Prints With Paint
Stamping material: one or more of: a potato or thick carrot, sponge, thick fun-foam, block of balsa wood
adult weilding a paring knife
shallow tray(s) (one for each colour--a saucer will work too)
Cut away material on the stamper so that there is a flat surface left to draw on (cut a potato in half, etc.). Have the child draw a pattern on the stamping material with the pencil. They can draw free-hand, or with a little help can trace a shape from a small cookie cutter or other suitable item.
Carve the excess material away, and return the stamp to the child.
Pour a small amount of paint onto the tray.
Press the stamp into the paint, then onto the paper. Depending on the material of the stamper and the thickness of the paint, the child may need to use paint for each stamp, or may get several stamps for each dip in the paint.
Kitchen Utensil Painting
Note: whenever using utensils or other items that will come into contact with food, be sure that they are completely clean both before and after painting, and that all paints used are non-toxic.
various kitchen utensils such as a spatula, potato masher, fork, cookie cutters, etc.
trays/saucers for each colour of paint
Assemble a wide variety of kitchen tools (and non-kitchen tools too!) with various surface textures and shapes.
Encourage the child to try these out as stampers by pressng them into the paint and then onto the paper. Try overlapping shapes.
Extension: once the art is finished, have the child challenge a friend to try and match some of the prints to the utensils.
one or more lengths of household string, about 30 cm long
a piece of paper
Method 1: Fold the paper in half short-ways and open it up again. Dip the string in the paint, then place the string on one side of the paper. Close the paper up, and gently press it together while holding one end of the string. Move the string around, then open the paper up again. Repeat with a different colour if desired.
Method 2: Keep the paper unfolded, and dip your string into some paint. Place the string on top of the paper, then pull it around to make patterns on the paper. Repeat with different colours as desired.
Blob and Fold
a soon or eyedropper
Fold the paper in half short-ways then open it up again. On one side, drip a few drops of paint in one or more colours. Close up the paper and press it together. Open it up again to see the result. Repeat as desired.
a spoon or eye dropper
a straw (thinner ones work best)
Drip a little paint on the paper. use the straw to blow it away from the centre of the drip. Use the straw to guide the paint in various directions. Repeat as desired. This activity is best suited to kids who understand not to suck from the straw during the activity.
Extension: spring blossoms
Reveal your inner Jackson Pollock!
a thick paintbrush (for larger art) or a clean toothbrush (not to be used again for toothcleaning!)
old newspaper or other protective material
tempera paint (or any other water-soluble paint)
optional: scissors, tracers, stencils for adding silhouettes (see variation below)
This is a great activity to do outdoors where mess is easily dealt with. If that is not an option, spread out newspaper or other protective material to cover a large area (splatter painting really means splatter painting!). Centre your paper for painting in the centre of this area. Dip your brush into the paint and shake or fling the paint onto the surface. You may need to thicken or thin your paint. Try using your thumb pulled along the brush surface to splatter the paint. Add different colours.
Variation: before painting, or between colours, place a cutout paper shape and/or stencil on top of you paper. Splatter paint on top, then remove to reveal the shape or outline.
Painting the House
old, large paintbrush
bucket of water
exterior wall of your home
This is great activity for the young who want to help out when you are working outdoors on painting or other such home maintenance.
Give your children a brush and bucket and let them "paint the house" with you. Show them how to hold and pull the brush properly and be sure to admire their work!
tempera paint in the primary colours, plus white and black
cup of water
Have the children make 6 spots of a primary colour on their paper. Now mix one of each of the other colours plus black and white into five of the different spots. The brush will need to be cleaned in between each one. You may wish to record which colours combine to make new ones as you go to help the kids keep it straight, or let them record it if they desire. Repeat for the other 2 primary colours. On the last spot of each colour, add the other 2 primary colours and see what happens. Once the kids have the idea of what mixes produce which colours, let them do some experimenting of their own.
Extension: As a group, make a large colour wheel together. Decide how many gradations you will make (yellow, yellow + a little blue, equal yellow & blue, a little yellow and mostly blue, blue) etc. ahead of time and divide your circle into that many equal sections (a protractor may be helpful). Look at which colours end up opposite each other on your wheel. What colours aren't on the wheel? What happens when you stare at a red spot for a long time then close your eyes--what do you see? How does this relate to the colour wheel?
finger paint--click here for homemade recipes & options
various texturing tools: a comb, hair pick, tied-up plastic mesh (like that used on onion bags), an old plastic card (like a credit card), cookie cutters, spatula, rubber stamps, etc.
paper--finger painting paper or freezer paper
a sink or basin for clean-up
Encourage the children to experiment with different textures. Some may not like the idea of putting their hands into the paint--encourage them to start with the tools first and they may warm up to the idea. Show them how they can "erase" their work if they wish by just smoothing it over with a hand or spatula. Encourage them to draw pictures and make abstract designs. Encourage them to describe the feel of the paint, as well as their designs and pictures.
Try using various kinds of finger painting mediums as well--shaving cream will feel, look and smell different than pudding, cornstarch paint or commercial finger paint.