Color Explosion! Fun with Squish Painting

A fun, hands-on lesson where the student will explore color mixing and create abstract art using the 'squish painting' technique. This lesson focuses on experimentation and the joy of creation.

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Color Explosion! Fun with Squish Painting

Materials Needed:

  • Washable tempera paint (primary colors: red, yellow, blue)
  • Heavy paper (cardstock or watercolor paper)
  • Smock or old t-shirt
  • Paper towels or wet wipes for cleanup
  • Flat surface to work on (covered if necessary)

Let's Make Some Art!

Step 1: Get Ready!

Put on your smock or old t-shirt. Prepare your workspace. Get your paper and paints ready.

Step 2: Folding Fun

Take a piece of your heavy paper and fold it in half, like a greeting card. Make a good crease, then unfold it so it lays flat again. You'll see the line down the middle.

Step 3: Primary Power!

Remember our primary colors? Red, yellow, and blue! These are the colors we'll start with. Carefully drip small dots or blobs of red, yellow, and blue paint onto only one side of the fold line. Don't use too much paint, just small amounts. Think about where you place them – maybe put some yellow near some blue?

Step 4: The Squish!

Carefully fold the clean side of the paper back over onto the painted side, matching the edges. Now, gently press down on the *outside* of the folded paper with your fingers. Squish and spread the paint around between the layers. You can move it outwards from the fold. What do you think is happening to the colors inside?

Step 5: The Big Reveal!

Slowly and carefully open up your folded paper. Wow! Look at your creation! What happened? Do you see any new colors where the primary colors mixed? Did you make orange? Green? Purple?

Step 6: Admire and Dry

Look at the cool symmetrical pattern you made. Since you folded the paper, both sides should mirror each other. Talk about the colors you see and how they blended. Find a safe place for your artwork to dry completely.

Step 7: Clean Up Crew

Time to clean up! Wash your hands, wipe down your workspace, and put the caps back on your paints.

Thinking More About Your Art

  • What secondary colors did you create (orange, green, purple)? Where did they appear?
  • What happens if you use more or less paint next time?
  • What happens if you only use two primary colors?
  • Does your abstract design look like anything? Sometimes abstract art is just about colors and shapes, and sometimes our imagination sees things in it!

Great job exploring colors and creating your own unique abstract art today!