Extra tiles around the house are an art project just waiting to happen. Your kids can create a mixed-media wall painting featuring a theme, an animal, or a totally abstract design. This creation gives children a chance to work with different materials and expand their imagination.
Supplies
4”x 4” Ceramic tiles (discontinued tiles are a great source)
9”x 9” Mat board
Hot glue (or other fast-drying, strong glue)
Nail or awl
Colorful yarn or string
Media
Watercolor paints
Brushes (size 12 for large areas of color, size 4 or 6 for smaller lines)
Markers
Oil pastels
Glitter glue or glitter paint
Use the back of the tile — the side that’s not meant to show in the tile’s traditional application — as the canvas. Paint using watercolor paints. The more layers you apply to your background the more saturated the color becomes. Allow to dry fully.
The next step is to create detail and design elements by using markers and/or oil pastels.
Then hot glue the completed tile in the center of the mat board. Kids can expand their designs onto the mat board using the markers and oil pastels.
At the top of the mat board, make two holes using the awl or nail. Loop string through holes so the tile can hang.
Use small amounts of glitter glue or glitter paint as a finishing touch.
Let dry.
Tips
To keep colors from looking too muddy when decorating tile, stick to three or four colors and don’t continue going over the same areas.
To keep glitter from overwhelming the picture, use sparingly and limit to one or two colors.
Contrasting colors look best for a dramatic effect. Use black and white sparingly if at all.
Flannel or textured mat board creates a vivid contrast. Regular mat board or sand paper glued to a backing also work well to frame your tile. You can find mat board at local craft or framing stores.
Elizabeth Greenbaum is founder and executive director of ArtiCulture, an artist, and the mother of Caylamina and Maiasha (two budding artists in their own right). Located in South Minneapolis, ArtiCulture is a nonprofit arts organization that offers visual arts education for everyone from 1 to 101. Articulture.org.
