CORONA CRAFT #8 - Paint Your Pet

PART ONE: HOW TO PREP YOUR UNDER DRAWING

Get your materials together and follow the steps in the videos below to draw your pet in preparation of my painting class.

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CORONA CRAFT #7: Opposite Matching Game printable

Another ❣️FREE❣️ printable for the littles! This one’s an opposite matching game and hopefully pretty, bright and stimulating for little minds. I was able to repurpose some of my old watercolor paintings and added a few originals. DM me with your email address and I’ll send it to you! .
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As always, no compensation necessary, I’m happy to contribute to the sanity cause in whatever way I can. But if you feel like you’d like to contribute a couple bucks to your local artist my Venmo is @morganmccueartist

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CORONA CRAFT #6 - Egg Decorating

This simple idea was inspired by my mom who created the Martha Stewart-worthy centerpiece in the bottom picture. It’s a fun and easy activity for all ages.
1. Hollow raw eggs (obviously save the egg part for cooking)
2. Decorate however you want
3. Turn them into a centerpiece using flowers or feathers or anything!

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CORONA CRAFT #5 - Alphabet Animal Printable

Happy Friday!!!! (Whatever that means). Here’s another printable for the littles that I put together using my custom nursery name art. I actually started my business with these letters four years ago and look where it’s taken me! It’s nice to be able to reuse and repurpose my work especially if it can be of any help (read: distraction) to your corona-crazy kids. .
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Please DM or email me - info@morganmccueartist.com - for a printable copy of the PDF. Again, there’s no charge for these but if you’re feeling generous my Venmo is @morganmccueartist. Stay tuned for more Corona Craft ideas and printables!

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CORONA CRAFT #4 - Printable Dog Matching Game

FREE PRINTABLE DOG MATCHING GAME

It’s Monday, ya’ll. And you’re all wondering how much longer you’re going to have to homeschool your kids. Today I’m offering one for the littles. 

I donated some of my dog coasters to my daughter’s school @hobokenmontessori as a picture-to-picture matching game for the toddler class. They can also be used as a traditional memory game for slightly older kids. 

I’ve turned them into a three-page PDF printable (six dog sets - 12 images total) for you to print out and use at home. If you’re interested please send me an email info@morganmccueartist.com I am not charging for these but if you would like to make a donation my Venmo is @morganmccueartist

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CORONA CRAFT #3 - Collage

Follow the steps below to create your own collage - it can be as simple or complicated as you want!

HOW TO: COLLAGE

Collage is an excellent way to explore shape and color. It forces the eye to see clearly before the brain starts making assumptions and conclusions. Maybe her hair is more that just “brown”, you know?

It’s also extremely meditative and a great art form for EVERYONE (artist or not). Which is why it’s a perfect Corona Craft to keep kids and adults busy during this uncertain time. No special art supplies needed.

Treat this like that puzzle you keep on the coffee table. Let it be a source of inspiration every day. A moment to be creative, a piece at at time.

Happy Creating!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Sturdy paper like poster board or craft paper

• Print out of picture you would like to recreate

• Scissors

• Glue

• Scrap paper like a colorful magazine

• Pencil

• Ruler

• Tweezers (not pictured, optional)

• Additional piece white scrap paper (not pictured)

STEP ONE:

• Choose the photograph you would like to use and print it on regular printer paper.

NOTE: The picture should be of an object in close-range that fills most of the space.

For kids and beginners I recommend something simple and bright like a piece of fruit or a butterfly.

STEP TWO:

• Use ruler to draw a square grid on your picture print out

• Use ruler (and a little math) to create the exact same grid ratio on the larger craft paper. Example: If you are using a 5x7 picture and 10x14 craft paper, you can add a one-inch grid to the image and a two-inch grid to the craft paper. The grid ratios must match so that you have an equal number of squares on each.

• Cut a square “window” in your white scrap paper that is the same size as one square on your source picture.

NOTE: For kids and beginners I suggest using a simpler grid with fewer squares.

STEP THREE:

• Cover your source image with the white scrap paper so that the “window” frames one square of the grid.

• Find the corresponding square on your poster board

• Using your scrap magazine, scissors and glue, create a tiny collage in the square on your poster board to match the square on your source photo.

• Repeat for every square

NOTE: Think of this like a puzzle. Work on a square at a time and then leave it for a while. It may take days. It should be fun and meditative. And when you’re done - you’ll have an awesome piece of art and a new appreciation for form and color.

Kids/Beginners Example 1

Kids/Beginners Example 2

Butterfly with 5x7 grid. 35 squares total.

Apple with 3x3 grid. 9 squares total

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Corona Craft #1 - How to Make a Constellation Map

There has been a lot of interest in the creative process behind my constellation maps.  Admittedly, I did not come up with the original concept of a constellation map myself - it was a challenging, yet welcome commission from a friend.  I love a challenge.  

The process, however, is my own – careful planning combined with a throwing-spaghetti-at-the-wall approach resulting in happy accidents. Watercolor is always somewhat, if not entirely, accidental.  There are a lot of life lessons in this particular painting medium which I will save for another blog. 

For now, here’s a step-by-step guide to making your own constellation map.  

NOTE: Every part of this process is open to interpretation and manipulation.  I encourage play and experimentation and it certainly doesn’t need to be technically ‘correct’. It's art. Everything is optional.

ANOTHER NOTE: This will take some time, a lot of it is down time. Don't be too anxious for things to dry. It can be a leisurely process you come back to throughout the day.  

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 140lb or greater watercolor paper (I like Strathmore 400 series but anything that’s thick enough to withstand a little drenching is good)

• Tape (artist tape if you have it)

• Pencil

• Eraser

• Fineline Masking fluid

• Ruler

• Watercolor paints (a few different blues if you have them and a red)

• Watercolor brush(es)

• Salt (fine and rock)

• White ink

• Toothbrush (that you never want to use again)

• White ink pen 

• Printed copy of constellation

• Foam brush

• Water

STEP ONE:

Find the constellation(s) you’d like to paint using Google image or this helpful Constellation Guide. 

Print it out.

NOTE: If you want to do a section of the map, take a screenshot and print that out.  It’s also helpful to format it into simple, whole dimensions like 8”x10” for when you do your grid work.

STEP TWO:

Tape a border around your paper (you may want to measure before you do this).  If you are not using a watercolor block, you should tape the paper onto a larger board or table to stabilize it.

Using your ruler and a pencil, measure and draw matching grids on your paper and the constellation print.

NOTE: I used a red pen on the print out so it’s easier to see. Use a sharp pencil on the watercolor paper and don’t press too hard.

STEP THREE:

Using the Fineline masking fluid, carefully ‘draw’ out your constellation. 

You may want to stop here and dot in a few random stars around the rest of the page.

Or, you may want to be more precise (I mean, you already drew the grid) and refer to your map to dot in the rest of the surrounding stars.  For this one, I’m only going to connect the dots/stars of the Aquarius constellation with a thin line of masking fluid so it stands out.  I’ll leave the stars within the other constellations unconnected.

Let the fluid dry completely (about 20 minutes).

STEP FOUR:

Brush the paper with a layer of clean water.  

Quickly brush/dab on watercolor – play with various blues and a few dabs of red – and watch the colors find each other and bleed together.  DON'T OVER THINK IT.

NOTE: Depending on the size of your paper you may need to wet it again – a spray bottle works for bigger projects.  Working quickly and keeping the paper wet will ensure you are not left with hard edges.

STEP FIVE:

While the paper is still wet, sprinkle a streak of salt across your ‘Milky Way’. I use mostly fine salt with a few pieces of rock salt.

As the paper dries, the salt will absorb the pigment and leave you with a beautifully abstract and accidental pattern.

Let it dry completely.  

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STEP SIX

Brush off the salt carefully so as not to rub off the masking fluid. 

Without wetting the paper, paint another layer of blue and purple around the edges to create some darker areas.  Use a damp, clean brush to blend the new paint into the background. 

Let it dry completely.

NOTE: As an option you can add a little more salt.  The effect will be much subtler than on the first layer. 

STEP SEVEN

Using your fingers and the dry foam brush, rub off the masking fluid and any remaining salt. 

Erase any visible gridlines. 

NOTE: Rub your hands over the paper to be sure there isn't any masking fluid remaining.  It can be hard to see. 

STEP EIGHT

Dip the bristles of the toothbrush into the white ink and, using your thumb, 'spray' the paper with ink.  

Let it dry completely.

NOTE: Try not to hold the toothbrush over the paper but just to the side so you don't get any big, globby drips....like I just did. Whoops.  

STEP NINE

Using your white ink pen, add the name(s) of the constellation(s). 

NOTE: I probably wouldn't do this on something this small, featuring a single constellation, but it is a nice touch on a larger map.  I'm going to do it anyway to show you. 

STEP TEN

Remove the tape.  Sign it.  Hang it up! Brag! Show all your friends! Do a little 'look what I can do' dance!

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

— Scott Adams

Be inspired!

Post your creations and tag @MORGANMCCUEARTIST on Facebook and Instagram