Amazing Anime Self-Portraits

BIG eyes, BIG sparkle, 
BIG personality!

smallSHOP Inspired By Anime
Ages 6-12

 smallSHOP artists took inspiration

 from Japanese anime drawing styles

 to create their own vibrant and zany self-portraits.

We love how these portraits truly capture

 their fun loving personalities!

We practiced drawing faces in anime style -

BIG eyes with bright highlights

and SUPER expressive features...

smallSHOP artists drew big and painted on large canvases.

The results are amazing self-portraits

that show off how lovely these kids are

inside and out!

These portraits have POP and will be positively treasured.

Have fun creating!

Always,

smallSHOP

Sweet Valentine without the SWEETS

We love these little heart crayons. 

And it seems that lately we cannot do anything over here at smallSHOP 

without some sparkles. 

So... please enjoy our sparkly crayon valentines. 

These take only about 10 minutes to prep, 15 to bake and 30 to cool. 

Great for all ages. 

Perfect weekend project. 

Finish it off with a tag and bag. 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Y'ALL

small & MIGHTY

We are celebrating some of our little guys and gals 

with a BIG shout out to 

the little smallSHOP'ers

We are proud of you and the art that you create. 

Color Me smallSHOP

We took our designs to the local Color Me Mine. 

Many parents love the process of going to Color Me Mine, 

sitting and painting and creating a usable work of art, 

but it is what you bring home that is not always your favorite. 

Gone are the days of dog shaped piggy banks 

and your 3rd Minnie Mouse statue. 

smallSHOP decided to find a way to utilize how wonderful 

Color Me Mine can be, while creating items that 

both the kids and parents love. 

Check out our platters and plates created by 

children ages 5-13.

And the next rainy day when you are on your way...

remember what these kids made with a simple plate

and try out your own. 

Or you can of course call smallSHOP 

and we will bring everything to you

with an art teacher too!

Have a wonderful and creative day, 

Sage and smallSHOP

smallSHOP and CecyJ

Check out our full Q&A on CecyJ. 

Our friends over at CecyJ have asked smallSHOP 

to name some of our favorite art supplies for your at home art box. 

For links and descriptions of our top 8 picks, head over to CecyJ

smallSHOP go ahead... make a book.

I love Artist’s Books!

There’s nothing like holding a handmade book and gently flipping through its pages.  Artist’s books are both intimate and completely accessible.  Making a book is a great way to record your creative thought process.  I find the assembling, measuring and constructing steps keep the left brain busy giving the creative juices in the right brain a chance to spark (did you ever notice how great ideas pop up while you’re “mindlessly” brushing your teeth or driving?)

Books can be used to sketch ideas - recording an artist’s thought process, experimentation and final refinement of an idea - or for collages or collections - the possibilities are endless!

I especially love books made by kids!  I’ve recently rediscovered a book I made back in kindergarden, I’m so glad I was encouraged to record this silly story!

Check out these other inventive handmade books that Sage found,

they are amazing!

1. Stamped Book.

2. Christina's Book from Kindergarten.

3.Example of a simple accordion book.

4.Christina's Books.

5. Mixed Paper Journal & Accordion Book

6. Fabric Book.

7. Hand-Stitched Book

8. Natalie As Is

smallSHOP gets Room-y - 3D spaces

A 3D room lesson is always a "go-to" project. 

You get serious bang for your buck!

The children are always in awe of what they can create. 

We breakdown 3D design into simple steps.

When you explain to any beginner that it is simply straight and diagonal lines, 

it makes it much less intimidating. And from then on it is practice. 

I like to talk about the way we "see" a place and then how to really "look" at it. What I mean by this is, we often times look and process by memory, "yes it is a room, I see that." But when drawing you must really LOOK at it and translate it into the simplest shapes and lines. 

Once you have created the "room" you can fill it with objects of your liking. 

Above are a few examples of a pencil sketch, chalk pastel renditions and an acrylic painting. 

I encourage you all to draw a rectangle. 

Connect each corner to the corner of your paper. Voila - a room. 

Now fill it. 

As Always, 

Have a creative day

Sage

What are you doing over Spring Break?

Come and Play with smallSHOP.

For more information contact us: hello@smallshopathome.com

Ai Wei Wei takes over Los Angeles and smallSHOP

Los Angeles County Museum recently had 

Ai Wei Wei's Zodiac Heads on display. 

After a trip with my family we thought it would be fun to explore Ai Wei Wei and a sculpture project with smallSHOP students. We began with talking about the process of sculpting and Ai Wei Wei. 

 The children first spent a day playing with 

modeling clay and sketching animal heads. 

Then chose the animal that they wanted to create. 

Using air dry clay, a dowel, a styrofoam ball and 

a IKEA vase as a base, we created the head. 

Then added texture and left it to dry. 

The following week we added color and details. 

One more day of details and voilà smallSHOP does Ai Wei Wei.

Please enjoy our young artists' sculptures. 

We certainly do!

smallSHOP is reserving dates for Spring Break and Summer Camps. 

Please contact smallSHOP if you are interested in creating your own private camp. 

hello@smallshopathome.com

A farm in Los Angeles?

My first school field trip!

Last week I was lucky to be able to visit the Leonis Adobe Museum with my daughter's 1st grade class.

To say it is a blast from the past is an understatement. It is the past!

 Tour docents wear period clothing, actors story tell and demonstrate tasks from the 1800's, like how to wash clothing, make tortillas, rope a steer and make horseshoes. The children were able to try it all. 

In addition to just being happy to be there, I was so inspired as an artist. The light was beautiful. The items, each and everyone were so delicate, rich in history and craftsmanship. 

I could have spent hours photographing this museum, which was not possible since I was in charge of 10 children and 4 were runners... so I will return to Leonis Adobe. And if you happen to be in Los Angeles, I recommend a visit to experience the past, feed the sweet animals and inspire your creative side. 

Here are a few shots that I was able to squeeze in between corralling my herd of 1st graders. 

If I could please put an order in to the general store of the 1800's I would take one of each of the below, lamb included.

And remember to please click here and vote for smallSHOP today. 

We are in the running for 1 of the top 25 creative mom blogs. 

Hello Friend! smallSHOP and cecy j team up.

Check out our interview over at cecy j.

News Flash! smallSHOP and cecy j will be teaming up. 

smallSHOP will be contributing to this incredible life and style blog. 

We put our heads together and agreed it would be fun to do a Q&A segment every month or so for “at home” art project ideas with the kids, inside tips on art, and much more! So please check in to cecy j and see what is happening over there. I check in daily and I am always inspired. 

Also, 

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR smallSHOP

If you would not mind... would you please pop over to circle of moms and vote for smallSHOP.

It takes a second and you can do it once a day. 

We would very much appreciate it!

Have a creative day!

Always, 

Sage