Create a Space for Art

Create a Space for Preschool Art

Creating a space for art in your early learning program will provide many opportunities for preschoolers to explore their creativity and develop artistic skill. In the Art Space, even the youngest child can learn to appreciate the beautiful designs, textures and colors that are found in art, Children will begin to develop new language that describes art, as well as explore new art processes, mediums, and tools. 

The art space provides many opportunities for children to improve their motor, sensory, language, social emotional, and cognitive development skills as they learn to create.

How much space do you have?

When you are setting up a learning space, you'll want to first determine how much space you are dedicating the area. Are you creating an intimate space for just 1-2 children to gather? Or a place for the whole group? Whether you are utilizing a portable space or have a large dedicated space for art we have you covered with inspiring ideas for a variety of spaces.

Consider a Rolling Art Cart

If you don't have a lot of space to dedicate to a separate art space, consider a portable option. A cart can be stocked with a variety of materials and rolled out of the room.  A caddy of art materials can be placed on an existing table.

Credit: A Montessori Home Daycare

Those rolling carts sure come in handy for a variety of purposes! Use one for bringing out art supplies for your preschoolers to easily access.
This method is also great for mixed age programs!

Photo Credit: Learning Ladder Art Cart

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Shelve Art Supplies

A simple shelf is great for a more permanent space to provide art supplies for your young artists.
Tasha shared this photo, I love how she has a nice variety including a stack of variety paper for preschoolers to choose from.

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If you don't have a dedicated childcare space in your home, consider dedicating a cupboard, or a hutch to your hold your art supplies.

More tips for creating learning spaces in your home

Larger Spaces

Art Space shared by Mud Pies and Butterflies

Provide children with a variety of safe art materials that are accessible to them on a daily basis. In addition to creating original works of art, children are learning how to use new art materials and learning new processes for creating art. Provide a variety of opportunities for painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture. 

If you are creating a dedicated art space, I recommend a shelf or storage unit to hold your materials. Use easy to access containers such as open containers, easy to open drawers, and baskets to store your items. When dealing with a mixed age group, provide materials that can be used independently, and store more advanced materials on a higher shelf if needed. Consider placing it near a hand washing area for ease of cleanup.

The Art Space at Ronnie's Dayhome

Kyleen S shared this art space. Love how the table is the right height for children to stand while creating and the use of plastic drawers and vertical space for storing art materials.

In addition to creating Art on Horizontal surfaces, provide opportunities for making artwork on vertical surfaces such as easels, and walls. Easels can be hung on walls, or you can invest in table top easels if you are short on space.

The Art Space at Picasso's Playhouse

For home-based learning programs a garage space is perfect for an art space! Patty T shared her art space, her presentation of materials and inviting space to create are so inspiring!

Patty T Art Space

Sweetpea Dayhome shared this art space. Such clever ways for presenting art materials! The mirror is a lovely touch.

Connir O shared this amazing art studio! So many fun opportunities to create! Love how the smocks are stored right at the entrance!

Connir O Art Studio

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Materials

Provide a variety of materials for drawing, painting, and collage. Provide new opportunities for children to experiment with art supplies. Incorporate materials that allow younger children to create art independently such as buying larger handled paintbrushes, and crayons that are are easier for small hands to hold.

Art Space shared by A Montessori Home Daycare

Love how organized this space is shared by a Montessori Dayhome. A well-organized space allows children to find the supplies they need easily.

Dawn's Daycare shared her art space, I love the variety of materials she provides including recyclables!

Dawn's Daycare Art Space

A place to dry

Having a dedicated place for drying materials is essential in early learning programs.

Imagination Childcare shared this photo. Wonderful use for the Ikea Trofast shelving! I also love the clever way for displaying art directly above. Their space for drying art is such a great idea!

The art space at Imagination Childcare

Building Blocks shared this photo, she used a scrapbook paper organizer as a drying rack. Plenty of spaces for drying those masterpieces!
The paper organizer to store a variety of papers is another great touch!

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Create an Outdoor Art Space

If your indoor space is limited, consider creating an outdoor art space! You can add an outdoor chalkboard, or attach some simple clips (to hold paper) to a fence.
See some more photos of outdoor art spaces here!

Building Blocks Family Childcare created an outdoor art studio for their preschoolers! The fence is a perfect place for storing art materials and hanging pieces to dry.

Cradles and Crayons created this wonderful clear easel for children to paint on while outdoors

Easel from Cradles and Crayons

Hanging a chalkboard outside is a great way for children to draw what they are inspired by while outdoors. Love how Melissa D repurposed a mailbox for holding the chalk!

This 4-sided outdoor easel is perfect for creating outdoors! The hangers on the inside for hanging pieces to dry are a great addition!

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Include Vertical Space

When children paint vertically it supports more than creativity, it also supports muscle development! Before children can learn proper pencil grip they need to develop essential arm muscles, painting vertically is a great workout for preschoolers!

Carmen Diaz shared this space. Love the easy access art smocks on the side! Providing crayons for children to create art vertically is a super workout for little hands!

Love this setup shared by Open Hearts Helping Hands Daycare, a wonderful space for multiple children to create! This would be a great space for creating one large piece of art as well.

Patty T included easels in her setup, love these easy wash easels!

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Create a space to display & celebrate art

Create a space to celebrate the children's art. You can use a bulletin board, hang the art using clothespins, create individual frames, use clipboards, or even use the side of your refrigerator to display their great creations!

Love how Kimberly P utilizes large clipboards for children's art! Super easy to swap out!

How about an art show? Invite families and even your community to an annual art show! celebrate their works of art, and use the opportunity to educate adults about the educational process of creating art. Putting on a community art show is also a great opportunity to advertise your program.

Pumpkin Patch shared this beautiful display! What a wonderful way to showcase children's art.

Talk to children about their art

• Discuss the materials they used the  "I see you used scissors to cut up this tissue paper, and glue to attach it to the paper
• Discuss what it looks like "I see you made long lines with your blue paint"
• Have children describe their art, and document it on the back or in a journal, "Tell me about your Art"
• Ask them questions about the process "How did you mix the paint to get that color?"
  

Use sticky notes to write down what children say about their art. When on display this will give adults a view into what the artist had in mind while creating and is also an excellent addition to a child's portfolio.

When it comes to creating learning spaces, many providers struggle with how they can accommodate a space for mixed ages. When it comes to an art space here are a few tips for creating a space for mixed ages:
1. Children in this space are learning how to use new tools. As with any new tool this will take modeling, re-direction and patience. You will need to model (while at the same time allowing children to explore) how to appropriately use these new tools. This means how much paint to use, discuss where in the room we use our tools, and how much glue to use.
2. You do not need to set out all of the items at once for free art. Choose a few items that are safest for even the youngest mobile children to explore independently and rotate the items often. Example:  markers and paper, crayons and stencils, clay and cookie cutters, Stickers and Textured Paper etc.
3. Create a space for older children to explore items individually. Provide older children with their own space to explore more advanced materials. Find opportunities throughout the day (such as times when younger children are napping) were older children can explore new mediums. Whenever possible shadow the younger children, while allowing the older children to be more independent.
4. Safe doesn't mean clean. Art is going to be messy. There are many ways you can prepare so that you can limit the mess and keep it manageable for your group.

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Creating a space for mixed ages

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20+ ways to introduce process art in your childcare program

Preschool Art and Creativity Ideas