The dynamics of air, heat and movement make for
unconventional painting and art methods. We don't have the
control of a fine paintbrush but we do achieve fascinating
and lively results. The following projects also fit in the
category of experiential art/science activities. All three
activities are great indoor winter projects.
BLOW DRYER ART
By accident we discovered a very novel and entertaining
activity to enhance our Chanuka gifts. One night of Chanuka
we had one gift for all the children and no wrapping paper.
So we used aluminum foil to wrap it. The foil needed some
color, so we took gouache (tempera) squeeze paint. First
squeezing out the outlines of a heart with blue paint, we
continued to squeeze a line of yellow and a line of red and
finally white. Staring at the wet paint, with candle-lighting
approaching, we realized we had to quickly dry it. A blow
dryer seemed to be the solution. Aiming the hot air at the
gobs of wet paint, I half expected it to dry quickly. Maybe
after five or ten minutes of hot air, the thick paint would
take, and settle into a dry decoration that we could
handle.
But no, instead, the streams of air pushed the paint, moving
it across the foil, creating a most unusual effect. It was
almost breathless. If you can imagine wave upon wave washing
up on a beach, one wave dissolving into the next, endlessly
changing configurations, you can imagine the dynamics of the
paint. Red paint, blowing into the yellow paint and the
yellow rolling into the red. With each changing direction of
the blow dryer, a new configuration materializes. The
surprise event took only a few minutes, but Oh! What an
entertaining and amazing four minutes of wonder to the eyes
of the children and the adults as well.
Our gift-wrapped box was 13 by 16 centimeters. Try it on a
foil wrapped board game box or simply on a piece of foil on
top of disposable plastic or paper. This is a great activity
at family gatherings, birthday parties, Chanuka parties etc.
ADULT SUPERVISION is important to keep little hands from
getting paint on them.
MATERIALS
Aluminum foil cut into 13 cm. x 16 cm. or 26 x 32 centimeter
pieces
Red, blue, yellow and white liquid gouache or tempera paints
in a squeeze bottle
Hair blow dryer
Disposable plastic or paper table cover, large enough for
work area
DIRECTIONS
Give each child a square of aluminum foil. Let them squeeze
lines of three or four colors onto the foil. Squeeze lines
close together but not touching.
If the lines are too far apart, the paint has less chance to
blend with another color and produce the desired effects.
Keep paint in middle of foil, away from edges. Each one takes
a turn with the blow dryer. Four minutes per person or until
the colors begin to mix into brown is sufficient time for
each participant. This is a great activity at family
gatherings. Quickly discard the wet foil after each one
finishes and everyone has enjoyed the excitement.
MORE EXPERIENTIAL ART/SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
Name-Tags Made From Shake and Paint Jars
[Excellent for pre-schoolers]
Do a shake painting. Use a jar, construction paper and a few
drops of gouache (tempera) paint. The construction paper
absorbs the paint at the bottom of the jar. Finish up the
newly colored paper by adding the child's name and `voila'!
We have a name tag. The paint and the action of painting are
inside a bottle so your hands (almost) never touch the paint,
let alone a brush. The excitement for the child is shaking
the jar and watching the paint fly around and become absorbed
into the paper.
MATERIALS
Clean large glass jar (Makes large name tags)
OR clean baby food glass jars (Makes small name tags)
White construction paper
Liquid gouache or tempera paints
Scissors
Optional: tape or stickers
Fabric paint in a squeeze container, or marker
Hole-punch and cord or other means of attaching the tag to
the child
DIRECTIONS
Cut out construction paper to fit bottom of jar.
Cut up a few shapes from tape, stickers or stars and attach
to the paper.
Put paper into bottom of jar securely.
Put in a few drops of one color of paint into the jar.
Close lid and shake jar vigorously.
If desired, open jar, remove paper and place in second
jar.
Repeat using a second color.
Let dry.
Remove tape or stickers.
You will notice that the paper absorbs the paint. Once
removed, the tape or stickers leave a stencil effect.
Punch hole for cord OR prepare other method to attach name
tag to child.
Write your child's name with squeeze fabric paint or markers
on the dried shake and absorb circles. Let dry.
Use for name tags [or Rosh Chodesh tags] in pre-school,
kindergarten or first grade.
WHEEL WEAVING
Spinning tricycle wheel with multicolored weaves of yarn and
crepe paper make for a great indoor rainy day activity.
Decorate tricycle wheels by weaving two colors of material in
the spokes. Spin the wheels and watch the colors blend into a
third color for a short moment until the wheels slow down.
MATERIALS
Tricycle
Yarn, crepe paper, long colored stockings, ribbon etc.
DIRECTIONS
Place tricycle on its side. Test wheels for smooth
turning.
Weave two colors of material in and out of the spokes as
close together as comfortable.
Optional: Weave in all three wheels and spin them at the same
time. Watch for difference in spin time and color changes.
Optional: Use three colors of weaving materials and watch for
different changes in colors.
Discuss how different color combinations react to one
another. Yellow yarn and blue yarn will take on a green look
when spinning together rapidly. When we mix yellow and blue
paints together we get green. This is the reaction of the
mixture of yellow and blue.
Discuss how we see color while it is standing still and how
we see the same colors in motion. Perhaps some colors that
are in motion are different to our eye when they are not
moving. Fast-moving objects such as an airplane, train or
bird look different when in motion than when not moving. When
colors move too quickly for our eye and brain to identify,
they become a blur. As fast motion slows down to the speed of
light that we can perceive, we recognize familiar colors.
Light, speed and temperature have an effect on color in
nature. Can you give examples?
Devora Piha is offering:
1. Chugim in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef
Pre-gan -- gan -- 1st and 2nd grades
2. Short courses for mothers and teachers:
How to draw with children and the potential in crafts
02-9920501
