Great Painting Ideas

Finger-painting

From an early age, many children experience painting by using their hands to create shapes and patterns. Finger-painting is a messy activity, so it is essential to line the classroom tables with newspaper and have the children wear paint smocks. Since most finger-painting is abstract, ask students to use the colors to represent the mood of what they wish to create. For instance, divide a large sheet of paper into four equal squares and label each with the name of a season. In each square they must depict the colors and mood of the season, such as oranges, browns and yellows for fall. You can also use the handprint as a pattern in the art project, such as a handprint turkey at Thanksgiving.

Watercolor painting keeps mess to a minimum if your students are under four years old. Painting with watercolors only requires a set of paints and a palette of water. The children will need smocks and the tables must be lined with plastic because the paint is very wet. Try mystery painting with very young children. Each student starts with a sheet of plain paper, draws a design with wax crayons and then paints the paper with watercolors. Though the picture is very light when dry, once it is painted, the image will appear like magic. You can also play games with watercolors and instruct the children to use a certain color to make a specific shape, such a red square inside of a blue circle. Using unusual materials to teach everyday topics can add variety to the school routine for young learners.

Painting with colored wax is an enjoyable activity for older children, although even older students will need supervision because the materials are very hot. Start by gathering old crayons and removing the labels. Grease a muffin tin and put each color of the crayons in a separate muffin hole. Heat the muffin tin in an oven until the wax is melted. Remove the tin and place it inside a baking dish that has been filled about an inch with hot water; this keeps the wax liquid while the children are painting. Use old paintbrushes and the children can now dip in and start creating.

Glue painting is an easy approach to art that works very well with small children. Since the paint must meet the glue before the glue hardens, a "canvas" about four-by-seven inches or smaller works best. Cut small sections of card paper for each child and line the tables with newspaper. Children should also wear their painting smocks. Each child begins by painting a section of their card paper with clear liquid glue (not white glue). With the glue still very wet, the child dips a cotton swab into liquid paint and then uses the swab to draw in the glue. The motion will result in unusual patterns and fading since the paint doesn't dissolve into the glue. You must use a different cotton swab for each color and the paintings must dry for several minutes once the whole card has been glued and painted.