Ghostwriter and film consultant Christina Hamlett has written professionally since 1970. Her credits include many books, plays, optioned features, articles and interviews. Publishers include HarperCollins, Michael Wiese Productions, "PLAYS," "Writer's Digest" and "The Writer." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications (emphasis on audience analysis and message design) from California State University, Sacramento.
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Art for KidsSUPPLIES
- Computer
- Scanner
- Cover stock or photo paper
- Index cards
- Tape
- Binder
- Protective plastic sleeves
Overview
If your budding young artist's creations are starting to take up more space than you have room for on your refrigerator door, a fun solution might be to showcase them in their own signature portfolio. Not only is this a good way to keep them neat and organized, but it will also be a nostalgic trek down memory lane as all of you get older.
Step 1
Purchase a colorful three-ringer binder and some protective plastic sleeves.
Step 2
Assemble all the pictures you want to put in the portfolio. Let your child decide the order she'd like her pictures to be displayed.
Step 3
Scan each of the images and save them on your computer as .jpg files.
Step 4
Give your child some index cards and have him write a short description of each piece of art, including its title and what inspired him to draw it. This information will be priceless in years to come.
Step 5
Print each of the images on sturdy cover stock or professional matte photo paper.
Step 6
Tape the description of each piece on the back of the print-out and place each one in a protective plastic sheet.
Step 7
Store the original art work in a safe, dry place.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Relatives--especially grandparents--enjoy receiving artwork. Saving your child's pictures as .jpgs will allow you to email them as attachments, plus give you a back-up record in case something ever happens to the originals.
If you have photo editing software, you may want to crop some of the images after you have converted them to .jpgs. Don't do it, though, unless your child is participating in the edits with you. Her unique vision is more important than aesthetic balance.
Consider using some of the .jpg images as photo greeting cards.
For smaller pictures, experiment with collages.
- WARNING : Make a separate portfolio for each child. Be sure to give your children an equal amount of compliments on their work.
