# Easy Negative Space Art
> Lay household objects and toys on heavy paper, then spray liquid watercolors over them. Lift the objects off to reveal crisp white shapes in this simple resist art.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-easy-negative-space-art/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: high
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, resist-art, negative-space, color-mixing, process-art

## Materials (one batch)
- 4 piece Spray bottles
- 2 tbsp Liquid watercolors
- Water (household)
- 1 sheet Watercolor paper, heavy card stock or heavy construction paper
- Household objects or toys (household)
- 1 piece White vinyl tablecloth
- Leftover styrofoam packaging (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of heavy paper: Heavy card stock or heavy construction paper (The author says these work as well as watercolor paper.)

## Safety
- Adult fills the spray bottles with liquid watercolor and water.
- Spray only at the paper. Never spray toward faces or eyes.
- Small objects such as letters, toy parts and bricks can be a choking hazard for toddlers. Supervise closely.
- Liquid watercolors can stain clothes, skin and surfaces. Cover the table and dress kids for mess.

## Steps
1. Cover the table with a white vinyl tablecloth.
2. Lay down a sheet of heavy paper.
3. Hunt around the house for objects such as toy parts, letters, cups and cookie cutters.
4. Set the objects up on the paper.
5. Adult: add about 2 tbsp liquid watercolor to each spray bottle and fill it up with water.
6. Spray the colors over the paper and objects to your heart's content.
7. Keep spraying with different colors until the paper is covered.
8. Lift the objects off to reveal the white shapes underneath.
9. Spray any leftover paint onto old styrofoam packaging.

## Tips
- Hold the spray bottle at a distance and spray gently for a fine, speckled look. We were totally ok drenching and spraying away though.
- Want stronger or softer color? Change how much water you add to the liquid watercolors.
- Spraying is a great workout for little finger muscles.
- Removing the objects was the best part!
- Let your child hunt around the house for the objects. Mine brought toy parts, letters and cups.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

Simple art activities for kids using liquid watercolors and household objects. Art activities for kids using the resist art technique are so popular for a good reason! They are simple, easy to set-up and the results are gorgeous no matter what. We have done our share of tape resist art and crayon resist art but today's post is about something even more fun since it involves spray cans! Materials

- **[Spray Bottles](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CYC4EI/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Liquid Watercolors](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SR5R2/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Watercolor Paper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00251AIO0/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **Household objects or toys**



I first covered my table with white vinyl table cloth purchased from the dollar store and then laid down some heavy paper card stock heavy construction paper watercolor paper will work)

My 3.5 year old hunted around the house and brought me a few objects (toy parts, letters, cups etc) We set them up n the heavy paper and got ready for the art project.

In the meantime I added about 2 tablespoons of our favorite liquid watercolors ( link above) and filled up the spray bottle with water. Based on the intensity of the color you desire add water to the liquid watercolors.



Then it was just spraying time. My child sprayed the colors to her heart's content while working her finger muscles.



It was a beautiful sight.



Well we got carried away with this art activity and pretty much drenched our paper.



If you hold the spray bottle at a distance and spray gently you can achieve this. We were totally ok drenching and spraying away though.



Removing the objects was the best part!



Such an easy art activity for kids all ages.



What to do with the rest of the paint? Spray on left over packaging material of course.



Thanks for reading . 

More [**art activities for kids**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) on on our category page