How to build a home art station for all ages to enjoy!
Why is it an important element of your home? Art making lowers stress, build community with others, and helps kill boredom. I love the conversations we have when everyone is around the table. This happens at dinner, during a puzzle, and can also occur during art time! No matter how old your kids are, or your own level of talent, I predict an art station will be a hit.
FIrst: The Prep. You can tailor your personal level of messiness and amount of supplies to include, but first you’ll need a storage solution. You can use a large bin with a lid, an existing cabinet, or one of these carts.
Most homes won’t have a dedicated office or art studio space. Don’t let this hold you back! I routinely setup our kitchen table for art/craft time and clean it up after. An easy to clean tablecloth that fits your table well is essential. You want a decent quality one, because the plastic $1 birthday ones are likely to tear! Grab a vinyl tablecloth like this one that you can wipe off and fold away for next time. This will be a tablecloth dedicated only to messy activities. We have used ours for science experiments, play doh, and even decorating Christmas cookies.
Ok now you’ve handled the prep. Let’s get to the fun part, stocking your art station with colorful art supplies!! I’ll make a detailed list below, and note that I always recommend having blank paper as well as coloring sheets. The coloring book pages can inspire and get you rolling if you don’t know what to draw or make. I taught art for 10 years and I’ve seen lots of instances of a student being stuck with no idea until they began a coloring page and BOOM the creativity began to flow. I love this one, and it’s not just for kids!
List of Art Supplies for your Art Station:
-Colorful Sharpies or Acrylic Paint Markers
-Blank paper for Drawing and Watercolor Paper
-Pack of Paintbrushes
-Assorted Pencils, Pens, Erasers, and Colored Pencils
-Aprons or paint clothes, sometimes I would turn my kids’ shirts inside out!
-Ruler and Stencils (stencils also help to inspire and guide a project along!)
–Paint Palette for the Acrylic Paint (Let the paint dry on the palette. Alternatively, you can use styrofoam plates and toss em in the trash, but it isn’t eco-friendly. Never rinse a lot of acrylic paint down your pipes!)
That’s a great basic list! More advanced items can include oil pastels, a palette knife, watercolor markers, my favorite watercolor paintbrush, and ink. There is always something new to explore with art making.
Need a project idea? I won’t re-invent the wheel here, there are so many wonderful art projects online. I suggest heading over to Pinterest or YouTube.
Last but not least: Your mindset.
You may or may not have any natural art talent or years of practice behind you. Please don’t expect to make masterpieces each time, or right away. The goal here should be stress relief and enjoyment. It may lead to beautiful artwork and it may not, but remember that each piece informs the next, and there is no such thing as wasted time or supplies!
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Wild and Sweet 
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