# Fork-Painted Rooster Art
> Kids drag paint-loaded plastic forks along a simple bird outline to fill it with colorful, feathery fork marks, then add an eye and a beak to finish their rooster. No paint brush needed.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rooster-art/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, creativity, color-exploration, process-art

## Materials (one batch)
- 5 piece Plastic forks
- Washable kids paint
- Water (household)
- 1 piece Paper plate (paint palette) (household)
- 1 sheet White paper (household)
- 1 piece Black marker (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of washable paint: Acrylic paint (washable acrylic if you can find it) (The author says washable acrylic paint is a great alternative too.)

## Safety
- Plastic fork tines are pointy. Supervise young kids and keep forks on the paper.
- Acrylic paint may not wash out of clothes. Use washable paint with young kids, or cover clothes and the table.

## Before you start
- Draw a basic bird outline on white paper with a black marker: a curved head and back line, a wing curve and a belly line (see the materials photo).

## Steps
1. Squeeze at least 5 paint colors onto a paper plate.
2. Add a little water to the paint so it's not too thick.
3. Put a plastic fork in each color.
4. Dip a fork in paint and drag it along the curves of the bird outline.
5. Pick any colors you like and keep filling the bird in with fork marks.
6. Keep going until the whole bird is covered, including the tail feathers. Let the fork marks show.
7. Finish off with an eye and a beak.
8. Let the painting dry.

## Tips
- We used regular washable paint at first, then I saw that a little bit of watered-down paint worked better than thick paint out of the bottle.
- The art looks better when it is not too perfect, and even better when the fork marks look distinct.
- Don't stick to one color or only the bird's natural colors. Set out at least 5 colors and let the kids choose freely.
- The whole project can be done with just plastic forks and paint. You don't have to pick up a brush!
- The colored forks themselves were a piece of art.
- Don't worry if it doesn't look exactly like a rooster. We ended up with a rooster-hen hybrid bird, ha!

## FAQ
**Where can I find the rooster template?** The post doesn't include a downloadable template. It uses a basic bird outline drawn with a black marker (a few simple curves, shown in the materials photo), and the kids follow the curves with their forks.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2016)

A few years ago we originally created a beautiful [**spring tulip art project using forks**](https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-tulip-painting/). Now another set of plastic forks were put to use to create a fun and colorful rooster. Using supplies other than traditional paint brushes makes art activities for kids more fun and we have done our share of "brushless" art activities like this [**scented string art**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-scented-string-art/), [**rainbow yarn art**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rolling-pin-yarn-prints/), [**spray painting negative space art**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-easy-negative-space-art/)

When I recently saw a picture of a rooster art created with regular paint brushes I immediately thought we can almost recreate the same effect by turning the art project suitable for kids by using forks.

### *Fork Painting a Rooster*

Materials

- **Plastic Forks**
- **[Washable Kids Paint](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004UBH3/?tag=blmemo-20) or**
- **[Acrylic Paint](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATJSD8I/?tag=blmemo-20)**



For this art activity we used regular washable paint initially. Then I saw that a little bit of watered down paint worked better than thick paint out of the bottle. Washable acrylic paint is a great alternative too.

With a basic outline for a bird, kids will use their forks to follow the curves and get the rooster colored in. This entire art activity can be done simply with plastic forks and paint. You don't have to pick up a brush. Isn't fork painting amazing?



We did not stick to just one color or to only the natural colors of the bird. I had at least 5 colors set out and the kids had were free to choose their colors.



The best part of this kids art project was that they did not have to stick to a form. The art looks better when it is not too perfect. It looks even better when the fork marks look distinct.



The colored forks themselves were a piece of art.



Once the bird gets filled in with fork marks you can finish off with an eye and a beak.



We have a rooster-hen hybrid bird ha!



I can see this a great Thanksgiving art projects for kids.