Children Art Workshop
Let’s create papier mache sculptures! (Photos of bird papier mache sculpture and swimming below courtesy of John Cope, Stratton ABC Foundation. Smiling girl with her creations – photo by Li Li Tan) ArtSpeak.org conducted a papier mache workshop for the children of Stratton ABC Foundation yesterday at their home in Saraphi (Chiang Mai. It was [...]
KHF Indoor Wall Mural: More Photos
ArtSpeak.org’s volunteer, Nicôle Rossetti le Strange took photos of the mural painting yesterday. Thanks Nicôle! Note: the mural drawing and painting took about 1.5 days from start to finish.
Papier Mache Art
Above: Papier mache art by artist Li Li Tan (Gallery of Dreams & Colours and director of ArtSpeak.org) ArtSpeak will be at Stratton ABC Foundation (Saraphi, Chiang Mai) on 12 May 2012 to teach the children there how to make papier mache sculptures. Thank you to K. Poon for offering to teach the children some [...]
Indoor Mural For Children’s Room
ArtSpeak.org worked with 11 lovely children attending the Smile Holidays Project to paint mural for a new children’s room at Kids Home Foundation. The children’s ages ranged from 6 – 11years old. Also check out the album and other photos on our FB page.
Children’s Scrapbooks, Stories and Postcards
Art & Craft Activities by ArtSpeak.org at Kids Home Foundation‘s Smile Holidays Project More fun art and craft activity for children led by the wonderfully talented and lovely ArtSpeak.org volunteer, K. Poon. See slideshow below and photos on our FB page.
Children’s Art Activity: Papier Mache Animals and Such
Papier Mache Art Activity With Kids Home Foundation Children Art Class 1: Here are some of the papier mache armatures and base made by the children attending the Smile Holidays Project at Kids Home Foundation. Activity led by artist Li Li Tan (from ArtSpeak.org and Gallery of Dreams and Colours) with the help of volunteers, [...]
Spontaneous Art Installation
Watch the youtube video below for a spontaneous art installation with the children of Stratton ABC Foundation. Great fun! The T-shirt is up for auction. The money will go directly to Stratton. You may also wish to consider donating the tee to Stratton because the children really love it! Contact ArtSpeak or John Cope at [...]
More Paintings on the Walls!
My friends, Kaitlyn Rhyme, Jessica Gould and Kimberly Bryant came along to Mae Sot to help with painting murals on more walls at Mother Josefa Alzua Home on 26 Nov. The children are wonderful artists! Here are some lovely photos (by Kimberly) of that enjoyable day.

ArtSpeak has started art activities for Kids Home Foundation‘s Smile Holidays Project (26 Mar – 11 May 2012). Am really grateful and thankful to have wonderful volunteers helping out. I can’t say enough thank you’s to Nicôle Rossetti le Strange, K. Jo Tatun, K. Poon and Karlee Jacklin for all your help so far. And of course, Stuart Anderson, get well soon!

A big thank you too to Janice Pono, Jessica Gould, Adam Sandaver, Joanna MacClean and Ronnalit N-Kham for your various contributions towards our art projects.

Here are some art pieces the children created using materials found on their nature walk (no plucking!). They worked in groups of 4 – 5 around the theme of Nature. They were also asked about the basic shapes they can see in the artwork (this will lead to the drawing of shapes/outlines for their papier mache activity next week).

Recycle and re-use when we can!

Update on ArtSpeak.org Project with Kids Home Foundation

What: Kids Home Foundation Smile Holidays Project

When: During the Thai School summer holidays, starting on 26 March to 11 May 2012, inclusively. Closed for Songkran: April 13 -16. Our art session are likely to be on the weekends, spread out between 26 Mar – 4 May. Expect about 5 sessions (eg. 1 – 2 hours per session, sorting dates/times now with the Foundation).

Where: Kids Home Foundation premises in Chiang Mai city

First of all, THANK YOU to all who have written to me via this website/blog and on ArtSpeak’s FB page with your ideas, volunteering time etc. I will contact you once I have worked out the final schedule with the Foundation (it should all be signed off by the second week of March).

Main Art Activity
(anyone with the will and passion, some free time, can help*):

ArtSpeak will conduct the following main art activity with the children cared for by the Kids Home Foundation (est. 30 children will take part):
Make papier mache animals (we may make a menagerie of animals or let the children vote on 1 ) that are fairly large sized (at least about 20 – 30inches and much larger) that are still portable for ‘traveling’ exhibitions and also a main final exhibition for the parents, friends of the children and the public to enjoy and learn more about what Kids Home does.

We hope to work together with the children to create a large-sized papier mache sculpture towards the end of the project.

The children will learn how to recycle everyday things like newspapers and cardboard boxes. They will work together in groups to make, paint and adorn their creations in their unique styles (paint, fabric wraps etc).

Materials needed for above

Used large salad bowls and pots for mixing paste, ladles, whisk or short branches
Flour
Glue
A lot of old newspapers plus those pesky newsprint brochures you get in the post
Rolls of masking tape
Pairs of scissors (I have 2 pairs now, need more! you can take them back when the project is done)
Used mineral water bottles for recycling as containers for paints and water
Cardboard boxes
Cardboard paper towel, tissue/toilet roll tubes
3 tubs of water-based white wall paint, Acrylic or tempera paints and paintbrushes (new or old as long as there are usable)
Sponges and rags for cleaning
Glossy varnish to protect the painted artwork

Other Possible Concurrent Activities:

There may also be a few other smaller projects (eg. painting T-shirts, used glass bottles & making clay animals).

Materials needed for above

Plain T-shirts (prefer children sizes or small to medium)
Fabric paint & paint fastener to protect fabrics
Clay
Used glass bottles
Used mineral water bottles for recycling as containers for paints and water
Paint brushes
Tempera or acrylic paint, paintbrushes
Cardboard

Please contact me (Li Li) if you want to donate materials or help, entertain or perform for the children (singing, music, magic shows). THANK YOU!

*To protect the children, all volunteers will need to give Kids Home Foundation a copy of their ID or passport and fill up a simple form. Thank you.

Volunteers And Art Materials Needed

for Upcoming Project in Chiang Mai between March & April 2012

ArtSpeak working with children from Hilltribe In The City

ArtSpeak.org with volunteers: working with children from Hilltribe In The City (previous project). Photo by Stu.

ArtSpeak.org is planning a series of creative activities for Kids Home Foundation (Chiang Mai) during the Thai schools’ 1-month summer holidays (tentatively bewteen 22 Mar – 22 Apr, exact dates to be confirmed). This is for their Smile Holidays Project to keep approximately 30 migrant children gainfully occupied during their school holidays. What better way than to have fun with art?

Details about exact dates/times/place (probably school premises at Wat Jed Yod, Superhighway, not far from Nimmanhaemin Road/Huay Kaew Road). Details are being worked out but I would like to first share some thoughts on what the project may need and how you can contribute:

a. Activities once or twice a week during that period (between 9 – 5pm)

- painting on cards/small canvases/glass bottles (portable, simple, not too time-consuming for children with short attention spans);

- origami crane making (there is now one volunteer, more are welcome);

- making clay figures

- t-shirt painting

- making costume jewellery or other ‘simple’ handicraft

- may also have a magic show by a friend at some point.

We don’t have to do all activities at once in a day; we can rotate them within the month within the day. Each activity can be in blocks of 1 – 2 hours (more or less) throughout the day. Flexible hours/time: to be worked out with volunteers.

b. What we need

- Volunteers for the activities above or anyone with some creative ability to teach drawing/painting/sculpting/origami and so on (suggestions are welcome!) AND/OR anyone with time on their hands and want to work (and play) with children for a while. You don’t have to be an artist to help; just need people with a little free time, commitment, passion and the will to help underprivileged children have some creative fun.

- Art materials such as

fabric paint, clay, acrylic paint, watercolours, colourful paper, small canvases or hard matte cards/paper (eg. 15cm x 10cm or slightly bigger), drawing paper, jam/coffee/glass bottles that can be recycled as vases/colourful coin containers etc (anything imaginative!), paint brushes (various sizes), plain t-shirts, colour pencils etc (they don’t have to be new; just in good condition and useable).

If you can help in any way, please contact me here. Do check our FB page for updates too. A BIG THANK YOU!!

Kimberly Bryant not only helped ArtSpeak with the painting project on 17 Dec at Hilltribe In The City* but also took some cool photos as well. Thanks Kimberly!

NOTE (13 MAY 2012): THE ORGANIZATION IS NOW KNOWN AS HEARTFELT THAILAND, RUN BY GRIEG PHILPOT.

Photo of children's paintings by Stuart Skversky

ArtSpeak spent 2 delightful afternoons with the children of Hilltribe In The City* drawing with colour pencils, painting on wood and canvas on 17 and 18 Dec. Thank you to the lively children and founders, Greig and Stu, for a fun time.

Thanks to all who donated money towards the cost of the brushes and paints as well as those who donated in kind (Stuart Anderson, John Pellegrino, Akha Ama Coffee, Martin, Robyn Stewart). Thanks you also to Ally Taylor (for helping with the Foundation’s website) and of course Jessica Gould, Kimberly Bryant and Tom Cannon for your time and help on Saturday.