Mid-Autumn Festival is fast approaching next month. If you don’t know much about the festival and its origins, we are happy to share a short history along with some crafty activities you can do with your children. Thanks to Civillita Art Supplies for allowing us to share with the Shanghai Mamas community.
In addition, the Ritz Carlton Shanghai Center has provided a beautiful mooncake set for one lucky Shanghai Mama. Enter to win this set by emailing shmamas@gmail.com the pictures of your creations with the subject “I Want Mooncake!”
By Terri, Civillita Art Supplies
The schools are returning and the mid-autumn festival is just a month away. So, here are some activities that you and the children can do at home or in the classroom.
The main stories and activities for the mid-autumn festival are based around the love story of Hou Yi and Chang’e. Many may know the story of Hou Yi saving the planet from over-heating by shooting down the surplus suns and Chang’e, drinking all the elixir for eternal life to stop a thief from taking it; only to be separated from her true love Hou Yi.
Chang’e spends eternity as a goddess who lives on the moon with only the jade rabbit for company. There are plenty of versions of the story in books and online, including the newish Pearl Media/Netflix collaboration, “Over the Moon” (2020).
Civillita Art Supplies has an air dry clay activity and a couple of painting suggestions, that should keep you busy on any rainy days, lockdowns, or unforeseen lessons.
Activity 1 – Air dry clay bunny
Materials:
• Air dry clay
• Key fob
• Double-sided sticky tape
If you have not used air dry clay, it will feel a bit strange at first. it is coloured, and a bit like sculpting with sugar paste.
Air dry clay dries firm, like firm foam and claims to be recylable. Good for adults or children over the age of 3 years.
Follow the step-by-step photos (see above) to make a bunny heart on the moon key Ring motif. You could also make a goddess pencil top or a whole batch of magic moon cakes.
Activity 2 – Make a “I love you to the moon and back” painting
Depending upon how sophisticated a painting you would like to do, and the age of your artist, these are the materials you need:
3years +
8K160gsm sketch paper and pebeo liquid gouache
This does not require mixing with the brush so great for those still developing motor skills. Give them a paper plate to draw around to make the moon, and give them a photo of a bunny to look at or help them with a template.
6years+
8K160gsm sketch paper and Grasp watercolor paint
Give them a paper plate to draw around to make the moon, and give them a photo of a bunny to look at or help them with a template.
9+ to Adult
16K Baohong Academy watercolor paper 300gsm and Sakura Petit Color Watercolor paint
Step 1
Draw out your bunny and moon.
Step 2
Stretch your paper with tape onto a board (or use a watercolor pad).
Step 3
Build up layers on the rabbit, light to dark, yellow ocre, raw sienna brown, and burnt sienna brown with cerulean blue in shadows.
Step 4
Add grass with some yellow ocre, hookers green.
Step 5
Wet the sky area before painting it. Make sure the bunny and moon are dry.
Step 6
Start painting in the sky with phalo blue, and then ultramarine blue, and then some touches of pearl silver.
Step 7
Mix some ultramarine blue with green to add shadow to the grass and burnt sienna to add shadow to the rabbit.
Step 8
Wait til the sky is dry before wetting the moon area and painting with yellow and gold.
I hope you enjoy the activities. All the materials can be purchased on our WeChat store Civillita Art.