Paper Houses

04.08.2026
Black and white photograph of Beverly Buchanan and a school group.
Our last Family Day, in March, highlighted the exhibition “Shacks, Stories and Spirit: Beverly Buchanan’s Art of Home.” Beverly Buchanan built small-scale sculptures of simple houses that she called shacks. As a child, Buchanan joined her father when he visited Black tenant farmers in South Carolina. Their homes and stories inspired her shacks. Think of a place that is special to you. What memories does it hold?
Beverly Buchanan's "Happy Shack," a brightly colored lithograph that shows a small unassuming building

Beverly Buchanan's paper cut-out of three houses made with pen and marker.

Beverly Buchanan's shotgun style house made with wood and buttons.
Beverly used many different materials to create her shacks like paper, wood, paint, oil pastels and old objects.
Now it’s your turn to build a house inspired by Beverly Buchanan. 
You’ll need the following supplies:
  • white paper
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • colored pencils, markers, paint, etc.
House project inspired by Beverly Buchanan's paper cut-out of houses made with pen and marker.
House project inspired by Beverly Buchanan's paper cut-out of houses made with pen and marker.

 

Directions:
  1. Fold your paper in half cross-ways (hamburger style) so it opens like a book.
  2. On the front, draw a big square that fills most of the page. Add a triangle on top for the roof.
  3. Carefully cut around the outside of your house shape. Do not cut along the folded side. 
  4. Draw a door on the front. Cut along the sides and bottom of the door so it can open like a flap. You can do the same for windows!
  5. Decorate your house by adding colors, patterns, flowers or anything you like.
  6. Open the fold and draw what’s inside your house. Who’s most important to you? What are some of your favorite things?

 

Our next Family Day is Saturday, April 18. Come have fun with us!