Glue Art on Paper is a process art activity that will lead to surprising discoveries and build creative confidence in kids.
If you’re finding yourself here, chances are that you have a young child and/or see the benefits of experimenting with art materials. Process-based art is a meaningful way for young children to grow as makers and for adults to take an well-needed art break that’s good for the soul.
There are so many benefits to playing and experimenting with art supplies — for both kids and adults:
- It’s relaxing
- Taking time to create can be meditative
- New discoveries come through experiments
- It builds confidence and knowledge of tools and materials
This project can be done with children as young as three.
Supplies
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- Watercolor Paper (Canson Pad, 9″ x 12″)
- White Glue (Elmer’s School Glue)
- Liquid Watercolors (Colorations Rainbow Pack of 6 Colors)
- Pipette (Plastic Long Liquid Dropper, 50 pieces)
- Skewer or Toothpick (Good Ol Values Bamboo Toothpick)
- Ice Cube Tray (Rubbermaid)
The Set-up
- Squeeze liquid watercolors into your ice cube tray or separate bowls. We used 4 colors. A variety of colors is useful for this project as it encourages color experiments.
- You can use one pipette or different pipettes for each color. We chose to used two. This led to colors mixing, which we didn’t mind.
- Set up one sheet of watercolor paper, glue bottle, pipette (on top of the ice cube tray), and a skewer.
- Squeeze glue circles onto the paper.
- With the pipette, squeeze a few drops of liquid watercolor on the glue circles
- Invite your child move the paint through the glue in whatever way he or she likes.
- Older children can practice fine motor skills by squeezing their own glue and drops of liquid watercolors on the glue.
Take it further
Once you have this preliminary test under your belt, ask yourself or your child, “what else can we do with these materials?” Be open to new experiments and ideas. You may be surprised where it takes you. Some ideas:
- Add small pieces of paper to make collages.
- Press stickers onto paper and make glue designs on top of them. Will you be able to see the stickers when the glue dries?
- Play with glue and watercolors on top of wax paper. When it dries, can you peel the designs off the paper?
For more activities like this, along with tools for setting up a home space that supports creative growth, join us in TinkerLab Schoolhouse. If we’re not open for enrollment, you can add your name to the waitlist and we’ll send you an update when we open again.
Love this idea – going to try it. I’ve got 10 big bottles of the watercolors and I’m always looking for something to do with it. Thanks!
Glue Art on Paper is a more powerful and interesting activities for the kids. In this activity the color is a most favorable part for the kids because they takes interest to fill the created boxes and diagrams.
Hi there, I am an Atelierista at a Reggio Emilia inspired school and I am a huge advocate for process art experience. The children in my art class (3 and 4years) go to town when using pipettes, the concept of a ‘small amount’ just turns into puddles of watercolours. Any tips on dialogue or techniques to help this part of the process?
My experience with younger children especially, using a smaller paint brush that will allow drips of water color onto paper helps. It teaches self control too as they wait for the color to drip froom brush rather than dipping it into the glue, in this case. I used this with the glue,salt and water color art. Also the smaller eye droppers where the amount is more controlled is helpful too. I wish the Pippetts were smaller too.