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When you’re little, the best thing about art is that it’s fun. Here’s an easy way to create interesting designs that older children can develop to produce trees and background effects for other drawings.
You need paper, diluted paint or food colouring, and a straw. Tip a big drop of colour onto the paper and blow through the straw to send lines outwards. Experiment with the angle of the straw to control where the ‘branches’ go. Try adding a second colour.
Dr Toni Risson is a storyteller and a cultural historian who has penned everything from children’s picture books to a PhD on the Magic of Lollies. An expert on the Greek cafe phenomenon, Toni curated Meet Me at the Paragon for the State Library of Queensland, and her latest book, Brisbane’s Greek Cafes: A Million Malted Milks, was a finalist in the 2019 Queensland Literary Awards. Having encountered the elegant Paragon Cafe in Katoomba as a child, Toni developed a fascination with silky oak panelling, bevelled mirrors and Art Deco wall lights long before she understood the stories behind Australia's iconic Greek cafe. She continues to document our lost café culture. View more posts
how to play with kids