Throughout the years, I have tried various means of keeping up with art supplies. When the kids were younger, the paper, washable markers, crayons, glue sticks, and little scissors were kept tidy on a shelf in the pantry. As they grew older and our art lessons branched into paints, watercolors, chalk pastels, oil pastels, etc., the collection of paper and supplies outgrew the available space in the pantry. We needed something else, something organized and mobile. I purchased a three-tier cart, and have not looked back.
Three tiered carts are everywhere: Ikea, Target, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Amazon. Usually they are metal, have wheels, come in a variety of colors, and in the $25-$40 range.
Our current art cart holds watercolor paper, multimedia paper, tracing paper, flat canvases, nice water colors, craft acrylic paints, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, a variety of brushes, oil pastel, chalk pastels, Mod Podge, rulers, Sharpies, spray fixative, and more. If it looks like a big mess, that is because it is. As many times as I straighten it, supplies are pulled for projects and then crammed back in by hasty teenagers. As long as they can find what they need without intervention and the cart can be rolled without things falling off, I have learned to live with it. However, if needed, I can roll it into a closet and out of sight.
Our art cart sits in our breakfast room, easily reached from the table. It is sometimes rolled into the front dining room, which we use as a homeschool room. There really is no point in keeping it in a closet, as it is frequently used and takes up little space in the corner where it sits. But just like the white board and maps in our front dining room, the art cart is another fixture in our house that is a testament to the daily presence of learning in our home. And with easy access to supplies, my kids are often engaged in art projects for their own enjoyment or art competitions outside of school.
Your assignment: Take a look at your art supplies for your classroom. Are they shoved far back in a closet where it is hard for students to access them? Is it discouraging them from creative work because it is a hassle to pull out and put away the needed paints, brushes, and paper? Could you use an easy to use, semi-organized, small footprint storage solution? Evaluate how an art cart could benefit the creative endeavors and lessons in your homeschool or classroom.
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