Fine Art Friday: Tips one cleaning up the mess

Today’s Fine Art Friday is inspired by the end of the year, messy rooms, and the yarn bomb that apparently went off in my studio this week. Really, just 4 days ago this house and studio was clean and organized, and now, well now there is STUFF everywhere.

Artists haven’t ever been accused of being “neat”, but when working with students we still need them to help to clean up. And saying the phase please clean up your mess over and over and over again, becomes tiring and annoying for everyone involved.

I’ve done lists, chore charts, made it part of their grade, made it not part of their grade, posted signs on the all, I’ve done it all. I know, you’re nodding your head in solidarity, thinking, but there has to be a better way.

And then, there was bingo. Classroom management, classroom clean up, save me from repeating the same phrase over and over again BINGO.

Because everyone likes to play a game, and everyone likes to win, so turn the whole thing into a game. Now each kids job chart becomes a bingo board. While the possibilities are endless, to help get you started I’ve created a bunch of bingo cards

If you’re doing art in your home, the bingo cards are great for that as well, below are a few other tips to making the mess, a bit less of a mess.

1. Buy a plastic table cloth, I’ve been able find them at the dollar store, for a dollar. Throw it over the table, making it easy to wipe everything off, or pick up and shake out over the trash can.

2. If your kids love paint, save egg cartons, have them pour some paint into the carton, it keeps them from getting too much out at once, and you can toss it when they’re finished.

3. Art bins, even if they themselves aren’t organized, it’s great for your kids to have some plastic bans where they can keep all of their art supplies. I also find these at the dollar store.

4. Get some large trays, and have your kids create their projects on those. Again it makes for easy wipe down, and keeps water from going everywhere if there is a spill.

5. Don’t have a ton of supplies. The more supplies the more the mess. A limited amount of supplies helps students to be more creative with what they have.