The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · April 2015
Ages3–8 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity1 hr
Leveleasy
MessHigh
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Kids make textured papers by spraying, dropping and splattering liquid watercolors on heavy paper. Then they cut the papers into flowers, stems, leaves, a sun and bugs and arrange them together on a blue-to-green rainbow poster board for collaborative wall art.
⚠️ Safety first
- Adult handles the rubbing alcohol. It is poisonous if swallowed, stings eyes and is flammable, so use only a few drops, keep it away from flames and work in a ventilated room.
- Aim spray bottles at the paper only, never at faces.
- Liquid watercolors can stain clothes, hands and surfaces. Cover the work area and dress for mess.
- Supervise scissor use. An adult can cut the trickier shapes for younger kids.
- Keep salt away from eyes and mouths during salt painting.
Before the kids arrive
- Fill spray bottles with liquid watercolors, one color per bottle, and keep one bottle of plain water.
- Cover the table or floor; spraying and splattering get messy.
- Plan two sessions or a break: the painted papers need to dry before cutting and assembling.
Steps
Spray liquid watercolors from the spray bottles onto heavy paper to make splattery textures.
Spray a sheet, then an adult helps drop a little rubbing alcohol on the wet paint for a cool texture.
Try salt painting on another sheet for a sparkly, speckled texture.
Spray a sheet with plain water, paint liquid watercolors onto the wet paper, then splatter some color over it.
Drop paint with pipettes and gently tilt the paper to move the color around.
Let all the painted paper dry for a while.
Cut the painted paper into flowers, stems, leaves, a sun and bugs.
Lay the pieces out on the rainbow poster board and move them around until everyone agrees where they go.
Glue each piece in place.
Hang your spring art on the wall with tape.
Tips
- The kids said their favorite method was spraying watercolors on the heavy paper.from the author
- Any heavy paper will work, but watercolor paper is probably the best route.from the author
- Laying out the art on the poster was the best part. There were many arguments (read: fights!) over where each flower or bug should go, but they are all part of collaborative art projects. Live and learn!from the author
- Placing the pieces is a good chance to talk about seasons, parts of a plant, parts of a flower and photosynthesis.from the author
- Jot down how you made each texture as you go. We waited to blog and couldn't remember how we got one of ours!from the author
- Make plenty of painted paper. We made plenty more than we fit on the board.from the author
- Right now 4 pieces of tape hold our wall art up, and my kids couldn't be any prouder of our work.from the author
Make it your own
- Add a rainbow. The 6-year-old wanted one, but we couldn't fit it in.
- Use the other multi-colored poster board from the 2-pack for a desert scene.
- Do a regular watercolor wash first, then layer on watercolors from a spray bottle.
- Frame the finished piece in a white frame for the family room.
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