If you are interested in arts and crafts you might want to try painting tiles.  I did this in an art class on line recently, with one of my groups via zoom. They dropped off two 6″x 6″ tiles and some brushes and paint made specifically for the tiles, that can be put in a kiln.  That is an oven with very high temperatures to bake the paint on.  I’m sure that you could find the materials on line or at a craft store or one of those craft/ceramic paint shops.

One tile was for a personal design that I will keep. The second one is for a group project that will be put together for the Center. For my tile, I looked on the internet to find designs. When I found some that I liked I decsribed to my mom how I wanted it to look and she drew it on paper! 

We scribbled pencil on the back of the paper. We taped that to the tile, pencil side down, and I traced the drawing. At that point I started painting. My mom helped with the very small areas.

• 

• 

The group decided that the group tile would be an affirmation design/message. I chose the word gratitude. By chance, I checked on the internet for symbols for gratitude. It surprised me that a spiral was the universal symbol for Gratitude. Again I showed my mom some pictures and talked about what I envisioned, and she drew it! The Center is keeping the group tile and will put everyone’s together for a art mural.

• 

• 

• 

The Center picked up tiles to bring them to a ceramic shop, where it will be baked in the kiln. The paint hardens and becomes brighter and glazed. I may frame mine or use it for a hot plate. It was cool learning about how designs are hand painted on tiles. They can also be given as gifts. It was fun.  If it sounds interesting, you may to try it!  Someone dropped off my personal tile. I was happy to get it back, but really disappointed because the art teacher made black outlined markings on it. She had mentioned to the class that if anyone wanted her to do that, to send a note with the tiles. I didn’t send a note or ask her to do that, but she marked them up anyway.  It look away from the pastel look that I was going for. 

•