Materials:
Roll of washi tape
Canvas painting frame or board
5 or 6 compatible colors of acrylic paint
Paintbrush for each paint color
2 strips of poster board
Directions: Tape off the canvas in a stripe pattern using the washi tape. I like washi tape because it’s flexible, comes in a variety of designs and widths, and doesn’t leave a sticky residue behind.
Choose your paint colors, and invite your child to choose one color to paint the first stripe. We found it helpful to let the child choose which stripe to paint and lay the poster board strips alongside the tape as a paint guide. That seemed to keep the occasional errant brush strokes to a minimum! Once he finishes the first stripe, let him paint another if he’d like. You can choose another color and move your paint guides to another stripe, or not use the paint guides at all. Some of the older children didn’t like the paint guides, so they painted without them. It’s the process, not the product, so if the painter strays outside the tape lines, that’s perfectly fine, and I think it actually enhances the product!
This project actually took a couple of days to complete. Children painted one stripe the first day and came back to it the next. When all the stripes have been completed, make sure the paint has thoroughly dried before pulling off the tape (a fun thing for your child to do) revealing a unique work of art!
