Designed to encourage creative exploration and experimentation, this activity makes use of materials that can be found at home or a grocery store. You will create unique compositions by treating ink or juices from fruits and vegetables like paint and/or using organic materials as a resist. Follow along using the video demonstration above or instructions below. You can also download the lesson plan.
Materials
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Scissors
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Several sheets of paper (any of these could work: copy paper, sketch book paper,
index cards, cardboard, file folders)
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Spray bottle – one for each color used (can be a spray bottle for the garden, household cleaner bottle, or hairspray bottle that is empty and clean)
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Can of beets in juice or any berries (frozen and thawed)
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Black Sumi or India ink
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Paper towels
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Cotton swabs
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Organic shapes like leaves, flowers or grasses (optional)
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Colored pencils, pens, markers and glue stick (optional)
Activity Instructions
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Collect leaves, flower petals, grasses, or other flat, natural items.
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If you’re using fruits or vegetables, use a colander to drain the juice into separate bowls.
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Pour juices and/or ink into separate, clean spray bottles.
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Cut about a dozen different shapes out of paper.
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Select a shape (natural item or paper) and lay it on the paper.
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Spray your color over the shape and lift it off.
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Repeat with different shapes and colors until you are happy with the composition.
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Optional: After paintings are dry, add more details and/or color with crayons, markers, pens, or colored pencils. Collage the shapes you cut out onto your composition using glue if desired.