Even though you can’t join us in the AGP Studio, we still want to connect with you and help keep your creativity flourishing. Here you will find a collection of fun and engaging, self-guided art activities, as well as other educational resources for you and your whole family to enjoy!
Click the links below to jump ahead to any activity:
Check back regularly as we continue to update this page.
Melting Ice
Inspired by artist Katika Marczell, who exhibited as part of our “Presently” exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough that was on display from November 26, 2020 to May 2, 2021. Click here to learn more about the “Presently” exhibition.
Her painting Dandelions speaks to the global warming crisis and the melting of the earth’s permafrost. In this work she uses ice cubes mixed with paint and other pigments to mimic the melting permafrost, by letting them melt on top of a large piece of canvas over the course of several days.
In this activity, you will make your own artwork using melted ice mixed with pigments and a whole lot of imagination.
Suitability: Ages 7+
What you will need:
A large piece of Bristol board or canvas – we used a canvas for ours
Ice cube tray or small recycled containers (yogurt cups would work well)
Inspired by artist Darcie Kennedy, who exhibited as part of our “Presently” exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough that was on display from November 26, 2020 to May 2, 2021. Click here to learn more about the “Presently” exhibition.
Her painting Untitled (Tools and Combs #3) uses common household tools and other items to create textured patterns by reflecting domestic actions such as chores, cooking, and cleaning, and the result is a pattern that looks like textiles, wallpaper, and upholstery commonly found in the home.
In this activity, you will make your own artwork, like Darcie Kennedy, experimenting with different ways to apply paint by using household objects.
Suitability: Ages 6+
What you will need:
A sheet of paper, cardboard, bristol board, or canvas
Paint – a thicker paint, like acrylic, works best, but thin paint like watercolours will not work.
Inspired by artist John Climenhage, who exhibited as part of our “Presently” exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough that was on display from November 26, 2020 to May 2, 2021. Click here to learn more about the “Presently” exhibition.
His series of paintings, which are part of a much larger series called Around, shows a great deal of attention from the artists to the neighbourhoods and urban architecture of our community, Peterborough. These works were painted en plein air, which is French for “in the open air.” It simply means to paint outside.
In this activity, which is a great way for families to spend some time outside, you will take your painting supplies to a nice area outdoors and practice some mindfulness as you enjoy the fresh air and get creative.
Suitability: 6+
What you will need:
A sheet of paper, cardboard, bristol board, or canvas – just something to paint on
Contagion, 2020. Ashley Johnson. Acrylic on canvas
Inspired by artist Ashley Johnson, who exhibited as part of our “Presently” exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough that was on display from November 26, 2020 to May 2, 2021. Click here to learn more about the “Presently” exhibition.
In her painting Contagion, she creates an image of two animals (a Pangolin and a Horseshoe Bat), but the image is probably a little different than what you would expect. Using techniques borrowed from cubism, Ashley Johnson creates a fragmented image that shows you many different angles, parts, and movements of each animal – all at the same time!
In this activity, you will make an animal portrait of your pet or favourite animal in the same fragmented style as artist Ashley Johnson.
Suitability: Ages 5+
What you will need:
Paper
Markers, pencil crayons, paint, crayons – anything you can use to draw and colour
This activity is inspired by the work of Jim Reid, an artist who looks at the forms, structures, and sentiments present in nature. Taking inspiration from local geological features such as the Niagara Escarpment and the Canadian Shield, Reid created a series of artwork that used a mix of materials and techniques to reflect the natural world. In his 1994 work Ancient Silence, he applied layers of paint, metal, glass, and fabric, along with natural materials, to reflect a natural location. This layering of different materials, Reid said, was “both a metaphor for natural processes and a tactile equivalent of the site.”
In this activity, you will reflect on your own natural place: how it looks, sounds, and feels, and what makes it special to you. Then, using carefully-collected pieces of nature, you will create a nature collage drawing. Give it a try!
Suitability: Ages 5+
What you will need:
White Paper (8.5’’ x 11’’)
Pencils, Pens, Crayons, or Markers
White Glue, Glue Stick, or Tape
Things From Nature (See Step 1 for how to find them!)
Click here to view and download the Nature Collage Drawings PDF instructions.
Sometimes, art is designed to deceive. How much of what we believe is based on what we perceive? Optical illusions are designs that fool the eye into seeing something different than what is actually there. In artwork, tricks of geometry, materials, and technique can combine to deceive the eye – even when the audience is in on the trick!
In this craft, you create your own optical illusion. You know the trick, but your eye sees differently.
This is a fun drawing game that can be played by two people, but you can easily play with your whole family as well! Click on the downloadable pARTy Monsters PDF to read the full instructions.
Suitability: Ages 5+ Players: 2-8
What you will need:
A friend or two
Something to draw with, like crayons, pencils, or markers
One sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper for each person
Stop watch or Clock (optional) to set a time limit for each section of your drawing
Objective:
CREATE wild and wacky “pARTy Monsters!” together by drawing different parts of a Monster, but without knowing what the other person drew.
At the end, you will reveal your “pARTy Monster” creations! It is always sure to be a fun and big surprise!
Remember: It’s okay to laugh at how silly they look. That’s the whole point!
We’ve all been spending a lot of time in our homes and looking at the same stuff all the time can start to feel a little boring. Many artists throughout history have felt the same way, but they used this as inspiration to look at people, objects, and places in new and interesting ways.
One tool that they used to help them was a Viewfinder. A viewfinder is an easy-to-make tool that helps artists look closely at small details and create compositions, by allowing them to focus on only one part of the world around them (kind of like looking through a small window!).
The following activity let’s us look closer, build our Visual Literacy skills, and practice our ability to appreciate Art!
Suitability: 3+ (Note: some use of scissors or a sharp blade is needed to cut cardboard)
Instructions:
Follow the picture instructions below, or click here for the downloadable Make Your Own Viewfinder PDF Guide on how to make your own Viewfinder.
Once you have your viewfinder, download the “Looking Closer: Viewfinder Activity” PDF
Use your viewfinder and follow the instructions on the activity sheet
How to make: Adjustable Viewfinder
Step 1: Gather Supplies
Step 2: Cut a Rectangle
Step 3: Draw & Cut TWO L-Shapes
Step 4: Enjoy!
Here are some pictures from the AGP team of what they saw with their viewfinders!
On the first Sunday of every month, the AGP team delivers a FREE drop-in art experience for the entire family. This typically includes a studio project, as well as exhibition tours and activities
Contagion, 2020. Ashley Johnson. Acrylic on canvas
How to make: Adjustable Viewfinder
Art Gallery of Peterborough: Bookshelf Exhibition
Learn to Observe like an Artist
