Art in our Backyard Studio!

One beautiful day, we decided to make an art studio in the backyard.  We had lots of big boxes, paint brushes, and some new paint from Clementine Art.  First, we talked about their paint.  My youngest daughter asked why it was different from their other paint (which is Crayola).  You had to stir it and it got a little more watery than usual.  I told her it was natural paint like the kind "they used a long time ago."  "Like in bible times?" she asked.  We talked about Lydia, who was a "seller of purple" during the 1st century (you can read about her in the book of Acts).  In those times, they would crush up mollusks to get a rich purple color.  It was super expensive because you needed thousands of mollusks to make just a couple yards of cloth!  Lydia was obviously a wealthy woman.

The Clementine paint we used was made with Mayan Mineral Pigments which, in itself, is so interesting to read about if you get into history like I do!  Like the people "in bible times," the Mayans also crushed up sea shells and other items to make into paints.

Once we were ready, we went outside to set up our "studio."  We changed our biggest box into an easel.  Each of the kiddos had one side to tape up a piece of paper.  We used camping tables to set their paint on, and put their water bowls in the cup holders.  It all worked marvelously!  It was such a nice day to be outside, painting and enjoying God's creation.

So, next time you have a big empty box, take it outside and make your kids their own backyard art studio... that is, if they don't use it to build forts.  ; )  As for us, maybe next time we'll make our own paint.  If Clementine can do it, can't we?