Our Blog

Are you looking to further your artistic knowledge or become a better art teacher? Our blog posts are well researched and based on facts for students, teachers, parents or anyone looking to further their artistic knowledge. Put on the kettle and enjoy the reading...

Should kids learn to draw with a digital device?

How much time young people spend looking at a screen is controversial, to say the least. So the consideration of whether to allow, even encourage, children to use digital technologies for drawing will be based on our perceptions of the importance of these skills, an understanding of the...

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How can learning to draw help with learning to write?

We learn by observing, experimenting, exploring, making mistakes, and through explicit teaching.

Making the first marks

What a joy to watch the delight on a toddler’s face when they see the marks they make with a crayon on paper. Can I do that again?! How we react as viewers has an impact...

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Why do we think something is beautiful?

How do we reflect on our own artwork and respond to art created by others? What is it that results in us experiencing beauty? This questioning and wondering is often referred to as aesthetics: the theory of art and beauty. If something is referred to as aesthetic, it is seen as pleasing to...

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Surfaces, Surfaces

Creating your art on different surfaces.

When we record our ArtEyeDeer videos, we’re conscious of keeping the surfaces that you make your artworks on accessible.

By surfaces, we’re predominantly referring to paper, but from time to time, we like to introduce related surfaces...

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Creating a Primary Visual Arts Curriculum for Home or Classroom

The full curriculum in The Arts can cover Media Arts, Drama, Dance and Music, as well as Visual Arts. The focus here is to consider how Visual Arts can be taught across other curriculum areas as well as a standalone subject. Whether you are a classroom teacher or home educator, trying to fit in...

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Material Matters

Does the quality of the materials you use to make artworks matter?

The answer is a surprising “Yes” and “No”!

As far as possible, it’s always better to purchase once, and purchase well. But it’s also equally important to realise that good materials require...

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Art Supplies on a Shoestring

Art draws on tools and materials. The tools might be our hands and the materials, sand. The artwork might be a hobby, a lesson or a career. Providing our children at home, or our students at school, with diverse opportunities to develop their artistic skills can be expensive, but does not need to...

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Website Launch: Welcome to Art Eye Deer

Lift Off!

I can’t believe we’re finally launching Art Eye Deer!

In 2007 I sat with one of my best friends in Sydney and she asked me “if you could do anything in the world, what would you do?” and I responded with “I would teach art to kids all over the...

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Camping with kids, 5 things to do!

Camping is an awesome experience to give to all kids. Here are 5 things we did over the weekend with our kids while camping to keep them busy:

1. Collect fire wood

(Check your local fire ban rules/restrictions.) Throw on some shoes to protect from scratches and watch out for snakes (if you're...

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Involving kids in large/group artworks
Artworks by Kirsty Shadiac

Involving kids or groups of people in artworks can bring communities together and give children a sense of being part of something 'bigger' than themselves. It's one of my favourite things to do: get participants to create their own drawings or paintings and then bring...

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5 Things you will find in both Art and Maths

You might be surprised to find that art and maths actually have a lot in common. For instance, angles and patterns are found in both art and maths. Measurements are necessary in both art and maths too, but maybe they are a little bit obvious. The following list of five things you’ll find in...

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Top 10 Tips for beginning teachers teaching Art to Teens

Whether it’s your first year as an art teacher or you’re experienced at teaching art to teens, beginning a new year of art classes can be intimidating for anyone. Teenagers can be difficult to teach at times, seeming to challenge every rule. They can be disruptive, hardheaded, and...

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Tasting Australia 2018

In 2018, for the second year in a row, Tasting Australia asked Artventure to teach kids about food through art. We had over 100 kids come and join in the free activity (including the wonderful Liz Ellis and her daughter) where we created artworks inspired by our...

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15 Ways to Help Your Teenager Succeed in High School

Whether your teenager is going into high school for the first time or returning for another year, they’ll inevitably feel stress from the pressure placed on them. After all, the high school years are crucial in preparation for the university or adult years. Even if your teen has plans other...

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Managing Your Child’s Use of the Internet and Social Media

The internet and social media can open up amazing opportunities for learning, research, and forging relationships. With that said, it’s important to remember that the web is simply a tool, and it can be used in various ways. Just as with virtually any tool, the internet and social media can...

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How to Incorporate Collaboration into Your Classroom

Collaborative learning is being used in classrooms around the world in various subjects. While competitive learning, in which the student reflects more on his or her own work than that of others, can be used in art, collaborative learning gives students the opportunity to learn new skills...

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Sensory Play and the role it has in Childhood Development

Letting a child play with play dough or paint might seem like a chore for parents, caregivers and teachers who have to clean up the mess. But for the child, sensory play is making new connections in their brain while supporting overall development. Research has shown that sensory play aids in...

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11 Art Supplies You Can Make at Home with Your Kids

Art supplies can get expensive, especially when you have particularly artistic children who want to create art all the time! In this article, we’ll help you save money and make memories by making your own art supplies at home with your kids. :-)

1. Glue

You and your kids can make homemade...

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Artventure hits 10,000 little artists

Artventure grows into the next phase

Over 10,000 little artists now on board with Artventure

I believe that engaging in art positively impacts all areas of a child’s learning and boosts their confidence, motivation and pride in themselves. Many gifts come with developing creative abilities,...

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Essential Guidelines for Teaching Creativity

Creativity is on-par with any traditional skill. It can be used in learning, it can be taught, and it can be assessed. It can certainly be honed in on, even in a setting with numerous students who naturally possess varying levels of creativity. Some students present high levels of creativity that...

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The Value of Art Lessons For Those on the Autism Spectrum

If you have a loved one on the autism spectrum, then you might have been guided to art lessons. You might be wondering how art lessons will be beneficial for your child or someone else in your life on the autism spectrum, and if this investment of time and money is worth it. In this article,...

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The benefits of displaying children's artwork

Many parents hang their child’s artwork on the refrigerator, in their office, and around the home. Plus, kids love to know that their parents are hanging up their artwork. While hanging up your child’s artwork might seem like a natural thing to do, did you know there are actually...

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5 Tips for Art Teachers to Make Your Lessons Awesome

There’s nothing more rewarding that watching kids blossom through art. A great art class will leave your students with unforgettable memories and lessons learned. Children who explore art truly learn skills that they carry all of their lives! If you’re wondering how you can improve...

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5 Ways to Keep Your Kids on Task

Focus is an area that we all struggle with from time to time, and some of us struggle more with focus than others. It comes as no surprise that children are the same. The good news is that when we set good habits and continually work on focus, we can help our kids increase their focus - the same...

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