Pearl at Home
When one door closes, another door opens! The Pearl Fincher Museum’s newest door, Pearl at Home, is a virtual gateway for you and your family to interact with each other through art!

​Our "Pearl at Home" art projects are designed for family fun, for adults and children ages 5 and up, and can be completed with easily-accessible art materials or items found around the home. These are intended as a starting point for your imagination – feel free to add your creative spin! Beginning August 1, 2020, look for new project lessons to be released each Wednesday.

We'd love to see what you come up with! Share your and your family's creations with the museum by posting photos on our social media pages. Make a post using the hashtag #pearlathome, and tag us as well!  Find us below:
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Facebook: facebook.com/pearlfinchermfa
Instagram: instagram.com/pearlfinchermfa
Twitter: twitter.com/pearlfinchermfa
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Not on social media? No problem! You can also share your artwork by emailing photos to education@pearlmfa.org. 
FALL PASTEL LEAVES
Use soft pastels to create a color burst around a fall leaf stencil, and take it further by layering several leaves together in one composition. Use one of our provided patterns, or find an interesting leaf to trace as a stencil. ​
PALETTE KNIFE TREE
Explore how to add paint with texture and create the illusion of movement in your tree branches. No palette knife? No problem! You can create this same effect using the back of a simple spoon. ​
HIDDEN ANIMALS
Explore the relationship between warm and cool colors in this Pearl at Home art project.  While people often use either all warm or all cool colors in a project, using them both together can have interesting visual effects. In this project, the contrast of the two color groups makes it appear as if an animal is popping out against the background – it’s not longer hidden!
TREE COLLAGE: THE MIGHTY OAK
Released 9/2/20
Branch out and make a different type of self-portrait in our latest Pearl at Home art project! Inspired by Mary Huntington’s embellished quilt, The Mighty Oak, this project includes painting and collage elements to create a symbolic representation of the artist – you! Learn more about the project from instructor Evelyn Bouley in the video lesson at the link below, which also includes tips for K-12 educators on how to incorporate this lesson into their curriculum.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
MONARCH BUTTERFLY WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Released 8/26/20
Check out our new Pearl at Home VIRTUAL Art Lesson! Follow along with artist Evelyn Bouley as she guides you through a watercolor project inspired by Emily Parson’s quilt, Trio – a butterfly-themed contemporary art quilt currently featured in our exhibition Stitched. 

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to “suggest” the colors of a butterfly using a “wet-on-wet” painting technique. Once it has dried, the familiar framework of the majestic monarch butterfly will be painted upon the colors using a “dry brush” technique. This project is a great introduction to watercolor techniques, and is perfect for teens (ages 12+) and adults alike! 
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Click on the video below to watch the lesson, and download the instructions and templates using the button (below the video). 
Click the button below to download this lesson and templates as a PDF:
BLOCKED OUT PAINTING
Engage your creative side with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project! Pick your own subject matter, then practice loosening control of the art-making process as you create an abstract background. White gesso – normally used to prime canvases for painting – will instead be used to “block out” your background. Only the subject of your painting will be in full color!  ​
MISTY MOUNTAINS
Embrace the simplicity of a limited color palette in an art project inspired by Chinese brush painting. Instead of the traditional ink or pigment, use regular acrylic paint with brushes and sponges to create a landscape painting of your own.
NOTANS
See how light and dark work together to create harmony in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project. “Notan” is a Japanese concept that involves the relationship between light and dark. Artists use notans to plan and balance out the composition of their work. Explore this concept with our cut paper notan project.
MANDALAS
Find balance with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project. Create a symmetrical mandala design using colors and shapes that mean something to you, or ones that simply bring you a sense of peace. Use our template to get started, and make it your own!
HALF CIRCLE HORSE
Giddy-up, partner! Make your own equine masterpiece at home with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project. Simple materials make this project easy to do at home, and easy to customize.
SUNSET BLENDS
Wish you could capture the colors of a glowing sunset? Learn how in our latest Pearl at Home art project! Discover tips on how to blend acrylic paint for a background, and follow along step-by-step to build the elements of a vibrant, abstract evening scene.  ​
CLAY TILES
Work with your hands in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Use air-dry or polymer clay to make your own unique tile, and experiment with different methods of embossing designs. Make a set of tiles and hang your own art installation!
COMPOSITION X REVISITED
Revisit a masterpiece of abstract art with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project. Artist Wassily Kandinsky thought of art as a musical composition, with the notes – or the shapes – coming together to tell a story. Explore color and shape as you recreate your own version of his Composition X. 
SUNBURST COLLAGE
Here comes the sun! Bring the sunshine indoors with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project. Use scrapbook paper, fabric scraps, or other materials at home to create this bright and energetic collage!
FRENCH KNOT TREE
Released 6/30/20
Twist up a tree in our newest "Pearl at Home" art project! Use simple materials from home to craft a trunk and branches, and finish it with French knot-inspired blooms.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
CRAZY QUILT A LA LAURENT
Released 6/25/20
Go crazy with our latest "Pearl at Home" art project!  Make an abstract collage inspired by crazy quilts and the work of contemporary artist Reggie Laurent. This project is a great way for kids to practice composition, shapes, and unity in a design.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
POP ART PAINTING
Released 6/23/20
Explore the style of iconic artist Andy Warhol in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Use our templates – or make your own – to create multiple paintings of popular figures or everyday objects. ​
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
ART MIX-UP GAME
Released 6/18/20
Need ideas for a new art project? Or are you looking for a way to challenge yourself and try something new? Let us help jump-start your creativity! 

​Try our “Pearl at Home” Art Mix-Up Game, which will give you a random selection of art elements/principles, media, and art movements to incorporate into your work. Try it multiple times and see what you can do!
Paul Cézanne, The Basket of Apples, ca.1893, The Art Institute of Chicago
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
MIXED MEDIA DOLLS
Released 6/16/20
Our newest “Pearl at Home” art project takes inspiration from one of the most recognizable quilt block patterns – Sunbonnet Sue. This image of a young girl with her face hidden by a bonnet was popular in quilt patterns and children’s literature in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is still used by quilters today. Use a combination of fabric and patterned paper to create your own “paper doll” mixed media piece.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
CANYON LANDSCAPES
Released 6/11/20
Practice your drawing skills in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project: Canyon Landscapes! Learn how artists use perspective and scale to create the illusion of depth in artwork as we guide you step-by-step in two drawing exercises. Be inspired by canyon paintings from Thomas Moran, an American artist celebrated for his landscape paintings of the American West.
William H. Holmes, The Grand Cañon at the Foot of the Toroweap - Looking East, 1882, {{PD-US}}
In atlas to accompany The Tertiary History of the Grand Cañon District, Clarence E. Dutton, Washington, DC: 1882. 
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
3-D LONGHORN
Released 6/9/20
Make an iconic Texas sculpture in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Use our templates to build your longhorn, but make it your own and show off your style!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
HAIKU POEM BOOK
Released 6/4/20
Tap into your creative writing skills with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project! Write your own haiku poem – or use one of our examples – and turn it into a displayable book filled with your own illustrations. Make one for yourself, or make one to give as a special homemade gift! 
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
ILLUMINATED LETTERS
Released 6/2/20
Brighten up your journals or artwork with this “Pearl at Home” project! Learn about the history of illuminated manuscripts, and follow in this decorative art tradition using materials at home. ​
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
NATIVE AMERICAN PINCH POT
Released 5/28/20
Create your own clay “pinch pot” with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Learn more about the history of pottery and take inspiration from Native American cultures of the southwest United States. Turn your piece of pottery into something functional – like a jewelry tray, or small bowl to hold paper clips – or simply create a decorative work of art!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
SCRATCH ART
Released 5/26/20
Scratch the surface of your creativity with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Learn how to prepare your own scratchboard paper at home, then use sharp instruments from around the house to create your own designs. Try it on cardstock, Bristol board, or even a paper plate cut into an interesting shape!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
WATERCOLOR AND TEXTURE
Released 5/21/20
Experiment with color, texture, and pattern in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Enhance your watercolors with a mixed media approach to creating interesting designs. This lesson includes a reference section with watercolor vocabulary and techniques, and is a great project for both kids AND adults – anyone who’s wanting to up their watercolor game!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
DISC ETCHING
Released 5/19/20
Do you have unwanted CDs or DVDs lying around the house? Recycle them into art with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project! Etch designs onto discs using paint, a brush, and something sharp (like a toothpick!). 
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
KANDINSKY CIRCLES
Released 5/14/20
Focus on the abstract in our latest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Slow down and let intuition take over as you experiment with freehand lines, color, and shape in this Kandinsky-inspired project. What combinations will you create? 
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
SIMPLE PRINTMAKING: MARKER PRINTS
Released 5/12/20
Experiment with block printing in our newest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Carve designs into foam with household objects, then use markers to “ink” your plate and make multiple prints. This is a great way to introduce kids to printmaking, and it’s fun for adults, too!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
SIMPLE PRINTMAKING: COLLAGRAPHS
Released 5/7/20
Try your hand at printmaking with our latest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Collagraphs are one form of printmaking that can be done easily at home without a printing press. Use items from around the house to build texture on a printing “plate,” and use paint or ink on it to make a print!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
PAINTING WITHOUT A BRUSH
Released 5/5/20
Don’t have traditional paintbrushes at home? No need to worry – you can still make art! Get ideas on how to make your own art tools in our latest Pearl at Home art project. Who knows what kind of “brushes” are waiting to be discovered in your home or backyard!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
DRAWING WITH BASIC SHAPES:
​BLOOMING CACTUS
Released 4/30/20
Does trying to draw leave you feeling a bit prickly? Get tips on how to make it easier with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Learn how to break down images into simple shapes and develop your drawing from a foundation of basic forms. We recommend using a blend of crayons and oil pastels for this project, but crayons alone will also work well.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
ANIMAL PAINT RESIST
Released 4/28/20
You’ve heard the term “oil and water don’t mix” – now see how that applies to art! Try out paint resist methods in our newest “Pearl at Home” art project. Kids can use their imagination to illustrate their own unique creature, or even to create a new “super-animal” to celebrate National Superhero Day!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
HEART MOBILES
Released 4/23/20
Show your love and appreciation for your family and community with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project! Create a flat or 3-D heart mobile to hang in or outside your home, with your own personalized message. Make a mobile to say thank you to our caregivers, healthcare heroes, first responders, and other essential workers – or simply to let somebody know you’re missing them!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
MARBLED EARTH
Released 4/21/20
Celebrate Earth Day with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project!  Show your love for our blue marble on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by putting the “art” in “Earth.” Try your hand at paper marbling, using only shaving cream and food coloring. We know from experience that adults enjoy this project just as much as kids do, so be sure you have enough materials for the whole family! 
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
FINISH THE PORTRAIT
Released 4/16/20
Let your imagination run wild with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project! Complete a famous “unfinished” portrait in your own style, changing up the background and action to create your own masterpiece. Will you send your subject on a new adventure to an exotic locale, dress them up in a special outfit, or will they be enjoying activities at home like us?
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
3-D FLOWER VASE
Released 4/14/20
Brighten up your home with a fresh bouquet of flowers, with our newest “Pearl at Home” art project! Learn how to make “twisted" 3-D roses and add flowers of your own design to complete your own floral arrangement. This beautiful picture, overflowing from the page with whimsical paper flowers, is blooming with fun for all ages.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
MIXED MEDIA COLOR WHEEL
Released 4/9/20
The color wheel is an important tool that artists use to determine which colors go well together, and which colors can be mixed together. Mix up your own unique color wheel in our newest Pearl at Home art project – and be creative with textures! Add objects you find around the house: beads, paper clips, artificial flowers, wrapping paper – whatever you’d like!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
KANDINSKY TREES
Released 4/7/20
Kan you Kandinsky?
Explore abstract art through color and shapes with this Wassily-Kandinsky-inspired tree art project, using materials found at home.
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
MONDRIAN COLLAGE
Released 4/2/20
Color – Line – Action!  Explore these in this Pearl at Home art project, inspired by Piet Mondrian – an artist most known for a style of art that uses simple colors, lines, and shapes. Learn more about the artist, then make your own Mondrian-inspired collage using materials found at home. What will you come up with?
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
DRAWING HORSE PORTRAITS
Released 3/31/20
When drawing portraits, the goal is to be accurate in making your artwork look like the specific subject. The first step in learning to draw what you actually see is to recognize the simple shapes within a more complex object. Once you’ve used this method to draw a horse, you can apply it to other animals or subjects!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF:
HAWAIIAN QUILTS
Released 3/26/20
A Hawaiian quilt is a distinctive quilting style of the Hawaiian Islands that uses large radially symmetric appliqué patterns. Designs often include stylized botanical designs in bold colors on a contrasting background. Instead of fabric, we’ll use different colors of paper to create our own Hawaiian Quilt-inspired project!
Click the button below to download this lesson as a PDF: