gift for a young illustrator

[lipskidder]

Oh and there is something about using a pencil that helps have that tactical feeling that kids need to develop. Any other supplies that would be cool to add to a packaged gift would be:

Tape (to hang art)
Magnets (to hang art)
Scissors (help them to explore doing more with their art)
Colored construction paper
Pencil Sharpener
Sketchbook (and don't let him take out the pages)
Ream of white laser paper (because loose paper is the bomb)
Ruler
A couple of activity books (to encourage the imagination)
Drawing Clip Board (when he likes to draw on the floor)

Maybe put all of these in a brand new trash can (except for the clip board) and wrap it up!

[OWC Jamie]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006I...PDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-7&pf_rd_r=0FZAKADN5PV107SG2YKJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938451&pf_rd_i=507846

and



http://www.amazon.com/Prismacolor-Oval-P...d_sim_ac_2

[freeradical]

A little bit off topic, but has anyone found a pencil sharpener that actually works?

I've tried that one that Jamie mentioned, but it just mangles those expensive colored pencils.

Is there some sort of trick to sharpening pencils now?

[mrbigstuff]

thanks, folks, that's a great start.

I'll def be buying some colored pencil sets and paper, etc. I did not previously think of the boxes but my son is uber-organized, so that is perfect.

I'll agree on the pencil sharpener conundrum; I have not been able to use the small ones of late at all. maybe I'll get an old one and mount it on the wall...

[jesse]

Micheal's carries the Prismacolor colored pencil sets, I bought the 120 color set for my daughter last Christmas. There are usually 50% off coupons in their flyer.

We also picked up a poseable mannequin , and I found a poseable cat and hand on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?u...rts-crafts&field-keywords=Poseable+Mannequin&x=0&y=0

[Mike Johnson]

My son is 8, and I can only speak from my experience with him. I'd suggest

#1 extra-soft pencils
a couple good chunky erasers, like Staetdler Mars Plastic
oil pastels (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPpxifDPLU to see a 6 year old working with them)

I know crayons and colored pencils are ubiquitous art supplies for young children. I think their popularity has to do with their price, not because they're any good for budding artists. Coloring a large swath with colored pencils is incredibly tricky, not a task for a six year old. Crayons are cute and cheap, but even Crayola brand are one-trick ponies. They let a kid draw with color, but not experiment with it.

Markers are easier than crayons, but like crayons, they're limiting.

I wish somebody would publish a coloring book that looks more like a working artist's sketchbook, so kids could grow accustomed to seeing multiple passes at a line. Never seen one, unfortunately.

[Mike Johnson]

freeradical wrote:
A little bit off topic, but has anyone found a pencil sharpener that actually works?

Palomino KUM is what the hip kids use. http://www.pencilrevolution.com/category...harpeners/

[mrbigstuff]

reviews of pencil sharpeners. huh, I should have known.

anyway, thanks for more suggestions, but as I said in the OP, no liquids allowed, as he likes to draw on the dining table which is over our expensive, century-old, Persian rug. why is our Persian rug there? you'll have to ask my wife; I have no idea.

[Winston]

Another thought: a box of sidewalk chalk for use outdoors. Our kids used to love that. Maybe with a book of images from one of those sidewalk chalk artists who do amazing creations?


Good luck.

- Winston

[Winston]

mrbigstuff wrote:
but as I said in the OP, no liquids allowed, as he likes to draw on the dining table which is over our expensive, century-old, Persian rug. why is our Persian rug there? you'll have to ask my wife; I have no idea.

Then I'd be careful with crayons and even more careful with oil pastels. They both tend to break, get dropped, and get trod upon. Not carpet friendly. Markers are somewhat better, but tend to get on hands, and then get transferred elsewhere.

Pencil erasures vacuum up fairly easily, but take that into consideration too.


Good luck.

- Winston