wet on wet watercolor

materials:
liquid watercolors
watercolor brushes
sponges
trays of water
12x18 sulphite paper

The child uses the sponge and water to soak the paper. (You may want to cover the table with a plastic garbage bag first.) The child then paints with the liquid watercolor. The effect is very dreamy and soft. Table salt can be sprinkled on the wet paper and left to dry for a crystal snowflake look.

still life

Place a still life arrangement in the center of the table. A simple arrangement works best. Try a white vase with a few sunflowers, a bowl of apples, red roses, or a slice of watermelon. Provide a palette of paint colors that represent the colors of the still life. Use tempera, liquid watercolors or gauche.Parrallel paint alongside the children. Be sure to direct the children to paint what they see on the table and not to copy your painting. Use,and encourage,descriptive language to describe what you and the child sees. Seeing with fresh eyes is the key to success of this project. I have presented this type of project with great success with children as young as three.

self portraits

materials:
fine point permanent pens (sharpies)
liquid watercolors
(chosen and mixed to represent skin, eyes, hair, hair colors)
watercolor brushes
watercolor paper
hand mirrors

The first step is for the child to inspect her face in the mirror and describe what she sees. The she draws her face with the sharpie and paints with the liquid watercolor. The liquid watercolor creates a beautiful transparent wash over the black pen.

Squirt Bottle Painting
(Only for the Brave Heart)

materials:
4-5 plastic spray bottles filled with liquid watercolor.(Colors may be diluted with water to desired intensity.)
large sheets of white butcher paper. (about 36" by 24")
lots of space!

This project works best outdoors for obvious reasons!

Push pin or staple large sheets of paper to the side of a building or fence. Cover first with protective tarp or drop cloth! Kids spray at the paper with spray bottles, sharing and passing each color.
I like to use a long length of butcher paper and later cut into undividual "slices" if the kids insist on owning a piece. These spray painting make beautiful back drops in the studio or classroom for other art pieces. Be sure the children know and understand the NUMBER ONE RULE! "Spray ONLY the paper." Any child that blows the rule loses his turn. Sorry, I believe in order within chaos!

Painting with "other than brushes":

corn husks (tied onto twig handles with raffia)
feathers
toothbrushes
strange sponge devices for dishwashing
(I like the ones with protruding "fingers")
makeup sponges and applicators
q-tips
small housepaint rollers
scrub brushes
fingernail brushes
fingers
feet