I came across a photo on Pinterest recently that has inspired all kinds of creative drawing in our home lately.
The photo depicts an artwork that is composed of half a magazine page pasted onto paper and the missing half of the magazine image completed (or made up) through pen and ink drawing.
When I followed the link, the post was not about magazine images as drawing prompts for kids, as I had assumed, but rather about drawing MC Escher-type repeated patterns and cross-hatching (including the aforementioned magazine artwork wallpaper).
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However! I took the idea I initially saw and loved in that image and created a handful of magazine drawing prompts for the kids and their friends. And have even used the idea in my daily sketchbook.
It has been such a hit!
I love it. The kids have all loved it. Everyone has been tremendously inspired by these magazine drawing prompts, working more creatively and working on their artworks longer than they often do.
Here’s how we did this ::
Magazine Pictures as Drawing Prompts for Kids
MATERIALS
- Paper
- Magazine(s)
- Glue stick
- Drawing tools (we used pens, washable markers, and Sharpies*)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Choose your magazine images and cut them out.
I cut out half pages, partial pages, cut around some items, and even did one with a full magazine page (with the idea that the kids could draw over the magazine image).
2. Glue the magazine pages to the paper as desired.
You can either go to work drawing right away at this point or you can let your magazine pages dry under a heavy book so they’ll dry flat.
3. Draw around and on the magazine images and paper as desired, using the magazine image as a starting point or drawing prompt for your artwork.
*Note :: To draw on the magazine images, a Sharpie marker or other permanent pen works best. Daphne used silver metallic Sharpies for drawing on her dark magazine page. However, the kids used regular washable markers for the most part.
Here are some of the kids’ finished artworks (above) using the magazine images as drawing prompts.
And here are the ones that Harry and I did.
How about you? Do you offer your children drawing prompts? Would you give this idea a try?
More drawing prompts for kids
- Fill in the Faces Drawing Prompt
- Offering Creative Drawing Prompts for Kids
- How to Make Challenge Drawing Papers to Inspire Creativity
- DIY Picture Frame Wallpaper for Children’s Art
- Hole in Paper Drawing for Kids
- Simon Says, Draw! An Interactive Drawing Activity for Kids
- Using Frames to Inspire Childrens Drawing
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Oh my goodness! This is a wonderful idea. I have been considering all the ways we might reuse our piles of Babybug, Ladybug, and Ask magazines — I don’t think I ever would have thought of a drawing prompt, but how perfect! Thank you for this post. You continue to inspire me with your creativity and thoughtfulness.
You’re welcome, Michelle! So glad you find inspiration here!
That is an amazing idea, have to try out with my 4,5 and 7 year old play group kids. Thank you for coming up with such creative themes.
Glad you like it, Poorva! I hope your play group kids enjoy this activity! I would love to hear how it goes with them!
This is such a cool crafting idea! I am trying to get my older son to pay less attention to his screen time and more attention to his creative side so I think we will be testing this out this weekend!
Thanks, Katie! And good luck with your plan!
I have your book in french and was following your blog for several month, but did the connection between both (hard to link different languages). Thank you for your book, I really like the first part about how t think/talk with kids.
And I suggested this drawing from magazine pictures. Big success, my husband draw the whole evening, lol.
OK…so now I’m headed out to our recycling bin to reclaim two free 2015 calendars I tossed that would be PERFECT for this! Great idea…
omgosh!! this is genius!! luvluvluv it! im no creative genius but keep giving these great ideas and i can surly run wih them !
I love this idea! My daughter loves doing crafts and this is a great idea! Thanks for sharing! I love your blog
Trish
Thanks for sharing this great idea! My daughter will love doing this! Love your blog!
Tricia
This idea is just terrific! I am inspired to have my 10 year old daughter try this. She is very creative and artistic, but often feels like she can’t draw very well. Thank you for this wonderful post!
I love this idea and I’m going to set some up right now for my children to use tomorrow. I love how Maia’s whale is absolutely rejoicing with her creative additions!
Great! Hope they have fun with it, Barb!