Bubble Wrap Painting with Alma Thomas

What kid (or adult too!) doesn’t love playing with and popping bubble wrap! But have you ever thought of painting with bubble wrap? Make sure to set aside your next bubble wrap packaging to create colorful abstract art inspired by famous artist, Alma Thomas!

Bubble wrap painting is also an excellent and simple way to explore process art with kiddos of all ages. All you need is a bit of paint, a sheet of paper, and of course bubble wrap!

EASY BUBBLE WRAP ART FOR KIDS

BUBBLE WRAP PRINTS

A print is an impression made by any transfer method from one surface to another. Can you paint on bubble wrap? Yes definitely! Here, we use bubble wrap, paint, and art paper to make our prints.

Printmaking is also a great process art activity for kids. Creating art with bubble wrap prints allows kids to explore different textures, colors and patterns.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Homemade Paint Recipes

Bubble wrap printing is a great way to practice fine motor skills because it requires your child to use a pincher grasp to hold the paintbrush.

It also encourages their hand, wrist, and arm movement to paint the bubbles within the image. Dipping the paintbrush into the paint also increases fine motor skills.

ALMA PRINTING

This bubble wrap art activity is inspired by the colorful abstract art of American painter, Alma Thomas. She was a famous artist who loved to smile, and to paint with bright colors that made her paintings look happy and vibrant.

Alma Thomas was born in Georgia. In 1907 her family moved to Washington, D.C., seeking relief from the racial violence in the South.

Thomas was a creative child who always had an interest in art. As a girl, Thomas dreamed of being an architect and building bridges but there were few women architects a century ago. Instead, she began a 35 year career teaching art at a D.C. junior high school.

Thomas did not become a full time artist until she was 68 years old! Her work first became famous in the Washington DC area, where she went to school and later taught, but was not fully appreciated world wide until after her death in 1974.

MORE ART PROJECTS INSPIRED ALMA THOMAS

Grab your free printable art project right now!

BUBBLE WRAP PAINTING

Also, check out how to make pumpkin art and apple art with bubble wrap!

YOU WILL NEED:

Bubble wrap
Scissors
Paint
Paintbrush
Canvas or art paper

HOW TO PAINT WITH BUBBLE WRAP

STEP 1. Trim the bubble wrap to fit the canvas or paper.

STEP 2. Find the center bubble and paint that one color.

STEP 3. Paint the circle of bubbles around that first circle, a different color.

STEP 4. Repeat for each circle of bubbles until you have painted every circle.

STEP 5. Press canvas down onto bubbles and rub evenly. Then lift your canvas to reveal your bubble wrap print.

TIP: If the bubble wrap paint has dried, mist it lightly with water before making your print.

WHY DO ART WITH KIDS?

Children are naturally curious. They observe, explore, and imitate, trying to figure out how things work and how to control themselves and their environments. This freedom of exploration helps children form connections in their brain, it helps them learn—and it’s also fun!

Art is a natural activity to support this essential interaction with the world. Kids need the freedom to explore and experiment creatively.

Art allows children to practice a wide range of skills that are useful not only for life but also for learning. These include the aesthetic, scientific, interpersonal, and practical interactions that can be discovered through the senses, intellect, and emotions.

Making and appreciating art involves emotional and mental faculties!

Art, whether making it, learning about it, or simply looking at it – offers a wide range of important experiences. In other words, it’s good for them!

Make sure to check out our list of over 50 do-able and fun art projects for kids!