Valentine’s Day is a special time to celebrate love. How can we show people that we love them? We can give them a hug and say “I love you.” We can also make art for them.
This month we also practiced counting as we explored the museum. Use your fingers to count to 10. We counted five different objects in the galleries. What can you count in your home? Can you find five of the same objects in your house? What about four, three, two or just one?
Take a close look at this work of art. It’s called “7 Steps.” Can you spot seven steps on the ladder? How many children do you see? Count the butterfly-like symbols.
This artist’s name is Radcliffe Bailey. He liked to use old family photographs in his artwork. He wanted his art to focus on love for his family and where he comes from.
Now it’s your turn to make love-inspired art.
For this activity, you will need:
- white paper (cardstock works best)
- pencil
- scissors
- paper straw
- red or pink washable paint
- shallow cups (for paint)
To make your straw heart art:
- Cover your work surface for easy clean-up.
- Draw a large heart on the white paper.
- Use scissors to cut out the heart.
- Next, gently press down on one end of the straw to shape it into a heart.
- Pour a little red or pink paint into a shallow cup.
- Dip the heart-shaped end of the straw into the paint, making sure it’s evenly coated.
- Press the straw onto the white paper to stamp heart shapes. Repeat as many times as you like.
- Once dry, count the hearts and write the total number on your artwork.