would be to do “drawing Simon says,” where your child has to draw whatever “Simon says,” within a certain amount of time.

• You could also play a game (let’s call it “Mix-up,”) where you challenge your child to combine two objects or animals into a new creation through drawing! For example, your child could combine a zebra and a mermaid, or an elephant and a computer. (Get creative!)

• One of my favorite drawing games is something that I like to call the “squiggle game,” where one person starts a drawing, and another person adds to it, until a work of art emerges and both artists decide it is “done!” For this game, you can also pick a certain amount of turns to take.

Drawing games are a great way to inspire creativity and get motivated to do art more regularly!

4. Use Drawing Classes For Kids

Especially if you homeschool, integrating daily drawing classes is a helpful way to give your child regular drawing practice (and grow his or her art skills) everyday!

Sparketh offers drawing classes for kids that can be organized by level of difficulty, so that your child can start with beginner drawing classes and move on to intermediate or advanced classes as they progress.  Students can also browse through Sparketh’s art classes for kids and  learn to draw subjects that most appeal to them!

Another  reason that many kids and parents choose Sparketh‘s online art classes is that our course library is designed to be self-paced. This means that you and your kids get to decide when art classes fit into your schedule (instead of the other way around.) Sparketh’s online art course library is always available to kids and teens: anytime and anywhere. This makes it that much easier to make drawing classes a regular part of your kids’ routine, everyday!

5.  Inspire Kids To Draw (Even When They Aren’t Drawing)

Even when your kids aren’t drawing, they can be thinking about drawing! In any creative endeavor, part of how you grow is by shaping how you think and see the world around you. This is something that we parents can help our kids do in the small, everyday moments! If you’re interested in making creativity more of a priority in your home (or homeschool) we have a whole article that focuses just on that, here.

But in terms of simple ways to inspire your kids to draw, here are some ideas:

• Schedule periodic field trips to your local art museum, or a nearby gallery. Take time to look at, and discuss, the works on display.

• Take regular walks and point out the colors and shapes that are found in nature.

• Pay attention to ordinary things in nature like clouds and trees, noting how the real thing is different from the way we often automatically draw it it (For example, I remember the first time I learned to not draw a sky with just blue and white, and it was because my mom pointed out to me that skies are never just blue and white).

• Challenge your kids to keep a collection of pictures or drawings that they like, either physically or on a social media platform like Pinterest. Similarly, you could also encourage your child to keep a notebook of ideas. When he or she sees something interesting, jot it down in the notebook as a drawing idea for later.

• Occasionally prompt your child to notice details that he or she might take for granted while doing everyday activities, such as  the way the light changes certain shadows, or the way that a familiar building is designed, ect.

We hope that some of these tips and ideas will help you make drawing a more regular part of your child’s everyday life. Drawing is an accessible art medium that kids are naturally interested in, and encouraging drawing is a great way to grow your child’s creativity! If you are interested in signing your child up for online art classes, you can find out more here. Stay creative, and happy drawing!

The post Boost Your Kid’s Creativity Today with Drawing appeared first on Sparketh.

For all of that, though, watercolor is actually a really rewarding and fun medium! With watercolors, you can create an effect of lightness and flow in your art that no other medium quite captures. For many artists, there’s also something really fun about the looseness of the medium, because the art that you create seems to have a little bit of a life of its own.

John Singer Sargent. “Muddy Alligators,” 1917. (Photo: Public Domain)

If you are thinking of trying out watercolor painting for the first time, don’t be scared. While it may be different from other types of painting, watercolor painting is beautiful and fun. It’s just something you have to play with a little bit to get comfortable! To help, here are 10 basic watercolor tips for beginners (of all ages) that will help get you started. Happy painting!

1.Use real watercolor paper.

When it comes to watercolor painting, paper makes all the difference in the world. Most of us probably remember those cheap watercolor booklets from very early childhood. You know, the ones that came with a little watercolor set and brush that you could use to paint the Disney illustrations on the coloring paper? While that was a fun way to spend a few minutes when you were five, those materials (especially the paper) won’t hold up when you’re really wanting to watercolor.

Nope, you need watercolor paper. Watercolor paper is heavier and it will absorb the paint and water. This is important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, regular paper literally won’t hold up once you start putting water on it (which means that your art will be destroyed). Secondly, the thickness and absorbency of watercolor paper will help direct the flow of the water and the paint.

And just because I’m telling you to spring for real watercolor paper doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive kind, especially when you are first getting started. There are definitely some very nice (and pricey) watercolor paper brands out there, but there are also some inexpensive brands that are ideal for someone who is just starting out with this medium. Some types of watercolor paper are smooth, and others are more rough. (I like watercolor paper that has a little bit of “tooth” –a gripping texture.) I’d suggest starting with a less expensive brand and moving up from there as you get more comfortable with watercolor painting!

2. Pick the right paint and brushes.

In addition to watercolor paper, you obviously need watercolor paint (which is what makes it watercolor, right?) You’ll also want brushes that are designated for watercolor (especially if you do other types of painting)! There is a huge amount of variety when it comes to different types of paint and brushes, so it’s important to find ones that work the best for you. Below are some tips and suggestions for choosing what you’ll need to get started.

Watercolor Brushes:

You don’t need to spend a ton of  money, but you will want more than one shape or size brush for your watercolor endeavors (again, you are not looking to recreate those Disney watercolor booklets from your childhood).

Try starting with:

• a very small brush (for details)
• a large round brush
• a flat brush (for washes)
• a medium sized brush (any shape)

This will give you a good amount of diversity for a beginner! As you paint more, you can see what else you may want or need. Be sure to clean your brushes and let them dry after each painting session.

Watercolor Paints: Pans, Tubes and Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor paints come in many different  types, price-points and colors! Two of the most common are pans and tubes. Watercolor pans offer a full range of color options in a portable little set that you can swirl your wet brush in to pick up color. Tubes are – well they are what they sound like! With tubes of watercolor paint, you can squeeze out a little bit of paint onto your own custom-made palette.

Both are good choices, depending on what you want. I personally like the portability and ease of using a watercolor pan set. I also think it’s probably the easiest method for the beginner who is interested in watercolors. Tube paints, however, offer richly pigmented colors and greater opacity. They are also ideal if you prefer working on large pieces because you can get more paint on your brush at one time.  (Of course, you can also play around with using a mixture of both!)

Another option to consider is watercolor pencils. Watercolor pencils act like a regular colored pencils until you add water, and then they immediately get that “watercolor effect.” This can also be a good option for the beginning watercolorist because it offers more control and a higher level of detail than watercolor paint.  The only con is that perhaps it doesn’t offer as much of the traditional “watercolor experience,” as paint does.

3. Play around first.

One of my favorite things about watercolor is how it is a little bit loose and has a mind of it’s own, which is something you’ll definitely come across as you play with watercolor paints!

Let go of the need to create super-detailed art.  Don’t put any pressure on yourself to make a masterpiece. Just give yourself some time to play and see how watercolor paints blend and move on the water. See what happens to the colors when you mix them off the page versus on the page, or when you add different amounts of water. Play with blending different colors and adding a drop of water to see what happens! Playing with watercolors like this can be incredibly fun, and it doesn’t really matter if you come up with anything you want to keep.

Sparketh instructor, Amy, posts daily art tips and tricks on Sparketh’s TikTok channel. Recently, Amy shared an awesome idea for playing with watercolor by making random shapes and designs and going back in later with a pen to make visual connections and add details. This is a perfect idea for playing with watercolor, as it’s truly in the watercolor spirit of “going with the flow.”

And you can watch the short video below to see how she did it!

@sparketh

Have y’all tried this? What did your mind make you create?? #artistsoftiktok #myart #watercolor #artblock #arthelp #arttips

♬ Lofi Coffee – Sampladelic

4. Experiment with basic techniques and textures

If you are a Sparketh member, this Sparketh course will show you several different watercolor techniques for beginners to try and talk you through different scenarios in which you might want to use each of them.

These include:

• Wet on wet technique
• Wet on dry technique
• Dry on dry technique
• Dry on wet technique
• Flat wash technique
• Gradient wash technique

The below example by student artist,  Alyssa H.,  comes from the Sparketh student gallery and shows the techniques that this student experimented with in the basic watercolor techniques course.

Salt-Resist Technique

Another technique that is really fun to try when you are getting started is to try creating a wet spread of paint over your watercolor paper and then sprinkle some salt on top! The salt will soak up the paint/pigment, and when your paint is dry you can brush off the salt crystals to reveal a really cool texture on your paper!

5. Start with a Light Sketch.

Starting out with a light pencil sketch is a great strategy to use with watercolor art. In addition to sketching out the details that will guide your painting, you may also want to designate areas of your painting that you want to leave white, keep light, or go darker with.

One of the things that a lot of people have trouble adjusting to with watercolor is the fact that you can’t just paint something white. If you want something in your painting to be white or a lighter-color, you have to leave it that way! And once there is a lot of pigment in a certain area, it’s there to stay.

Therefore it’s important to think about composition of your lights and darks before you start painting. Mapping this out with a sketch can be super helpful! Just be sure to follow the cardinal rule of sketching: keep it super light.

7. Work from Light to Dark.

This one goes hand-in-hand with the last point. In watercolor painting, you aren’t really able to undo, or paint over, color. Once your painting gets dark, adding more paint only makes it darker. That’s why one of the most important tips to keep in mind when working in watercolor is to work from light to dark.

Think about this as being similar to cooking. You can always add more salt to a recipe if you need it, but once you’ve added too much it’s hard to go back and fix your dish!  The same principal applies to watercolor, so it’s important to start out light and layer on darker colors gradually.

If you’re just starting out with watercolors, this mindset may take a little getting used to. However, it is kind of a meditative and relaxing process once you get into it!

8. Have These Things Nearby

You can paint with watercolors as long as you have the brushes, paint and paper. However, you probably have these other supplies at home already, too, and they can help make your experience easier and more fun!

Paper towels

Definitely keep paper towels nearby when painting with watercolor. In addition to cleaning up accidental spills (it happens), they are the exception to the rule when it comes to fixing mistakes. If you put down color somewhere you didn’t mean to, you can add water and press the area with a paper towel to lift it in a hurry. You can also use a paper towel to clean your brush when switching colors.

A special glass jar or cup for painting

This one may seem obvious, but you’ll need a glass of water handy anytime you are painting with watercolors. It can be nice to have a designated cup or jar with your watercolor supplies at all times! You can empty it and store your brushes in it when you aren’t painting. I use a glass vintage cocktail shaker that belonged to my grandparents, and it always makes me smile!

Masking tape

There are (at least) two cool things you can do with masking tape and watercolor painting. Firstly, you can use 4 pieces of tape to create a boarder around your watercolor paper before you get started. This will hold your paper in place on your work surface, and it will also create a cool “frame effect” after you pull the tape off (when your painting is finished and completely dry). Secondly, you can “mask off” other parts of your paper that you want to leave white before you even start painting.  Many art stores carry a masking fluid that you can also use to get this effect with a little more control, but masking tape is a great way to try this technique using something you probably already have at home.

9. Check out some of Sparketh’s online art classes and Social Media Resources

Sparketh  is all about giving your child the best art education at home, so we want to be a resource that helps you learn more about whatever kind of art medium you are interested in! This includes watercolor, of course! We have several online watercolor classes that are perfect for beginners.

(If you are interested in starting a membership and getting access to online art classes, you can find out more, here!) 

We also provide free art resources on a regular basis via our social media channels! The professional artists on our team offer art tips and support via our various channels on:

• TikTok 
• Youtube
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• The Sparketh Community 

So be sure to follow Sparketh on social media (click any of the above links to go to that respective page)! It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s all about art! There are tips for working in every imaginable medium, including watercolor.

10.  It may sound dumb, but trust me: it’s important…

You may think you don’t need this tip, but it is one of the most important things I can tell you about working with watercolors.

At some point, you will be drinking a beverage from a glass. You will think to yourself, “I’d like to do some watercolor painting.” You will get out your paints, paper, and brushes. You fill up a glass with water. You will take your beverage with you as you sit down and start painting.

After you’ve been painting for awhile, you will reach for your cup, take a drink.

It will be disgusting. You will realize you just drank paint water.  It happens. It happens to us all.

My tip is two-fold:

1. You may want to switch to drinking from a water bottle while painting.

2. If it happens, consider yourself officially initiated into the world of watercolor.

I hope these basic watercolor tips help you get started in your watercolor journey! For more art tips and education, be sure to follow us on social media and check out Sparketh’s online art courses! 

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Sparketh’s online art classes have been such a great resource for my daughter this summer. Over the past year, it’s been awesome to see my daughter reach an age where she can start using Sparketh‘s online art classes independently and loving them (she is almost seven.)

As a work-from-home parent, online art classes have also made it easier for me to find life/work balance in the summer season, when our family has been on a less structured schedule. Online art classes are something I feel great about my daughter doing when my attention is needed elsewhere– not just because she enjoys them, but also because art has so many powerful benefits for kids!

If you’re looking for something fun, (semi) structured, and educational for your kids to do this summer, you really can’t go wrong with online art classes for kids. Here are a few reasons that summer is the best time to start Sparketh’s online art classes!

1. Online Art Classes Offer Fun, Structure and Independence 

The structure of any kind of classes can be great (for both kids and parents) during semi-aimless summer months, but Sparketh’s online classes also give kids the opportunity to learn how to draw or paint what they want, in the styles that appeal to them most.

Sparketh‘s courses are also self-paced, which means that your child can complete 1 course per hour, or day, or week (you get the idea.) Courses also range according to level of difficulty. Some days your kid or teen may want to do a longer, more involved course and other days they may want to do something quick, fun and easy. The blend of structure and independence that comes from Sparketh’s online art classes can be a great way to offer your child both structure and independence…doing something they’ll love!

2. Online Art Classes Have Mental & Emotional Benefits

Regularly practicing art is the perfect way to keep those creative and critical thinking skills active this summer (all while keeping things fun!). Check out these article on How Art Supports Good Mental Health in Kids and Teens and Students Need Art: Here are 10 Reasons Why to learn about some of the amazing mental & emotional benefits of art for kids and teens.

Just to give you a quick summary, some of the mental and emotional benefits of consistent art practice include increased:

• Self-awareness and self-expression
• Confidence
• Regulation of emotions
• Communication skills
• Critical and creative thinking skills
• Focus
• Self-confidence

Essentially, online art classes can help make art a regular habit for your kids because they are available as often as your child would like to learn! This can have some pretty powerful long-term benefits: mentally and emotionally.

3. Online Art Classes are a Portable and Cost Effective Alternative to Traditional Art Classes (Perfect for Summer)

One thing that students (and parents) love about Sparketh’s online art classes is their portability. If you have a laptop, a tablet, or even a smartphone, you can take your art classes “to go.” This is especially great during summer, when travel plans would disrupt traditional art classes.

Sparketh is also a LOT less expensive than traditional art classes. Many people don’t realize that each Sparketh membership comes with two individual student accounts, which keep up with student courses and portfolios. This makes it even more affordable for families with two (or more) children who are interested in art.

The portability and affordability of Sparketh’s online art classes is a perfect fit for summer. While you want your kids to be engaged and learning, you also likely want the ability to take some trips this summer!

4. It’s Something Your Whole Family Can Enjoy to Make Summer Memories

I already mentioned that each Sparketh membership comes with two student accounts. Each of these accounts keep track of which courses students have completed, and gives that child an online portfolio for his or her artwork/progress.

However, as a parent, I’ll admit that I also love sitting down with my daughter to complete a Sparketh online art class, together! It’s a really fun way for us to do something creative together (that requires zero planning on my end.) Doing art together as a family is seriously just so relaxing, and it’s a great way to make memories together.

Of course, anytime of year is a great time to get creative, relax, and make memories. I’m not saying summer is the only time you can or should do these things— just that it’s a good time to do them!

5. Summer is the Perfect Time for Your Child to Dive Into His or Her Passion for Art!

During the school year, kids are busy learning a huge variety of subjects. Summer can be the best opportunity for kids to learn more about something that they are interested in!

Most parents are drawn to  Sparketh because they have kids and teens who want to learn more about art.  The online course library offers a variety of classes which can help kids discover more about different art techniques and styles in an easy to follow, step-by-step approach.

These summer months are the best time to help your child dive into something he or she loves! And if art is something your child loves, Sparketh is an awesome, self-paced, portable, non-intimidating way to learn more about it!

If you’ve been thinking about trying out Sparketh’s online art classes for your kids, summer is a great time to get started. There’s really no better time to see how it works for you and your kids.  Plus, you can currently get the first 30 days of your membership for free! (What better time to try Sparketh for free than summer, when your child has more free time than usual?)

Click here to check out Sparketh’s 30 Days Free Offer.

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