This week we’ve been experimenting and painting with cotton buds. It turned into a great lesson in how the process of painting (or any kind of art or play) is just as (more?) important for children as the end product.
I’d told the children about Georges Seurat and how he used pointillism to create pictures that looked so different when viewed close up or from afar, and wondered if they might like to try out the technique for themselves.
The technique took a lot of concentration and was a challenge, as the children had to conceive their design but then apply a precise method to achieve it. I left them too it, to test out the idea and see what they could come up with.
They created flowers, butterflies and letters.
And then they explored what else they could do with the cotton buds.
They swooshed and swirled and spread the paint – on the paper and on the paint trays themselves. The picture at the top shows the gorgeous colour patterns they made in the paint.
So much process going on! The end product was some colourful art work but I know they enjoyed the doing without any care really for what they finished up with.
What we did end up with though was a pile of colourful cotton buds. I wonder what we can do with them?
happily shared with works for me wednesday and glitter link party and tot school and making monday marvelous and share your Sunday best and craft schooling sunday and preschool corner and smart summer challenge and for the kids friday and happiness is and it’s playtime
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These are beautiful! I say process, process, process. And if the product is nice, too, then all the better. How old are the children that you’re working with?
Hi Rachelle. The children doing this were 5-8yrs old (sometimes I’m with 2s and 3s too)
Process, process, process all the way with me for early years (they will make beautiful things anyway amidst their experiments I always find).
Fabulous post!
OHHHHhh, so super love the gorgeousness of these art explorations! Lovely tie in with the Seurat! stunning.
…great Process I’m going to steal the idea and use the technique in my own work. I’m not sure Georges Seurat would approve but I’m sure the children enjoyed it and learnt a great deal. Reminds my of a time (last term) when we introduced Jackson Pollock to a bunch of 8 year olds – they certainly left their mark on the classroom walls and floor. Oooops.
what an awesome idea! the pictures turned out great and it’s great they had a fun time doing so.
While their products were lovely, for the early years at least, I agree: process.
Amusingly, I just did a post where I gave my 16 month old Q tips to use to paint watercolors with for the first time this week (middle activity)!
http://buttercupsbabies.com/2011/07/28/a-day-of-toddler-fun-little-bit-of-everything/
What a wonderful activity, the process is a huge part of activities like this! Love how they turned out!!! ~April
Love this! I’m pinning this on Pinterest as a rainy day activity. I never thought of using q-tips (in America).
This will be fun to do with my grandchildren! I hopped on over from Tara’s Sunday Best!! ;D
What a brilliant idea! I love your refection on the process vs end result. Very true, especially for younger kids whose “product” may not be perfect! Thanks for sharing this with us at Rub Some Dirt On It!
great idea! thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!
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