About Me
Hi. My name is Jean Van’t Hul. I live with my husband and two daughters in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Please feel free to contact me at jevanthul@yahoo.com. I try to respond to e-mails and comments, but am not always good about keeping up on them. I do read and appreciate them all however!
My Art Background:
I drew and painted my way through childhood, then went on to study art history and studio art at Wellesley College. My first jobs out of college were at an art museum and an art magazine, although I later left the art world to work in nonprofit development.
The Toddler Art Group:
After my daughter was born, my interest in art was revitalized and I realized that I wanted to raise her in an art-rich environment and to encourage her creativity and imagination as much as possible. I read Young at Art by Susan Striker and First Art by MaryAnn F. Kohl, and thus guided by their ideas, I started the Toddler Art Group with several other moms and their toddlers. Although I recently stopped the art group, we met weekly for two years and again this past summer, doing everything from body painting and paper maché bowls to printing with flowers and making wood scrap sculptures. We’ve also returned to the basics (painting, drawing, and collaging) again and again.
For more about the Toddler Art Group, see FamilyFun’s profile (April 2009) or my Mothering magazine article, “Small Hands, Big Art” (Jul/Aug 2007). And if you are interested in starting your own group, here are some tips.
Why Blog?
I started The Artful Parent partly to chronicle and share the art experiences we had with the art group, and also as a way for me to focus more on what it means to me to be an artful parent. I want to parent in a way that encourages creative expression, imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning, not just in Maia but in our entire family. I welcome you to join me as I attempt to be an artful parent…
For more about me, you can also check out my interview at ohdeedoh or my interview on Creative Construction.
Hi! My name is Jean and I am mama to two daughters -- a four year old and a newborn. I'm trying to parent in a way that encourages creative expression, imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning. Thanks for visiting!
Sarah said
Hi Jean! It’s Sarah from the bakery. I just found your blog through a link on parent hacks. I was reading the post on the top 10 toddler art supplies and noticed Maia’s name and clicked on about Jean because I wondered if it was you. You’ve got a great blog!
Bobbi said
Have you done any kind of art projects in the bath tub?
Henry enjoys his baths, but I can always use new ideas for ways to make it fun. I’ve seen the bathtub crayons but wondered how well they work, their toxicity, and if they would stain our old clawfoot tub.
Maybe somehow use food coloring in a fun way? Any ideas???
sleepinghill said
This is wonderful! I have sent the link to friends and posted the link on my blogroll. If that is not okay let me know please.
MamaBird said
I’ve been making paper with my daughter using a blender and our recycling bin — any tips on making paper that is usable for artwork? The paper we made is interesting but too stiff and crunchy for her to use for drawing or painting. Thanks!
coastalgirl said
Hi there,
I just found your blog today….what a wonderful resource you have started here! Have you ever used these?:
http://coastalgirl.typepad.com/coastalgirl/2008/02/nature-box.html
Krista
Hetha said
I just found your blog today and I love it! I’m so excited to get started with my 2 year old little boy. Thanks for putting all of these great resources together!
Julie said
Hi Jean-
I love your blog! I used to teach pre-school and kindergarten and now I am at home with our three children creating beautiful art! I have tried to contact you through your e-mail and it has not worked. I wanted to talk to you about exchanging links. Maybe you could contact me?
thanks-
Julie
Montessori Mama said
Great Blog ! I lead a toddler art group too (on the East coast)
Thanks for sharing of yourself with us all.
PEACE
Jennifer
aka Montessori Mama
kneek said
I just discovered your blog when browsing through my blog stats. Thanks for the link. It has been hard to get the writing mojo up, but seeing your site has inspired me to write about the everyday art in our lives. There is a post brewing right now. Keep up the great writing.
Leah
Jill said
Hi there,
My daughter is 19 months old, and I love your ideas and photos. I also have an arts background and look forward to incorporating that pre-mama me into creatively parenting and enjoying art with my little pumpkin. I also love how you take Maia’s dreamy wishes and make them into reality. I mean, why not chocolate cake and blue balloons!! I look forward to checking back in to see what you’re up to.
take good care,
Jill
Baltimore, MD
Gretchen said
I am so excited to find your blog! I have been looking for more direction in how to guide my 3 year old into an appreciation of art and creative expression.
Cheers,
Gretchen
Colorado
Brooke said
Thanks very much for your posts & images. As an pre-school to kindergarten art educator I love being reminded and inspired of what children can create at home, and for play. It is fantastic. It also reminds me to be a better artful parent myself (right now my 4yr. old & 6 yr. old are at their easels!) Kudos.
Liisa said
Just found your blog and look forward to following the art ideas with my two year old. Thank you for the ideas and inspirations! I have to ask, where you came up with the name/spelling of your daughter’s name? My daughter’s name is Maia as well, was excited to see the name. We named her after my favorite Finnish fabric designer Maija Isola, Marimekko. We dropped the ‘j’ in an effort to not make it completely non-readable.
My Handmade Journey: A Great Book and Reconstructed Shorts « Simple Things said
[...] Jean, over at the Artful Parent blog, has frequently sung the praises of The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections (Trumpeter Books, 200 by Amanda Blake Soule. On Saturday, during my weekly trip to the local library, I was browsing the new books and, to my delight, I found this little gem of a book! I immediately snatched it up, and the only thing that disappoints me about The Creative Family is that I will have to eventually return it to the library! I wish I could keep it forever. I guess I’ll have to head over to Amazon! [...]
Leah said
Hi Jean-
My sister forwarded your blog to me. I was so inspired by it. I will be holding a pre-school art camp beginning in the fall and your blog has given me great ideas and references to plow ahead. I look forward to reading …
Thanks,
Leah
Angola, IN
Monique said
Jean,
Your blog is one of my favorites. I am always looking for new books or art projects for my little ones. You are a woman after my own heart. Thanks so much – we can’t wait to paint with marbles tomorrow!!
april said
I was so excited to discover your blog. I can’t wait to try out some of your art projects with my boys (age 5 and 7). I am also a WNC mom doing my best to raise my boys “artfully.” A couple of favorite activities I’ve done with the boys have been melting crayons to make “crayon cookies” and making stuffed creatures using their drawings as templates. Thanks for sharing!
jessie starbuck said
hello jean,
i just opened a toy lending library and parent support center within the housing authority of columbia, missouri. i’ve been looking at your blog for good art ideas that i could do with moms and children- many of whom are experiencing high levels of stress. i really love the interview section of your blog and your creative ideas.
thank you for taking the time to put your ideas out in the world.
–jessie
tasha said
your blog is so inspiring. i am a lifelong artist, who could not wait for my son to begin creatively expressing himself… art is one of his most loved things. thank you so much for creating this incredible, beautiful, inspiring site.
Sarah said
hi there!
sarah may
what a great blog! thank you for your efforts and work! i will definitely be reading this!
i am a mom, a public school art teacher and have my own small tshirt business. i create tshirts printed with my own original artwork. i’d love it if you could check it out!
anyhow, keep up the great work!
http://www.monsterinthecloset.net
Elise said
I’m excited to find your blog too (via Camp Creek and Lori’s interview with you)! I am very new to blogging, but am enjoying the process and am very inspired by your work. Thank you!
Elise
http://yoyoreggio.blogspot.com
Aktivnosti za ceo mesec! - Škrabalica said
[...] Mama Jean sa Artful parent bloga je za aktuelni mesec sakupula 31 aktivnost koje će njena ćera moći da bira. Tu su zastupljene i spoljne i kućne aktivnosti. Verujem da ćete naći nešto zanimljivo. Ima stvari koje ste i ovde viđali, ali ima i novih. No one prve ponovite ukoliko mališan to želi, mi imamo već pozamašan broj papir-maše činija. Poslednja je nastala od salveta koje su ostale posle pravljena šarenog svećnjaka sa Jeanine liste, a po upustvu sa sajta Education. Oba zadatka zahtevaju seckanje i lepljenje tako da nema sumnje da će se mali stvaralac zabaviti, a i vi sa njim! [...]
Kent said
Congrats on your story in Family Fun magazine! I am a SAHM of 3 creative kids (ages 6,4.5 and 2.5) and recently received a Grassroots Arts Program grant from the state to have art sessions in our local park. There will be over 200 ARTSCAPERS! (artists ages 1-8) creating their own masterpieces! Thanks for your blog and wonderful insight.
Toddler Time in the Studio « paintchips & cupcakes said
[...] still had a blast and look forward to letting her explore with more fun things!! Thanks again Jean for the inspiration! Comments [...]
Ann said
Hi Jean, I found your blog via Stumbleupon, and have to say, great blog! I used to be a preschool teacher, and understand the importance and great benefits of creative expressions.
Your blog sure inspires me to do more!
Cheers!
Ann
Mary Ann Athens said
My friend Jeannie Robinette told me about your blog – I am teaching summer art classes for young people once again this summer and would love to buy some of your art supply finds if you have extras! Please let me know and thanks for doing this beautiful record of your child’s visual art experiences.
MA
Rachel said
Jean,
I have been reading your blog for over a month now and I’ve even linked to your blog from mine. I am working on setting up a hosted blog on wordpress, and I’d like to allow my readers to opt for email updates, just like they can on your blog. Can you contact me to let me know how you were able to set that up? I’m sorry to bother you, and hope you can help!
Thanks
Rachel