Ideas for art activities with a group of teenagers?

Question

Art or craft ideas-this has to last around 2 hours-which is a long time to keep their attention...

Answer 1

Place a still life in the middle of a room. Have the students sit in a circle around the still life with drawing paper and charcoals. They each sketch the still life from their perspective then each drawing is mounted on cardboard or, preferably, laminated, and gift boxed with instructions for Kindergarten-aged children to arrange the drawings around a spot in the middle of their own classroom in the correct circle of perspective. They love these perspective projects.

Answer 2

Get everyone a large paper mache box (or a big square - deep gift box can work). Let them paint these boxes with a base paint (black, navy blue or red work best) - While these dry - let them look through magazines, newspapers,etc to tell a story of their life. Then let them decopage these things on their box. After they have finished - they can add some glitter, charms, buttons, ribbon or trim to finish them off. They are really cool when they are finished.

Another thing that works well is the brown bag art. You have to have lots of brown paper grocery bags, lots of white school glue and candles.

You start by cutting the bags apart to flatten. Layer at least three to four bags (printing on the inside) by glueing them together. Then trace out your design on the top and cut out. (We did doves, hearts, crosses, stars, triangles - big basic shapes) You can also use large cookie cutters for patterns if you like. Now cut out your design. Next - coat both sides of your design with white glue -evenly (use a cheap sponge brush).

After your design is coated with glue - light the candle and carefully hold the piece over the flame - far enough away that it will not catch fire - but it will start blackening the surface of the project. The whole thing will need to have this black coating. One you have that - take a paper towel and gently rub off the black carbon - and you will have left a beautiful, irridescent sculpture that looks like it is made of metal or leather. You can then either hang these from fishing line - or carefully attach a bamboo skewer that has been cut in half - and plunge the skewer into a base of clay, wood or styrofoam. The kids are always astonished by the results.

Good luck with these - ideas. If you want more - contact me.

Answer 3

If you can handle the mess, I would suggest tie-dye. Depending on where the activity will be conducted - you may need to lay down drop cloths. When I teach a dye workshop I lay down the cheap felt back table clothes upside down on the tables so the felt will catch any spills that would run onto the floor where it will be stepped in. (Ultimately, it's best if this is all done outside in warm weather.) Here is a page of instructions from a company that also sells starter kits, but the instruction page is handy if you already have a supplier of fiber reactive dyes near you.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/groups.html
It is a bit of prep work mixing the dyes/urea and soda ash solution and then the clean up afterward, but the t-shirts will be enjoyed long after the mess is cleared away.

Answer 4

Have you tried Glass painting? Almost all Craft shops have supplies. All you need is some glass - Glass door, windows or off cuts. A colouring book to trace pictures. Out liner and paint. Its very easy and fun and there's lots of idea's you can play around with.
You can make jelly candles too. All you need is Shoot glasses or small bowls. jelly (not the eating kind, the candle jelly) wick, a stove to melt the jelly and some colour.
Both all these products can be bought buy craft shops.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Shoot a short movie :) but you have to prepare the storyline and go there saying what everyone is going to be (part of the cast, director, voice). 2 Hours might be really few :)

Just go there with all the material needed and holding a camera say "Ok.. today we make a short movie! You are director, you are main actress you are the soundman" and so on :)

Answer 7

Scrapbooking is something a lot of younger people are getting into and it can be involved so takes some time. A lot of us scrappers would love to volunteer our time to teach kids how to do it and you can get supplies at dollar and discount stores so the stuff is relatively cheap!

Answer 8

Hi.
I would suggest that they think up a name for a pop group or artist,and get them to design a logo for the band/singer.
Maybe design an album cover- make it more difficult by only allowing them a limited set of coulours or types of media.
or how about choosing a nursery rhyme character and getting them to bring the character up to date in a modern,urban,street-wise kind of style?
Or get them to think of one word that bests describes their character and get them to produce an abstract representation.
Just a few ideas. Hope they help.
Merry Christmas!
Misterviv

Answer 9

Check out this website, it has lots of unique scrapbooking ideas, supplies, layouts, kits and digital albums at real affordable prices. Perfect for teens to preserve there memories!

www.topline-creations.com\lisette

Happy Holidays!

Answer 10

A bit piece of graffiti so they can all put their own design on it and then place it somewhere they get to see it again and maybe offer them to invite friends / family to see their art work .