# Magnetic Attraction Painting
> Dip metal nuts, bolts, washers and mini-wrenches in paint, set them on paper taped to an easel, and steer them with a heavy magnet held behind the board so they paint trails. It mixes art and magnet science in one open-ended activity.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-magnetic-painting/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: high
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group
- Skills: science, magnetism, cause-and-effect, fine-motor, process-art
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 piece Art easel or thick cardboard
- 1 sheet Easel or butcher paper
- Tempera paint, various colors
- 1 piece Heavy-duty magnet
- Metal nuts, bolts, washers and mini-wrenches
- String (optional) (household)
- Tape (household)
- Paint containers (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of easel: Sturdy piece of thick cardboard, propped at an angle (Tested both ways. The easel is preferred because it is bigger and catches falling bolts.)
- Instead of string: Dip the hardware by hand (C preferred it: it's more messy and more fun!)

## Safety
- Small nuts, bolts and washers are a choking hazard. Use caution with small objects and always supervise children during play.
- Adult handles the heavy-duty magnet. Strong magnets can pinch fingers, and swallowed magnets are dangerous, so keep the magnet away from little mouths and put it away after play.
- Keep strong magnets away from phones, cards and other electronics.
- Wash hands after hand-dipping the hardware in paint.

## Before you start
- Tie a piece of string to one bolt or wrench for each paint color.
- Pour each paint color into its own container.

## Steps
1. Tape a large piece of paper to the easel, or to sturdy cardboard propped at an angle.
2. Set out the hardware in a bowl, with a string tied to one piece for each paint color.
3. Try it without paint first: place a metal nut on the paper while an adult moves the heavy magnet back and forth behind the board.
4. Take the magnet away and watch the nut fall. Crash!
5. Talk about it: Why does it move? What is magnetic attraction?
6. Dip a bolt or mini-wrench into paint, using its string or your hand.
7. Place it on the paper and "catch" it with the magnet from behind, or it will crash.
8. Move the magnet around behind the board so the painted hardware paints your picture.
9. Add more colors and pieces, and watch them stick together.
10. When the painting is done, build a sculpture from the painted hardware.

## Tips
- I prefer the easel. It allows for more freedom to create, it's much larger, and there's a landing pad for the bolts.
- Make sure the heavy magnet is touching the wood or cardboard from behind. It needs to be heavier than a fridge magnet to work well. We took ours from the base of our drill.
- I held the magnet most of the time. He loved to dip, then place, then watch it fall!
- The mini-wrenches are my favorite! They left neat C impressions that dripped as they dried.
- The string is helpful for dipping, but it's not totally necessary. By the end C bypassed the strings and went right for the bowl of hardware. (from readers)
- All materials can be found at a local hardware store. The craft store didn't have heavy-duty magnets. Small wrench sets run about $3-$8. (from readers)

## FAQ
**Where can I buy strong magnets and mini-wrenches?** At a local hardware store. A craft store (Michaels) didn't have the heavy-duty magnets. The wrenches, bolts and washers in the post were recycled from a toolbox, and small wrench sets cost about $3-$8 at Home Depot.
**Will a fridge magnet work?** Not well. The magnet needs to be heavier than a fridge magnet and must touch the back of the board. The one in the post came from the base of a drill.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

Today we have Heather from the wonderful blog Crayon Box Chronicles share a fun open ended art activity. Hi, I'm Heather and I explore **sensory play**, open-ended art activities, and science at **Crayon Box Chronicles****!** I'm a former window designer from New York and now a home engineer — yes, I'm a chef, a mom, a doctor, a teacher, and a magician! I'm super excited to be here today at Blog Me Mom to explore open-ended [**a****rt activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) with you! Let's dig into our nuts and bolts, pull out our heavy-duty magnets, and paint — magnetic attraction style! This simple, budget-friendly art activity is our latest addition to our **homemade fun series** and it mixes two of my favorite subjects — art and science! I love my son's facial expressions when we play with magnets! He says, "wow" "oooooow" "magic mommy" — there's the magician part! Let's start our **[experiment](https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-scientist-dramatic-play/).**

- Art easel or thick cardboard
- Easel or butcher paper
- Tempura paint, various colors
- Heavy duty magnet
- Metal nuts, bolts, washers, mini-wrenches
- String
- Tape
- Paint containers

1. Prepare your canvas and hardware. Tape a large piece of paper to your easel or a sturdy piece of cardboard. We experimented both ways and I prefer the easel. It allows for more freedom to create, it's much larger, and there's a landing pad for the bolts. If you're using cardboard, prop it up to create an angle. Next, attach string to your hardware. C preferred to just dip it by hand ― it's more messy and more fun!



2. **Now, the [science](https://www.funlittles.com/category/science-2/)** — let's experiment with magnet attraction. Have your child place a metal nut on top of the paper. Next, move the magnet back and forth behind the wood and watch the magic happen — magnetic attraction! I held the magnet most of the time. He loved to dip, then place and watch it fall! Your child will be amazed at the power of it, the magic, and or the sheer science! Discuss positive and negative attraction. Why does it move? What is magnetic attraction?

***Science Alert:*** Magnetic attraction is the attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of force.

Here's his reaction to the bolts falling ― "crash" as he says!



3. Now, the art activity— let's experiment by adding **paint** to the nuts! Tie one bolt with string for each color paint. Next, dip each bolt into the paint and place it on the paper and be sure to "catch" the magnetic attraction from behind or it will just crash! While moving the magnet behind the wood your nut will paint your picture — it's magic! ***Tip:*** Make sure the *heavy* magnet is touching the wood or cardboard from behind. We took our magnet from the base of our drill. It needs to be heavier than a fridge magnet to work well.

 Here's C really focused on "catching" the magnetic attraction. He kept giggling as I moved it around ― too cute!

 I just love how they all stick together! For more fun, use 2 magnets. The string is helpful for dipping, but it's not totally necessary.  The mini-wrenches are my favorite! They left neat C impressions that dripped as they dried. The letter "c" for my little C ― funny!

 This is my favorite capture! C was so impressed with the mini-wrench just floating on the paper! He replied, "wow Mommy, it's floating!"

 By the end C bypassed all the string and went right for the bowl of mini-wrenches, bolts, and washers, and continued painting. C just loves painting activities!

 y C began pulling all the hardware out of the containers after painting to create this beautiful recycled sculpture. I just love recycled art, especially metal. This is definitely a keeper for his art wall of fame! Engaging in open-ended art activities is so fun ― you just never know where your child will take you. *{note}* Please use caution when handling small objects and always supervise your children during play.

**Thanks for reading** **Heather** is a full-time SAHM who loves to explore small world play and art with her son. Her budding paleontologist is three and full of energy! He loves dinosaurs, sea creatures, and trains. His imagination surprises her everyday. When she's not constructing small worlds, painting with everything but a brush, or chasing her son with his dino tail at **Crayon Box Chronicles,** she's spending time with her family. Join her on **Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Bloglovin'.**