Everyday Art - Washi Your World
by Jennifer Barrett -Sculptor/Educator/Professional Tinkerer

Looking for mess-free art projects to celebrate spring?

Look no further than Washi Tape, a decorative tape that originated in Japan. It has the look and feel of masking tape with beautiful colors and prints. You can apply it to almost any surface, and it does not leave a residue once removed. It is perfect for scrapbooking, journaling, and collages. You can also apply it to any 3-D surface you can imagine!

Inspiration:
Imagine collaging without a glue stick. If this is something that is as exciting to you as it is to me, then find some brightly colored tapes and start creating! Washi tape is an extremely versatile material. As it is made from bamboo or rice paper, it is also environmentally friendly. Most of it is very cost effective, and you and your child choose designs together, building up collections very fast. There are no limits to Washi your world.

Everyday Art Lesson:
Materials Focus:  Washi Tape
Mess Factor: Low.
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Kids will choose different patterns and colors for their Washi worlds. They can find as many found objects to cover with tape

Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: Create Washi Easter Eggs
•    Washi Tape
•    Hard Boiled Eggs

As a non-messy alternative to dying Easter eggs, younger kids and babies can decorate eggs by wrapping colorful and printed tape around the eggs. They can practice alternating patterns, and they can choose colors and patterns that they think go well together.

Student Work by Tabitha C., 15

Older Kids: Washi Tape Collages
Suggested Materials:

•    Card stock or water color paper cut to card size, or larger.
•    Scissors
•    Colored pencils
•    Markers
•    Pencils

Older kids can create a collage using Washi Tapes and markers or pencils. Drawing materials work well over the tape, and so can be used as another layer to the collage.

Choose a subject, such as a flower. Draw the shape of the flower. Choose colors and patterns of tape that look good together. Start by adding a few shapes and detail with pencil or marker. Next, collage in the tape (See image below)

Older kids can also go on a scavenger hunt for found objects around the house that could use a facelift. Those objects can be revived with some help from the decorative colors and patterns of Washi Tape. Kids will get excited as they turn everyday objects into works of art, and as they washi their worlds through good design.

(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients.  Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.

Feel free to email any questions or comments to info@creativespacearts.com, or visit my website at stickyfingersartsupply.com. I aim to create an open exchange of ideas and best practices.

Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison, Data Specialist, and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn. She has taught visual arts there since 2002. During this time, she has guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of all-ages art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. In the spring of 2016, she launched Sip 'n Sculpt to bring a fun and relaxing creative outlet to neighborhood bars and restaurants. Answering to student and customer demand for accessible and affordable art materials, she founded Sticky Fingers Art Supply Co. in March of 2017 to promote high quality art supplies for a steal of a price.

Her writing is published in Home Educators Resource Directory and the #besomebody. blog. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.


References:

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=washi tape eggs&rs=typed&term_meta[]=washi|typed&term_meta[]=tape|typed&term_meta[]=eggs|typed

http://www.stickyfingersartsupply.com/

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