Art runs in Aaron Zenz's family. He's an illustrator and author, and he liked to share the art world with his kids. But he might not have foreseen himself running through town creating public art with them.
Some time ago, the Zenz family watched Exit Through the Giftshop, the documentary about legendary English street artist Banksy, and his 10-year-old daughter declared that she wanted to be a street artist.
So Aaron was in a bit of a conflict. On the one hand, he didn't want to crush his daughter's creative, adventurous spirit, but then again, he didn't want to encourage vandalism.
But no one said street art has to involve property damage. Adding a little art to the public can be safe and temporary, and still make people smile, like these silly signs installed by a man who wanted to make the world a happier place.
And that's how he came up with this genius — and adorable — idea for "family street art," a way for the whole family to enjoy some public art in a safe and legal way.
Check out what they did below. Would this be something you'd try with your family?
(H/T: BoredPanda)
Aaron knew drawing on public property was a big no-no, but he also wanted to encourage his daughter's artistic inspiration.
So he went outside and collected some small rocks. The family all pitched in, painting silly faces on them.
And then they hit the town!
The rocks were left in public spaces, and their bright colors would quickly catch the eye of people passing through.
And they didn't just limit themselves to places where street artists traditionally leave their work.
The nice thing about moveable art like this is that you can get really creative with its placement.
Rocks weren't all they used, either. They also painted up some sticks, letting the wood's natural shape inspire the designs, like this stick caterpillar.
Their unique shapes led to all kinds of fun results.
Aaron is a father of five, and all five of his kids, who range in age from 17 to 7, enjoy making art. This project was a fun way for the family to bond and to get creative.
It was also a clever way to add some color and flair to the town. In a legal way, of course!
Besides projects like these, Aaron also partakes in other art projects with his kids, including making trading cards, portraits, and more.
Leaves were also used, which provided a flat surface rather than a curved one. But their interesting shapes made for all kinds of fun faces.
The leaves also had the added advantage of being lightweight, so they could be balanced just about anywhere.
They add a lot of character without the permanent damage!
They can also be stuck to surfaces with a bit of tape. Instant art!
They really liven up the town.
They even made a video about their artistic adventures, and you’ll definitely want to check it out!
