make it: paint blot artwork — by kids!

I have this theory about living with children that goes something like this: if you decorate your home with their artwork, they will feel even more a part of it. The secret to pulling this off is to be brave and go with it! Kids are brave. They hang their artwork everywhere and we should too!

Another cool thing about children’s artwork is that it easily takes on the look of “modern artwork” and doesn’t have to be complicated or cost a fortune to make. Making “Paint Blot” art is about as simple as it gets and the great thing is that the entire family can get involved. If you can blot on paint and fold a piece of paper, you have what it takes to make this artwork and the possibilities are endless in terms of paint and paper color choices.

Ready to learn how? Let’s get started.

Materials Needed:

• Paint: tempera paint, poster Paint, acrylic paint
• Paper: construction paper, white copy paper, colored paper
• Frames

Instructions:

Step 1:
Choose your paper and lay it out in front of you. Dab a blot (blob) of paint in the center of the paper.

Step 2:
Fold your paper in half and press down along the seam smearing the paint (which is on the inside of the paper) all around through your pressing.

Step 3:
Open your paper and you will have formed a paint blot! Similar to guessing what cloud shapes look like, kids will have fun deciding what their paint blots are.

We all thought this white paint blot on pink construction paper looked like a Sting Ray!

Step 4:
Lastly, allow your paintings to dry completely then frame!

You are finished and you can now hang your artwork in your child’s room or anywhere in the house. Happy paint blotting everyone!

Author Description

caroline

Meet Caroline Urdaneta. She's a designer of creative family projects, crafter, tinkering painter, and mother of 4 children. Catch her work at Salsa Pie, which was started in 2009 to help foster an innovative spirit in her children. She writes about project ideas for the whole family and how to encourage creativity in kids.