Things to Use for Painting and Printing

In this section we have included a few ideas to use for painting and printing when you feel like trying something a little different.

• Spray bottles - fill with watery coloured paint, take aim at a sheet of cardboard and fire when ready! Best done outside.

• Shaving brush - nice for patterned swirling effects.

• Pastry brush - a thicker type of brush, good for covering larger surface areas.

• String - dip the string into the paint and drag across the page.

• Marbles - place your paper flat in the bottom of a clean ice cream container. Put a dollop of paint in the centre of the page and drop 2 or 3 marbles in. Roll the container around and watch the marbles create patterns.

• Corks - dip and print to get spots and circles.

• Sponges - good for printing. Cut out various shapes, or use as they are for interesting textured effects.

• Fly swat - this is an outside activity. Dip the swat into your paint and make it splat on your page. Will give square textured patterns. A good one to do with several different colours.

• Tennis ball - as above with the marbles. Alternatively, hold them in your hand and use them to print.

• Golf ball - as with marbles. Will give a large patterned effect.

• Cotton reel - you can use the end dipped in paint for printing, or roll the side across your page to get parallel lines.

• Bubble wrap - dip in the paint and start printing. Bubble side up or down, it will leave a variety of textured spots.

• Candles - run a household candle across a white sheet of paper, then paint over the top with a water-based paint. The paint will not stay where the candle has been, leaving you a white wax drawing underneath.

• Potato mashers - good for printing. Simply dip and splat them on the page.

• Tea bags - hold the string and dip the tea bag into warm water. Squeeze out the excess, then blot the tea bag across a white page. Good also for school projects where you have to make a document look old!

• Hair Rollers - makes a thick line pattern across the page if you dip it in paint then roll it around. Use the ends to make circle prints.

• Steel wool - dip and print. Gives a bubbly cloud effect.

• Bottle brush - use like a paint brush. Splat it, make brush strokes, or simply press the end onto the page for a ‘flower’ effect.

• Scourers - see Steel wool.

• Gumnuts - use them in bunches or just one by itself. Dip and print for little circles.

• Paddle pop sticks - use as you would a paint brush.

• Cotton wool - good for a ‘wiped’ effect. Dip and drag it across the page.

• Cotton buds - use the same way as you would if painting with a fine brush. They also create nice little spots.

• Leaves - dip your leaf into the paint and print across the page. You should be able to see the leaf imprint if the paint is not too thick.

• Bark - as with Leaves.

• Stones - dip and print, use a variety of shapes to create different patterns.

• Fruit or vegetables - cut a shape or pattern into your fruit or vegetable piece and use to print. Citrus fruit gives a great textured print if cut in half and dipped in the paint. The more interesting the fruit or vegetable, the more varied your printing can be!

• Flowers - as for Leaf printing, use a flower to dip and print on the page. Make sure you use flowers that will hold together in the paint.

• Loofahs - like a sponge, loofahs will create a textured imprint. Alternatively, use to wipe across the page for a smudged effect.

• Paint brush - an old favourite, use fat or thin for hours of creative fun.

• Tooth brush - can be brushed across the page. As an alternative, cover with paint and run your finger across the bristles, holding the brush close to the page. You should get little paint speckles. Best done outside!

• Hair brush - good for printing (make sure you use an old one!).

• Cutlery - forks and spoons make interesting patterns when printed or dragged across the page.

• Jar lids or other lids from containers - dip and print. You can use a large sheet of paper and print with an ice cream container lid for large squares. When dry, use Textas to create a house or building.

• Scrunched bandages or material - scrunch up some old (clean) bandages or material off-cuts to get an interesting texture.

• Hands, fingers, feet or other body parts - use your body to create patterns. Feels great and is exciting to do! When using hands, wait until the page is dry and turn you hand print into a chicken or turkey with some Textas!

To see our Art and Craft Recipes - click here.

Return to Main Index