Need a kind of messy but totally fun process art technique to try for your next art session? If so, the kids will have a blast with paint splatter! Bonus, they can create a masterpiece inspired by the art of famous artist, Jackson Pollock! Learn several paint splatter techniques too! If you haven’t tried splatter paint art, grab some paint and a blank canvas (paper), and we will show you how to get started with just a flick of the wrist.
What is Splatter Painting?
What is splatter paint art? It’s fun process art that is created by splashing, flicking, blowing, or dripping paint onto the canvas or paper instead of brushing it on with a paintbrush.
Learn about Jackson Pollock, a famous artist, whose most well-known paintings were made by dripping and splashing paint onto a canvas. His paintings come alive with motion, energy, and spontaneous fluidity, aided by conventional materials.
Paint splatter is messy and fun! Like our pinecone painting activity, it is a simple art activity that is child-directed, choice-driven, and celebrates the experience of discovery. Indulge in great process art for kids of all ages!
Use your fingers to sling or flick paint onto the paper for an awesome tactile sensory experience. Or try blowing the paint around the paper with a straw!
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!
Check out process art activities, famous artist art projects, and painting ideas for tons more do-able art projects for kids!
Free Splatter Painting Art Project Guide
Splatter Painting Art Project
You Will Need:
- Art paper or canvas (100lb paper or better if possible)
- Acrylic or tempera paint
- Large craft sticks or Popsicle sticks
- Paintbrushes, toothbrushes, straws (optional)
How to Splatter Paint:
STEP 1. Place paper on a drop cloth or on some newspaper to contain the “mess”.
STEP 2. Now have fun making a mess splattering the paint! Dip the craft stick in the paint and then splash, splatter, and flick to get the paint on the paper!
TIP: Look for a list of different paint splatter techniques to try below!
Paint Splatter Techniques to Try
There isn’t just one way to try splatter painting! In fact, you can get messy with several interesting techniques the kids are sure to enjoy!
Flicking Paint Technique
- Dip the paintbrush in the paint.
- Hold the brush over the canvas or paper.
- Use your finger or another brush to gently flick the bristles of the paintbrush, causing the paint to splatter.
- Experiment with different distances from the paper and flicking motions to create various effects.
Dripping Method
- Pour different colors of paint into small containers.
- Use a paintbrush or an eye dropper to pick up the paint.
- Hold the brush or eye dropper vertically over the paper.
- Allow the paint to drip from the brush or dropper onto the paper, creating splatters as it falls.
- Experiment with different heights and angles to control the size and direction of the splatters.
Toothbrush Splattering
Make sure the kids don’t grab their good toothbrushes from the bathroom!
- Dip the bristles of an old toothbrush into the paint.
- Hold the toothbrush over the paper.
- Use your finger to run along the bristles, causing the paint to splatter onto the canvas.
- Experiment with the pressure and angle of your finger to control the intensity and direction of the splatters.
Straw Blowing Technique
- Place small puddles of paint on the paper.
- Hold a straw close to the paint puddle.
- Blow gently through the straw to move the paint in different directions, creating splatters and interesting patterns.
- Try using multiple colors and blowing them over each other to see how they blend and interact.
More Fun Splatter Painting Ideas
Explore more splatter art with these themes:
Process Art for Kids
Splatter painting is a fantastic example of process art that is easy to do with kids of all ages. Plus, all ages enjoy doing it! Read about the many benefits of process art including building creativity, confidence, persistence, emotional regulation, self-expression, communication, patience, focus, and art appreciation!
