WELCOME

Welcome to Artful Mommy! I'm Monica Lee, an art teacher and artist. I created this space to share projects and activities that will foster creativity at home, and at school.

Scroll down for inspiration! Or check out my paintings here.

Fourth Grade Abstract Trees in Oil Pastel

This was SUCH a fun and successful project. I introduced my fourth graders to the abstract art of Wassily Kandinsky. Kandinsky is most...

ArtfulMommy

Feb 29, 20242 min read

First Grade Colorful Bug Illustrations

Coming up with projects for the first graders is always the most challenging for me. I avoid crafts and draw alongs. Instead I focus on...

ArtfulMommy

Feb 23, 20243 min read

Painting to music, a fun and engaging elementary and high school art Project!

This art project is based on the art of Wassily Kandinsky and the children's book "The Noisy Paintbox." This is a fun project for grades...

ArtfulMommy

Jan 18, 20243 min read

Why I don't do draw alongs and what I do instead.

Draw alongs became very popular during the covid lockdown. Lot's of teachers and kids discovered draw alongs for the first time. Many...

ArtfulMommy

Aug 31, 20232 min read

The best First Grade art project ever!

Sometimes you do a project with your students that is just so perfect for their age level and ability that everybody is happy with the...

ArtfulMommy

Jul 10, 20233 min read

The Goal of Elementary Art

One of my biggest struggles during my first year teaching elementary art was in worrying about what the classroom teacher was going to...

ArtfulMommy

Apr 25, 20233 min read

Imaginary Landscape Chalk Drawing

Imaginary Landscape Chalk drawing. Elementary art project.

ArtfulMommy

Mar 17, 20233 min read

How to teach Elementary Art. Tips, tricks and everything you need to know to get started!

I was a high school art teacher for 14 years, and I loved it. We would spend days, sometimes weeks working on projects. The sky was the...

ArtfulMommy

Jun 24, 202216 min read

Painted Leaf Wreaths

A few months ago I took the job of Art teacher at my kids elementary school. Needless to say, it has been a very busy and fun transition...

ArtfulMommy

Nov 18, 20212 min read

Just let kids paint! Free Painting!

Here is my favorite creative activity that we continue to go back to again and again at our house. Free painting. Free painting allows...

ArtfulMommy

Aug 20, 20213 min read

Last Minute Easter Egg Craft!

After over 15 years of living in or near the city of San Diego, we recently moved to the suburbs! It was a very busy and stressful few...

ArtfulMommy

Apr 2, 20212 min read

Little egg carton gardens!

I usually write about art projects, but today I want to share my favorite activity that we have done this school year, and it's a...

ArtfulMommy

Nov 9, 20204 min read

Watercolor Paper Fans!

My pod of first graders have approximately three zooms each morning, and after the zooms we usually play learning games or do an art projec

ArtfulMommy

Sep 30, 20203 min read

Reflected Name Drawing, a fun first day of school drawing activity!

Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his journals using mirror writing? He wrote from right to left and it could only be read...

ArtfulMommy

Sep 9, 20203 min read

Preparing for back to school, creating a Specialists Pod!

I've spent the past few weeks setting up a small classroom in my backyard. What I'm thinking is I can offer an in person Art class to a smal

ArtfulMommy

Jul 30, 20206 min read

Fun, creative Spring Break activities for little kids!

This week is officially Spring Break for us. If you are social distancing like we are you are probably looking for easy activities you can d

ArtfulMommy

Mar 31, 20203 min read

Fun creative activities to keep your kids busy during the Corona Virus shutdown!

Today we got word that all San Diego Unified Schools will be closed until April 6th. On top of that every extracurricular activity has...

ArtfulMommy

Mar 13, 20202 min read

Being a Brave Artist!

Lately my favorite day of the week is Thursday. That's because on Thursday my daughter gets out of school early, and my son is still in...

ArtfulMommy

Feb 13, 20202 min read

Styrofoam Printmaking for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, that means it's time for Valentine's themed art projects. Kids both young and old love...

ArtfulMommy

Jan 27, 20203 min read

Windows and sky color!

The days are much shorter and we are seeing more sunsets before bedtime here in San Diego. Sunsets make me think of the beautiful...

ArtfulMommy

Nov 12, 20193 min read