Who says printmaking with kids has to be complicated? Here’s an easy, less-mess way of printing!
Printmaking and clay have a reputation of being the most messy and prep intensive art mediums to teach kids.
However, from my experience, printmaking and clay are the most engaging art mediums for kids.
There is something so magical about the responsiveness of clay and printmaking. They are both such tactile medias and draw children into the world of creating at a whole different level.
If the thought of printmaking with children makes you nervous, give this technique a try! Mess is easily contained within a cake pan and is a breeze to clean up! Just stick the pan in the dishwasher and you are done!
Here’s how we did these magical monoprints.
Supplies:
- Cake pan
- Cardstock or heavy drawing paper
- Paint (I recommend limiting the palette to 3-4 colors)
- Paintbrush
Directions:
- Use the washable paint and brush to create a painting directly on the bottom of the cake pan. You will want to paint quickly enough that the paint is still wet for the next step!
- Press a sheet of paper onto the painted design.
- Carefully peel the paper away to reveal your print.
- Wash the pan and repeat!
Looking for another easy printmaking project for kids? Check out this blog post on creating firework prints using toilet paper rolls!
Needing a different printmaking project that uses washable paint? Check out this lesson plan for Apple Print Flowers inspired by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe.
Happy printmaking!
