Build an art collection
Individual drawings, paintings, and mixed-media pieces work beautifully as single captures grouped into themed spaces. Save each artwork on its own, then organize them in spaces like "Masterpieces," "Art Class," or "Favorite Drawings" to build a growing portfolio over the year.
Why use spaces for art collections
Unlike a recipe or a comic, a single drawing stands on its own. But over time, individual artworks tell a bigger story. Spaces let the family group related creations; all the art class projects, all the birthday cards, all the space drawings; without losing the individual pieces.
Getting started
On the Create tab, tap the shutter to capture a single creation. For multi-part artworks (like a two-sided card or a comic), tap "More ways to create" and choose "Add more parts".
Step by step
1. Capture the artwork
Lay the drawing or painting flat with even light and tap the shutter. Our guide to photographing a creation covers the lighting and framing that keep the colors true. The child can retake it with "Try again" if the angle is off, or keep it with "Use this one".
2. Record a voice note (optional)
After the capture, the child can record a voice note explaining the artwork:
"This is a picture of our dog wearing a superhero cape. He can fly to the park."
The voice note is optional. Some artworks speak for themselves, and that is perfectly fine.
3. Name it and save
Add a name in Details; "Superhero Dog," "Sunset Painting," "My Family Portrait"; then save. The artwork appears in the gallery.
Organizing with spaces
Spaces are the key to building a meaningful collection. Instead of one big pile of artwork, spaces let the family create themed groups:
- "Masterpieces"; the child's proudest creations, hand-picked over time
- "Art Class"; all the projects from school or art lessons
- "Space Drawings"; rockets, planets, aliens, and astronauts
- "Dinosaurs"; every T-Rex and Triceratops ever drawn
- "Cards"; birthday cards, Christmas cards, and thank-you notes
Creating a space
A child can suggest a new space from the Spaces tab; they pick the name and the picture. A grown-up approves it, and it appears for everyone in the family. After that, new creations can be saved directly into the space.
Adding existing artwork to a space
For old drawings or paintings that are already in the gallery, a grown-up can move them into a space from the creation's details. This makes it easy to organize a backlog of artwork into themed collections.
Growing the collection over time
The beauty of an art collection is that it grows naturally. Each new drawing adds to the story. By the end of the year, the "Art Class" space might have 50 creations, and "Masterpieces" might have 12; each with the child's voice explaining what they made and why.
When grandparents open the "Masterpieces" space, they get a curated tour of the child's best work, narrated in their own words.
One artwork per creation. Each drawing or painting stays its own creation; they are easier to find and share when kept separate.
Use multi-part for complex pieces. A two-sided card, a comic, or a collage with multiple elements works better as a multi-part creation.
Let the child name the spaces. "My Best Stuff" is a perfectly valid space name. The child's language makes the collection feel like theirs.
Old artwork works too. If the family has drawers full of past drawings, a grown-up can capture them all at once with the Add many at once feature and sort them into spaces afterward.
Voice notes add context. A drawing of a stick figure is one thing. A drawing of a stick figure with the child's voice explaining "This is Grandma holding my hand at the zoo" is something else entirely.