Maria Gusat is just one of dozens of kids figuring out ways to let their creative juices flow.
"I like to make sculptures out of things that I can reuse," Gusat said. "Like Mr. Dusty who makes sculptures out of everything he finds."
Yes.
The Cajun Picasso himself.
"During these times when we have time away from others we can really reflect," Dusty Reed, aka the Cajun Picasso, said. "We cam use that in a positive way and make something creative. It's a wonderful thing. I can't wait to see peoples artwork in the coming months. It's going to be amazing."
Little things, Reed said, that would normally be disregarded can turn into wonderful pieces of art.
"I open a coke or water bottle and I'm not thinking about what's inside," Reed explained. "I'm thinking this will make a good eyeball. Something that will make something from nothing."
For Artist Margo Baker, wife of KATC's Dave Baker, said that while being creative is a big part of art, it is not the only reason kids should embrace it.
"Children need this the most," Baker said. "It teaches you about different cultures and it makes you a compassionate person."
Art does not really cost anything and takes just a little working of the mind.
"You can find tings at home," Baker said. "You can use all sorts of things, recyclables, things from kitchen, the backs of printed paper that you get from home. All the stuff in the backpack. Flip it over and use the back of that. You don't have to spend money on supplies...maybe some crayons, scissors and glue. If you have that then you can do anything."
Let's say you do not have paint at home and you kids really want to pain. You do not have to go to your local store--all you have to do is walk right over to your pantry. All of the ingredients are most like right there.
"You can use corn syrup, corn starch, vinegar, and baking soda," Baker said." It takes a few minutes. You need a mixing bowl,a good spoon, and couple of measuring spoons, and just five minutes."
WHAT YOU NEED:
Baking soda
White vinegar
corn syrup
Cornstarch
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
egg carton...1/2 dozen
Muffin tins
Small plastic cups
food coloring
DIRECTIONS:
In a mixing bowl, mix 4 tablespoons baking soda with 2 tablespoons vinegar until fizzing stops.
Add 1/2 teaspoon corn syrup and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Mix until a uniform consistency.
Pour the mixture into individual egg carton cups, filling each about a third to halfway.
Add five to 10 drops of food coloring to each cup, mixing in thoroughly, to reach desired colors. (Experiment, or see color recipes below.)
Allow paints to set overnight. Use paints on watercolor paper with a wet paintbrush.