Mixing it Up: Home Art Supplies

Limitations can be inspiring, and one of the biggest limitations students and teachers have encountered during NTI instruction is the lack of art supplies at home. Some students only have pencil or paper. This makes it a challenge when giving assignments….HOWEVER, through inquiry and experimentation, students learned that art can be made with ANYTHING! For this assignment, students searched their kitchen, bathroom, and pantry, to find everyday materials they could mix to create painting mediums. Students tried using household supplies like coffee, tea, kool-aid, ketchup, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and toothpaste, and peanut butter to create artwork. The results have been mixed, but also very interesting! Even though some of these artworks had to be tossed out later (soy sauce makes smelly paint!), students are now more willing try new things as they explore mixed media processes.

Credits: Special thanks to Clara Lieu/ Art Prof and Miriam Paternoster/Arte a scuola for the inspiration for this lesson!