Little Brian Paint Sticks Art Station Review
Reviewed by Debbie Talbot
I have 7-year-old twins who just love messy activities and being creative. I think that the doing the activity part is great fun, but that the cleaning up part is not so much fun – have you ever tried cleaning up spilt paint off the carpet? So, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to try out the virtually mess free paint station from Little Brian. Where has the Little Brian Paint Sticks Art Station been all my life?
The paint station arrived quickly and in perfect condition. It is clearly made from robust materials which should last for years to come. The box had the perfect combination of bright colours and pictures and simple instructions which show you how to use the art station.
The art station itself is a portable easel and has a whiteboard side and a chalkboard side, but when it first arrives you can only see the whiteboard. To access the chalkboard you simply lift the handy clip and the chalk board appears underneath the whiteboard. It takes just a couple of seconds to then click the chalkboard into place.
Paper, a duster, 6 paint sticks and 6 chalk sticks were stored in the handy compartment. Plenty of room was left for storing more items. We unpacked the paint sticks and popped them into the 4 coloured (removable) pots which are placed in the side of the art station. The chalks fit perfectly into a handy orange lidded storage compartment at the other side of the paint station. There is a handy carry handle too, which makes this art station perfect for taking out and about on long car journeys. You can even clip the paper onto the whiteboard side of the art station. I must now mention what a fan I am of the chalk sticks. Gone are the days of hoovering up chalk dust as the Little Brian versions are dust free. You can even use the chalk sticks on paper. What I love most about this product is the fact that the double-sided design encourages shared play. My twins played together with this for ages one evening before bed and then wanted it again the next morning when they woke up. That, to me, is testament to an excellent product.
Now to what we have been drawing on the chalkboard and whiteboard. Yes, mummy was included in the fun.We were drawing poo of different colours. My twins even realised that they could layer different coloured paint sticks to create new colours.
Having paints which do not spill is a revolution. It’s not just the paints which have spilled in the past, it’s dealing with the paint brushes and pots of water. I used to spend what felt like hours cleaning paint off of the furniture and floors. After the poo themed activities of the evening before, it was a welcome relief yesterday to be drawing logs instead yesterday morning.
The duster which is included with the product feels very soft and works effectively. The paint sticks are so easy to use. You simply lift the lid off and twist them, much like with a glue stick. The paint is a lovely vibrant colour and solid, so it dries in less than 60 seconds.
Myself and my twins love this product and it will be around and well used in our home for years to come. We are trying to limit the use of screens in our house, and the Little Brian Art Station has been a great way to encourage creativity, imagination and best of all – it is SCREEN FREE! With Christmas on the horizon, it would make a fabulous gift for the children in your life.
One of the easiest 5/5 scores I have ever given.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £29.99
For more information visit www.littlebrian.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
