Say hello to English artist Shonagh Ruddick, from @three_busy_boys! She creates kids’ crafts, art lessons, and educational creative games to share online and inspire households around the world. Get excited to create with your fam and read on to find out more!
How do you make time for creative projects?
It’s always been a conscious choice to include creativity in my day, for my own wellbeing and as a way to share what I love with my boys. When they were younger, it was a way to hold onto a part of myself after I left teaching to care for them full time.
Now they’re older I’ve built my own art practice back up with a part time design job and freelance illustration projects. I also look after younger children for my friends and family, so they’ve become my new busy students! It’s down to weekends and holidays with the boys now but they are still keen to try out my ideas and help me come up with art projects that others can enjoy. Everyone who comes over to our house ends up getting involved!
A big difference to when I started and now is the advent of carousels, stories and reels, all requiring more time and effort to share. When I have the time, I’ll do this, but when I don’t, I’ll just post snippets. I still see my page as a diary of time well spent rather than a job, so I only give it the time I have and try not to feel the pressure of others’ expectations in the space.
What’s your creative process like? Are you a planner or do you just jump in and learn as you go?
I have a busy mind but get clarity and confidence from planning how things will unfold ahead of time. I’m always thinking about what I want to achieve but continuously collect inspiration from my creative community as well. I place high value on looking outside as all artists do.
I’ll often link to a school/ homework project or something I’ve seen on Instagram, Pinterest, or perhaps an illustration in book we’ve read. I think that’s the best part of social media. I’m lucky to find myself in a supportive creative space and don’t take that for granted.
You've created some fantastic creative games and printable activities for little learners. What inspired you to start sharing these arty educational resources?
I’d given birth to my third son just as my eldest started preschool, aged 3. He had ‘homework’ that included a book and a toy to engage with. It was difficult but vital to me to afford him continued time and effort while nursing and staying home with his two infant brothers. I made him little counting, colour, shape and letter recognition games to accompany and extend the stories. I’d add them back into the homework ‘bag’ and the school began to make use of them too. It became my weekly task to supply an activity, and it allowed me to feel like I was contributing outside the home for the first time since becoming a Mummy.
It grew when I sent photos of the games to a teacher friend. She told me to build a memory bank for myself on this new thing called Instagram. I’d never heard of it at the time but back then it was one square, it didn’t take any time to manage, and I was able to record everything really simply. I began uploading photos of the activities as well as the artwork we made together at home.
People started to like them, so I made more and shared more. I’m delighted those activities are still in use.
Aside from making and sharing family-friendly art, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
I exercise several times a week and enjoy going to the gym. I had two serious medical conditions resulting from my pregnancies and was unwell for a long time. Regaining and maintaining my health is something that gives me self-confidence and control over my body, so I prioritise staying strong. I love to swim, practice yoga, lift weights and do boxing classes.
Your projects often incorporate everyday materials like cardboard and buttons. What's your go-to household item to repurpose as an art medium?
Cardboard. I think why buy paper when there’s a stronger and more absorbent surface in the recycling bin? I’ll use that as often as I can.
I taught for 7 years in a school that had a minimal budget, so I learnt from other teachers how to use whatever was at hand. My favourite was our recycled jewellery unit using bottle tops, fabric scraps, melted plastic bags and tetrapak. Artists and art teachers have been upcycling and repurposing discarded materials forever.
Creative thinkers are playful, curious and natural problem solvers as a result. We need more of them in every workforce, that’s why I will always believe Art and Design is so important within any curriculum. If we can promote creative thinking in young people, where the content is second to the process, it can lead to student success and more importantly personal happiness.
What’s a project you’ve been thinking about but haven’t got around to?
My degree is in illustration, and I’ve illustrated books for other people. I’d like to do my own, but I don’t see myself as a writer which holds me back. My own Mum has always said to me “never say never!” so maybe watch this space.
What’s something you’re proud of, that you don’t often get to talk about?
The highlight of my teaching career was being awarded Microsoft Teacher of the Year for developing an online Design educational resource. I’ve also written entire art curriculums for schools, and it makes me proud that the knowledge I’ve gained over the years is being shared in classrooms still.
In the quiet of now, I’m most proud that I have three kind, hard-working boys who are experiencing success in education and their personal pursuits. I believe sharing art and creativity with them from a young age helped me achieve that. None of the boys particularly favour my subject, preferring sport and maths-based subjects like their Dad, but I never wanted them to be the next Van Gogh. I wanted them to enjoy the process of learning, and I believe they do.
If your personality were a colour, what colour would it be and why?
I’d like to say blue. My house is decorated all over in blues and whites. Blue is calming and it promotes concentration and creativity, so I lean towards it. Perhaps my personality is the opposite of those things and that’s why I strive to surround myself with it?
Do you have a fave memory since starting @Three_Busy_Boys?
Not too long ago I was approached by a lovely lady to create video lessons for her online space. I didn’t feel confident enough at the time with video presentation, despite having taught up to 100 young people a day in secondary classrooms. However, with her encouragement, I ended up creating a bank of video art lessons. I’m so grateful to her because it opened up opportunities for me and I’ve gone on to create similar content for other subscription sites. If she hadn’t been so supportive then I may never have opened that door. Another way Instagram has shown me how kind and positive it can be.
Are you a sweet or savoury person?
I guess I eat mostly savoury foods. Right now, I’m eating chickpea ‘chuna’ at least once a day and tend to go through phases like that with one dish. I’ve been vegan for over 10 years, initially in an attempt to remove the majority of saturated fat from my diet for health reasons. I have learnt a lot about the benefits of a plant-based diet for us, animals and the planet since then.
Wow, Shonagh has so much valuable and diverse experience that she clearly channels into her passion project – @three_busy_boys. Making time to create at home, with family, is about more than fighting boredom. It encourages discovery, thinking outside-the-box, and a love of learning. Inspiring!
See more of Shonagh by checking out our gallery, where her art journey is featured! Stock up on kids craft supplies by checking out our Play range. If you feel ready to create at home, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what you come up with!
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