Covid-19 has confined a lot of people home, among which a lot of parents who also need to work from home while caring for their school-free kids. In order to keep kids entertained and combatting cabin fever, many artists among the instagram creative community are proposing challenges, freebies and other fun stuff to do.

I was loosing track of them so I decided to make a list. And why just keep if to myself, right? So here is goes!

And to all those creators who share these things for no cost with us, I would like to take a minute and say thank you!

This is an evolving post. I will add to it as I find new stuff or when people tell me about other initiatives. If you know of one not listed here, please drop a comment at the end of the post! Thank you to those of you who have added to this list!

Coloring pages

Many artists draw. I’ve seen many coloring pages. Some related to what’s going on and some totally unrelated to change our minds. Those can be printed without leaving the house!

• Ellen Willberg (@ellenwilbergart), a gentle soul who even closed her Esty shop to encourage people to shop at others’ shops who are more financially, is offering free coloring pages with animals and flowers. Perfect for a soft and relaxing coloring session. These would also be perfect for watercolor.
• Kamila Stankiewicz (@st.kamila), whom I just discovered through Ellen, offer a free coloring page of a little girl in flowers.
• Elise Gravel (@elise_gravel), an author and illustrator of children books from my corner of the world and whose books we have at home (not all of them yet, but one day!), has many free coloring pages in her shop. The one asking you to draw viruses is perfect for the occasion! (tous sont également disponibles en français!)
• Ania Mohrbacher (@aniamohrbacher), an illustrator of whimsical worlds and the beautiful fairies living in them, is offering a beautiful bunny coloring page! (thank you to the friend who sent it to me….. but I can’t find who I need to thank!)
• @youcolormyworldd has a few dark fairies awaiting a little color! I can’t wait to try these 😉
• Kendra Castillo (@kendracastillodesigns) offers no less than 12 coloring pages! Abstracts and flowers, you will love them as an adult too. (thanks to @melissamaryjenkinsart for this one!)
• Emilie Lienard (@lapetiteruse) offers 4 coloring pages, among which a rose that I’ve seen many watercolor artists wanting to print and paint, I myself need to fix my printer!!! (thank you to @waywardwhispers)
• Ulla Thynell (@ullathynell) has six beautiful magical worlds to color. Dragons and mystical creatures! (thank you to @waywardwhispers)

Free art classes

• Marie-Noëlle Wurm (@marienoellewrum). Marie-Noëlle is a wonderful artist and person. Each of her classes make me reflect not only on the project, but on the whole artistic process. I highly recommend her classes. During the next few months, Marie-Noëlle is making her class Unleash Your Creativity: Draw Without Fear in 5 Simple Exercices FREE. Go now! 😉
• Laura Horn (@laurahornart) is filming a free class! That is going to be fun! I’ve purchased a lot of classe from Laura Horn and they have always brought me so much so I can’t wait to get my hands on a free class. How about you? You can register to her newsletter to know when it’s published (I’ll update here when it does).
• Kolbie Blume (@thiswritingdesk). One of the first people I started to follow in this watercolor journey of mine. Kolbie is releasing daily 10-minute tutorials on Youtube during the isolation-time. She also teaches on Skillshare. Check her profile daily because she will make one of her classes free each day during the next week (yup, no trial to sign-up for!). And her skillshare classes are quite worth it!
• Wendy MacNaugthton (@wendymac). Just discovered her today. She hosts a free drawing class on every school day at 10am pst.

Projects

• Melissa Jenkins (@melissamaryjenkinsart) makes the most amazing natural inks. If you follow me on instagram you know I love to use them! She has put an avocado ink recipe on her blog, along with tips on substitutions for the ingredients you might not have on hand. It might be the time for me to finally take out of the avocado pieces out of my freezer.
• Cécile Metzger (@coucou_illustration) offers a downloadable adorable bear paper doll to make with the kids.
• Wies (@sowiesowies) is offering as well a Bear and Owl paper doll to make at home. And they look very cool!
• Margaux Kent (@pegandawl) is offering a sketchbook making tutorial on her instagram page. She also shows you all of the supplies you will need. The tutorial is live in her stories(she even has a giveaway to send a few people some waxed thread and a needle if you need some!)

Challenges

• Melissa Doty (@melissadoty.art) hosts Square sized challenges twice a year, and skipping, combing and doing general bizarre stuff with the prompts is highly encouraged. She is hosting The together challenge with song prompts to get you in the mood with a Spotify playlist.
• Soothe Me Art Journaling by Kasia Avery (@kasiaavery). A challenge aimed at art journal to take your mind off the news.

Past challenges

• The Paint Yourself Happy Challenge initiated by @_studioartisjok. I’ve talked about it over on Simone’s blog so I’ll keep it short. I’ve had so much fun with this challenge (you can see my pieces in my Instagram stories highlights)! Most of the prompts I made with my kid, so it’s definitely a challenge you can redo over and over again. I might actually revisit some prompts myself.

Ressources to talk about the Coronavirus with the kids

• Elise Gravel (@elise_gravel) made a beautiful illustration about how the virus travels and how staying at home helps. While you’re at it, check out her other free printables, the one about consent that I just discovered is worth a discussion as well! (tous sont également disponibles en français!)
• Brains On (@brains_on) is a science podcast for kids. They have an episode on explaining to kids Coronavirus and how it spreads. It is not alarmist, yet conveys information that is important.
• WUSF has a podcast episode titled Coronavirus: Advice For Answering Children’s Tough Questions In Uncertain Times (thank you @aniamohrbacher for the suggestion)

Others

• 12 famous museums offering virtual tours
• Live cams of the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• 11 Science and Techs Museums you can tour virtually

Suggestions to add?

I will add to the list whatever you throw in the comments (as long as it’s pertinent!).

So, any other suggestions? Please comment! (or dm on instagram, but I think I might have missed a few, sorry!)