Artist

For many people, art is a recreational activity, which may develop into a life-long hobby. For others it is a vocation, the way one makes a living.

The artist activity badge will not make an artist out of every Webelos, but it should help each boy understand how an artist expresses himself in his works.

If you are not familiar with color charts, design, sculpture, mobiles and constructions, enlist the help of an experienced parent of an art teacher from the school. It is also helpful to have beginner books on art at your den meetings.

If you have access to a computer with the painting software, give the boys a "show."

Make your own paintbrush by pounding the end of a twig, turning as you hammer. It will fray into many thin fibers like the bristles of a brush. Use natural paint made from berries, etc., and draw on homemade paper.

Take your den for a hike in the woods. Look at textures, colors, and patterns in nature. What color is the sky or sunset? What shapes are the leaves? How are flower petals arranged. Stop along the way and allow time for each Scout to sketch with a pencil. It can be anything from a flower to a landscape. Show each other and tell why you picked that particular item to sketch.

Divide den into teams. On signal, the first player funs up to the leader, who whispers the name of an object they must draw. They receive a paper and crayon, and run back to their team and begin to draw. The first team that correctly identifies the object scores two points. Continue until each player has drawn an object, then add up the points for the "most artistic team.

Have Scouts sit up to a table. Give each a piece of construction paper. Blindfold everyone and give them each a crayon. Ask them to draw a picture of a clown. When all are finished, collect the papers before removing the blindfolds. Hand the picture up and ask boys to guess which is their own drawing. (You may want to write initials on the backside as you collect them. It's harder than you think!)

Materials needed: bread sticks, pretzels, potato chips, cheese curls, crackers, popcorn and other interesting-shaped foods, carton of sour cream, package of cream cheese, package of dried onion soup.

Instructions: Soften cream cheese and blend in the soup mix and enough sour cream to make it into a thick paste. Use this to "glue" the snack food together in unique creations.

Make a display of all the art the den has made this month. Have a contest where audience can vote (on paper) ballots for their favorite picture. Count the ballots and award a blue ribbon at the end of the meeting.

Thank you Lydia for sending me the following and to Lorie for suggesting that it would be great to include for Webelos Artist Activity Badge. The following would be great run-ons or make it into a skit.

Among them were:

His obnoxious brother...Please Gogh

His dizzy aunt ...Verti Gogh

The brother who worked at a convenience store.... Stopn Gogh

The grandfather from Yugoslavia ...U Gogh

The brother who bleached his clothes white...Hue Gogh

The cousin from Illinois ...Chica Gogh

His magician uncle ...Wherediddy Gogh

His Mexican cousin...Amee Gogh

The Mexican cousin's American half brother...Grin Gogh

The nephew who drove a stage coach ...Wellsfar Gogh

The ballroom dancing aunt ...Tan Gogh

The bird lover uncle ...Flamin Gogh

His nephew psychoanalyst ...E Gogh

The fruit loving cousin ...Man Gogh

An aunt who taught positive thinking ...Way to Gogh

The little bouncy nephew ...Poe Gogh

A sister who loved disco ...Go Gogh

His Italian uncle...Day Gogh

And his niece who travels the country in a van. Winnie Bay Gogh

Materials found in Baloo's Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that USSSP, Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the material.