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 method involving transfer 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.Â
Print making is also a great process art activity for kids. Creating art with bubble wrap prints gives kids opportunity 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.Â
It also encourages movement of their hand, wrist, and arm 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
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!
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.
 MORE FUN ART ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Make fizzing art with baking soda painting!
Mix up your own bubble paint and grab a bubble wand to try bubble painting.
Get STOMPING, stamping or printmaking with dinosaur painting that uses toy dinosaurs as paintbrushes.
Magnet painting is a fantastic way to explore magnet science and create a unique piece of art.
Combine science and art with salt painting.
Kind of messy but a totally fun painting activity, the kids will have a blast trying splatter painting!
MAKE COLORFUL PRINTS WITH BUBBLE WRAP PAINTING
Click on the image below or on the link for fun and do-able painting ideas for kids.
Sink Float Water Science Experiment in the Kitchen!