Learn Together

Puzzle making practices problem solving, spatial awareness, and shape recognition while exercising fine motor skills. 

Materials

  • Flat piece of cardboard, any size
  • Markers, crayons, watercolor, or colored pencils
  • Clear packing tape
  • Scissors 
  • Permanent marker
  • Paper (optional)
  • Glue (optional)

Make Together

CMOM’s exhibit Inside Art features the work of artist Damien Davis. Part of Damien’s art is about exploring images of race through design. His art is made up of shapes and colors and icons from Black history and pop-culture. One type of art he makes are interactive puzzle sculptures. He likes to use ideas of playing together as a way to explore activism and community. 

For CMOM’s art exhibit Damien created a brand new puzzle sculpture called Little Penny Collector 2019. Explore more art and puzzle sculptures by Damien Davis!

A child and his father interact with a table-sized wooden puzzle created by artist Damien Davis. Some pieces of the puzzle are shaped like coins with profiles on them, a woman in a hair wrap, a cowry shell, and a hoodie.

A family interacts with Little Penny Collector by Damien Davis in the Inside Art exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Let’s create our own puzzle! Homemade puzzles are a fun way to explore size and shape and offer a fun spin on displaying art. 

  1. Start by drawing an image either directly on the cardboard or on a blank piece of paper. Think about what you want your image to look like. Remember, if you are drawing on a blank piece of paper to make sure it fits on top of the cardboard piece you have selected.
  2. If you’re working on a separate sheet of paper, glue your finished drawing down to the cardboard. Make sure to get all corners and the middle!
  3. Seal your drawing with clear packing tape. Tape your picture straight across or up and down, but keep the direction the same, and cover the whole drawing! Be sure to tape the edges of the drawing as well.
  4. Using a permanent marker draw lines on the packing tape of where you want to cut the puzzle pieces out. Think about shapes and size. 
    • What size do you want the puzzle pieces to be?
    • What kind of shape(s) do you want the pieces to look like?
    • How do you want the edges to look?
  5. Use scissors to cut along the puzzle lines you created.
  6. Now you have your very own puzzle with your artwork! Put it together again to see your whole, finished puzzle.