beautiful family treasure time

I planned a little time filler for my students at the start of each class, as they trickled in to the studio. 

​They always arrive within 5-7 minutes of each other and love to hear what the days lesson is as SOON as they come in, so I thought this could keep them busy and allow me to get them all in and settled before I started explaining my lesson, and save having to repeat myself!

This idea only came up because I was shopping in my local kmart, and spotted these mandala canvases. Since I'm teaching them all how to measure and plan a mandala drawing of their own, they don't need these "colour-ins" do they?

Why would a good art teacher, who really knows how to teach kids how to draw and paint, supply her little art students with a colouring in activity?!

Well, I figured that for the price of $4 I could buy at least 1 to show them what's available at kmart for cheap, but also to refer to a larger outline mandala like this, with no colour, and discuss how this mandala could so change it's look and feel/vibe depending on the colours used.  

I decided to grab the Paint Markers just to see if they might be any good, as I have been often times let down by my expensive as Posca paint pens.  So, for the price of one quality Posca pen, I got a whole pack at Kmart..... 

Well, I just love them.  
And so do the students.  
And I got a much added BONUS!

I discovered something really really beautiful (beyond the price of these 2 products used together!) And this is why I'm sharing this with you, so that you can get this cool vibe at home!

LOVE, COLLABORATION, PRIDE, CREATIVITY, DISCOVERY, INCLUSIVENESS, MEMORIES, AND MINDFULNESS!

My students fully embraced the sharing of this ONE MANDALA!  40 students have had a hand in this. If even just for a minute or so at time, they all remember the bits they've added.  

Originally I thought I would do a give away at the end of term, and one of the students could get to take this home, but now that I've felt the love vibes off of it, I think it would be best to keep it here in the studio as a memory of my lovely 2021 All Smilez kids.

So, my message to you dear parents, or grandparents, or whoever is reading this:

This is a wonderful activity to try at home with your family.  It's something that you could do in pairs while chatting, working together to turn and complete your chosen detail all the way around.  It's something that can worked on bit by bit over time.  It's something that everyone can add on to, even if it's just some little stippled dots like we've done in black. 

It's something awesome to have at the bach over summer, getting the whole extended family to add to. The collaboration of it is what makes it a special keepsake. It's what gives it the beautiful love vibes, and each artist who adds to it will remember the calming, mindful act of the colouring-in areas they've done.

So special.  And so affordable.  Mandala stretched canvas $4, Paint marker $9 for the set.  Both from Kmart.

Do you think this is something you'll do? Have you got other collaborate art ideas to share? Comment below and let me know. :)