Creative  Art Techniques​  
​Using Paint
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Many of these creative painting ideas can be adapted to work with any theme. Change colors and textures for different themes and topics

  • Paint or finger-paint on windows or glass door. Add a little Joy soap to help cleanup. Or spray on foam paint and use sponge rollers.

  • String or yarn painting. Dip 10” lengths into paint, and drag across paper. Use medium tempera, and push yarn into paint with brush if necessary. Also, paint-loaded yarn can be placed between a paper folded in half. Press down on top of the paper, and slowly pull the yarn out.
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  • Marble painting. Cover several marbles on a spoon with paint. Slide them into a shallow box with a sheet (or shape) of paper on the bottom. Roll the marbles around. Also, a blob of paint can be placed on the paper in the box, and then the marbles are dropped in and rolled around.

  • Crayon resist – so many variations! Color with white or colored crayon (or paraffin or a candle) on construction paper. Go ahead – press hard and scribble. Paint over the top of it with thinned watercolor washes. Gold with teal blue looks super!  Also, use salt with the paint.  Either mix it with the paint before using, or sprinkle it on afterwards

  • Painting with baby oil on various kinds of paper, with watercolor brushes or cotton swabs. The paper becomes translucent, and it smells wonderful. Cooking oil is an alternative.

  • Butterfly blots – create symmetrical patterns.  Fold paper exactly in half, then open and drop small blobs of thickish tempera on one side. Push it around a bit, and then close the paper. Open for a surprise, every time.
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  • Rainy day. Splash diluted watercolors on a large piece of paper from a brush.  

  • Spray watercolors with spray bottles onto large paper, or onto snow outside, or snow put in the sensory box. Also spray clear water on t a fence or wall, or colors onto large paper attached to a fence.

  • Make your own paints with natural dyes. Boil onionskins or asparagus, or broccoli. Heat cranberries, blueberries or raspberries in a little water until the water colors. Strain it, put in a paper cup and paint with it.
  • Paint with ice cubes. Freeze water colored with lots of watercolor paint in ice cube tray. Put a Popsicle stick in each one when partially frozen. Paint on white paper, watch the ice melt. Also, dump the ice cubes (without sticks) into the sensory box, squirt with more water colors and sprinkle with salt (or rock salt).

  • Drip painting – use plastic eyedroppers or small brushes to drip watercolor onto a paper towel on top of newspapers. Or use large paper coffee filters. Or tissue. 
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  • Paint with feathers, using tempera. Needs several feathers to make a satisfying experience.
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  • Paint rocks with thick tempera. Bring smaller ones inside to do it, or take the paints outside. They can be washed and painted again.
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  • Spray some good smelling shave cream, of some foam paint onto a laminate table. Drip food coloring if you wish. Paint with brushes, combs, craft sticks, fingers.
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  • Blow blobs of thinned tempera across paper by puffing through a straw to make a branchlike design. Add leaves, blossoms or fruit if desired.
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  • Vary paint textures and scents. Add glitter, coffee grounds, dirt, crumbled leaves. Food scents from spice shelf – strawberry, coconut, lemon etc.
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  • Paint with corn syrup, with food coloring added. Using paper cups helps cleanup.
 
  • Cotton ball art – dip in paint or powdered tempera, and press on paper. Drag the cotton balls across the paper, or dab with them. Let some remain adhered to the paint and dry.
  • Paint with crumpled balls of crepe paper or tissue. Dip a ball in a little water, and dab on the paper. The color transfers

  • Paint with vehicle wheels. Use washable vehicles with wheels that roll. Dip in medium tempera, and then roll them across the paper. Use wheels with various texture “treads”. 
Back to Creative Art Techniques  index
Indispensable Supplies
 Activity Recipes
Techniques with Paint (20)
Techniques with Collage and Glue  (15)
Drawing Techniques (6)
Techniques for Print Making (10)
Sculpting Techniques (3)
Construction Techniques (4)
Stitchery Techniques  (8)
​Miscellaneous Techniques  (4)

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