children's art on walls...how, which paint, canvas thingy??

[eltham]

We have a newly decorated kitchen and I'd really like my dds to create a huge masterpiece of painting that will extend along the biggest wall (so about 7ft x 3ft).
So, being a total novice at this sort of thing, what would be the best way to approach it?

1. Can you buy canvas that large? (is it called canvas that is painted onto?) I want something more substantial then paper..

1. what are the best paints to use?

1. do I need to use a sealer of some kind or will the colours fade?

Any tips or suggestions very much welcomed!

I dont know about big canvas, but I know you can get reasonably priced ones in The Works, and also lots of brushes, paints, etc. How old are the dc's, would you have to get poster paints incase they eat, smear in hair, or whatever? You could get them to do several smaller canvasses and put them in an arrangement on your wall? Then you could getthem to do new ones if you get bored with them! (the pics, not the dc's!!)
I dont know about sealer!

they're 3 and 7, so no chance of them eating it. Are acrylic paints best for impact then?

When doing this I have just bought some cheap canvases from Wilkinsons or the works and I have
1, monopainted on them
2, painted on them
3, done hand prints on them,
4, done footprints of 3 siblings in a row, so little to big feet.

I think with your wall I would get a large canvas say 18" x 14" which they could decorate together and also get 3 5" x 7" to put to the side of the large one with each child putting their foot prints on them ie 3yo left foot, 7 yo right foot (on all 3) so it looks like their climbing the wall.

I use normal paint, and often liberally sprinkle glitter on the paint too.

hey Twims..that's a good idea...climbing the wall..might add my own! (lol!)

another alternative is to check out a great website and put lots of your kids' artwork onto canvas and fill the space that way! check it out www.contemporarycoolcanvas.co.uk - creates a montage of lots of work and looks fab!