Arts and crafts for grown ups
May 5, 2020
3 min read
Being creative is good for your wellbeing. While we often envisage ourselves self-publishing a debut novel, or learning the art of Japanese shibori, in reality without a brief or any type of deadline, it’s easy for creative projects to stall. Now though, thanks to a number of virtual creative projects and prizes, we’re suddenly feeling motivated again. Add this to the widely documented therapeutic effects of arts and crafts and it’s never been a better time to roll up your shirt sleeves. Here are just a few of the projects we recommend…
Channel your inner Warhol
Unleash your arty potential with the help of #noelsartclub. Each Saturday at 3pm the presenter/artist/comedian Noel Fielding delivers a weekly brief via Twitter along with a side order of off-beat humour that’s certain to lift your spirits, if nothing else. You have two hours to complete the challenge and upload your creation, so coloured pencils poised! Or if you’re itching to throw some shapes head to Tate’s YouTube channel for a 15-minute tutorial on How to Make a Pot Like Grayson Perry with the help of ceramicist Freya Bramble-Carter – you will need quite specific materials for this one, but most of the kit is available to order online.
A new arts prize for the over 70s
Do you have relatives that need a little motivation boost? The perfect way to focus the mind, introduce them to this initiative. So-called in reference to the fact that William Shakespeare wrote parts of King Lear while on lockdown from the plague all those years ago, The King Lear Prizes is a new creative competition for the over 70s and spans literature, art, music and poetry. The closing date is the end of May, so you still have time. Find out more about the categories and ways to enter here.
Nurture with nature
Want to get creative but all out of supplies? Try this handy online workshop from Michelle of Roxwell Press who makes her own watercolour paint out of plants. For a more practical project, you could make your own reusable beeswax food wraps – an eco-friendly alternative to plastic film. This ultra easy project comes courtesy of My Poppet Makes and all you need is some clean cotton fabric, a natural beeswax bar, some baking paper and an iron. Go!
Here's one we made earlier
There are literally thousands of craft projects for kids online, but if you’re feeling lost amidst a sea of tissue paper and PVA, we’ve handpicked a few projects that grown ups might like too. First up, we’ve been enjoying Anna and Arji’s Watch, Make & Do projects over at A Line Art. When they’re not in lockdown mode, artist Anna and poet Arji create fantastic interactive theatre shows for children and adults but until normal service resumes, they’re taking their talents online to help arty types large and small fulfil their creative potential. Or how about the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft’s virtual events for children and adults of all ages? Highlights of their #CreateToRelate programme include a masterclass on colour collecting hosted by artist Phillipa Stanton aka @5ftinf and a weekly virtual museum hang out for kids every Tuesday.