Sponge, Spatter, and Print Painting
Age: All
Time: One hour, more or less
Type of Activity: Art, craft, nature
Materials needed:
- Toothbrush
- Sponge
- Potatoes
- Poster/acrylic paints
- Water color paper
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
What to do:
For sponge prints: Using a clean,dry sponge cut it into shapes (oval, rectangle, triangle) then dip sponge into a shallow cup filled with paint. Using a light touch, sponge paper creating a pleasing pattern. Allow to dry. Each will be a unique work of art.
For spatter painting: Dip a clean toothbrush into the paint and hold over the paper you want to design. Flick your thumb over the bristles and watch a startling design fill up the paper. It's best to do this over a newspaper covered area and don't forget to wear an old T-shirt!
For potato prints: Have an adult cut a clean, dry potato in halves or quarters. Dip the flat half into paint and print with the potato piece. Later, when print dries, you can make owls or cats by adding ears, feet, and tails with a felt tipped marker.
Follow-up activities:
If you wish a more permanent design, or to print or spatter on cloth, use stencil or acrylic paints. Make you own spatter T-shirt to wear for your next messy art project.
For older kids -- design your own stamps from a large gum eraser and print from colored stamp pads to make your own notes, gift wrap, book plates.
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