Artists-in-residence at the Arts Council of Lake Oswego’s Family Art Making program display their masterpieces.

Imagine if you could have all the fun of doing an art project with your child without all of the mess!

Thanks to the Arts Council of Lake Oswego’s Family Art Making Program, you can.

The program was started in mid-2017 shortly after Kelsey Ferreira joined the Arts Council as the Public Art and Program Manager. “I come from a museum education background and love to see kids creating and making art in our gallery space,” she explains.

Last year over 200 budding artists and their families took part in the program. Ferreira tries to tie projects in with what’s being exhibited in the 510 Museum. Past masterpieces have included Picasso inspired paper faces, valentine collages and printmaking techniques.

Some of Ferreira’s favorite moments in the program are when “kids just create, get messy, and interpret the project in their own ways.” A recent glitter activity was a big hit with both the kids (who could glue with abandon) and parents (who didn’t have to clean up!)

Family Art Making is geared towards kids 3-8, but younger or older siblings are welcome to make it manageable for parents’ schedules. It is held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the last three Thursdays of the month with updates on the Council’s website and Facebook pages. All supplies are provided; however a $5 donation is suggested to cover the cost of materials. Registration is not currently required.

Here are the remaining April projects scheduled:

Earth Day Muffin Tin Prints on April 19. This one has kids painting the bottoms of muffin tins—see why you want to do this at their place and not yours?!

Springtime Cardboard Flowers on April 26.

Check the website for May’s calendar.

Support the Arts Council of Lake Oswego by attending their annual fundraiser: Art in the Garden on Saturday, May 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Tumwater Vineyard in West Linn. Food will be catered by Nicoletta’s and the evening will feature a silent and live auction. Tickets are $95 and available online.

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