Be the Artist Archives

Be the Artist: The Amazing Creatures of Ray Harryhausen

September 3, 2022September 2, 2022Lisa Tate

Ray Harryhausen’s wonderful stop-motion fantasy creatures still influence animators today. Here’s an interactive project inspired by his work.

Awaken Your Inner Muse With an Easy ‘Xanadu’-Inspired DIY

August 23, 2022August 22, 2022Lisa Tate

Celebrate the colorful neon style of the early ’80s with this family-friendly and “A-Muse-ing” ‘Xanadu’-inspired project.

Be the Artist: The Groundbreaking World of Jackie Ormes

August 16, 2022August 15, 2022Lisa Tate

Jackie Ormes was the first female African American to be nationally syndicated, and she used her characters to bring her own voice to life.

Be the Artist: Charles Schulz and His Charlie Brown

July 31, 2022July 30, 2022Lisa Tate

Charles Schulz used his alter ego, Charlie Brown, to turn the ups and downs of childhood into a comic strip loved around the world.

Be the Artist: The Infinite Dots of Yayoi Kusama

July 17, 2022July 16, 2022Lisa Tate

Yayoi Kusama took on the art world one dot at a time. Try this family-friendly way of celebrating her famous Infinity Rooms.

Be the Artist: Who Was Ub Iwerks?

July 2, 2022July 2, 2022Lisa Tate

Ub Iwerks was not as famous as Walt Disney, but he helped create the most iconic character in animation. Let’s create a “mouse” of our own.

Be the Artist: The Macabre Magic of Tim Burton

June 19, 2022June 18, 2022Lisa Tate

Tim Burton has created darkly unique worlds for 40 years. This family project will build worlds and characters on simple paper napkins.

Be the Artist: The Giant “Small World” of Mary Blair

June 5, 2022June 4, 2022Lisa Tate

Mary Blair was a driving force behind the famous Disney attraction “It’s A Small World.” Here’s a project to add her look to your own world.

Be the Artist: the Mind’s Eye of Automatism and Allover Painting

September 13, 2021September 12, 2021Lisa Tate

Let your mind open up to create some surreal and imaginative creations with Allover painting and Automic Drawing

Be the Artist: The Vibrant World of the Fauvists

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021Lisa Tate

A pair of artists first created their “wild beasts” in the early 1900s. Try this fauvism inspired DIY to make familiar heroes even wilder.

Be the Artist: Making Nostalgic Memories with Ephemera

June 21, 2021June 20, 2021Lisa Tate

Ephemera is something created to be temporary. Use some of the these old paper items to create some memories from a another universe.

Be the Artist: Storytelling With Storyboards

September 6, 2020September 5, 2020Lisa Tate2

Storyboards are important for driving the look of a script or story. Try creating one to help bring a book or story to the “big screen.”

Be the Artist: Art of the Album Cover

August 30, 2020August 29, 2020Lisa Tate

Since the early years of vinyl, a good album cover design could define a band, music genre, or era. Now use them to define the soundtrack of a book.

Be the Artist: The Art of the Road Sign

August 16, 2020August 15, 2020Lisa Tate

Road signs may be practical, but there is a design element behind them. Take these to fictional worlds with an easy cardboard project.

Be the Artist: The Movie Poster Designs of Saul Bass

August 2, 2020Lisa Tate

Saul Bass used minimalism and simple designs to help tell a story. Use his style to tell a story from your own everyday life.

Be the Artist: Election Year Political Buttons

July 20, 2020Lisa Tate

Political buttons have been a part of every election year since the mid-1800s and before. Take this design concept to another world.

Be the Artist: War Time Propaganda Posters

July 6, 2020July 5, 2020Lisa Tate

Propaganda art has been part of many battles from all over the world throughout history. Design a couple for a famous fictional war.

Be the Artist: Storytelling with Rorschach Inspired Inkblots

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020Lisa Tate

Hermann Rorschach loved art and people’s perception of it long before he got into medicine. What stories do your own “inkblot” designs reveal?

Be the Artist: Messages and Meanings in Quilts

June 7, 2020June 6, 2020Lisa Tate

Quilts are parts of family, activism, memories, and celebration. This quilt-style collage project lets how to tell these visual stories.

Time for Be the Artist 2020: Art With a Purpose

May 31, 2020May 30, 2020Lisa Tate1

All art has a purpose. This summer’s Be the Artist looks at works of art created for specific reasons.