Age group: kindergarten – middle primary
Come together in this fun session with your child and learn about the joys of getting their hands dirty with paint or ink. The joy of making marks in wet paint and then layering up the colours.
What you will need to create:
- A4 Gelli plate
- Roller [Brayer] or similar ink applicator
- Choice of three colour paints
- Plastic spatula, fork or similar for dragging into the paint
- Bird body templates are printed, ready to go
- Pair of pipe cleaners (legs)
- Googly eyes
- String to make them fly!
- Glue
- Tape
- Scissors
Let’s play. Step-by-step instructions
Creative prep
- Ensure everyone has the front and back of the free download templates of the bird’s body. These will be printed as outlines only.
Prepare the paint
- Using a roller [brayer], children will roll out a thin, even layer of acrylic paint onto their gel plate .
Mono printing textures
- While the paint is still wet, encourage your children to draw patterns and marks into the paint using tools like popsicle sticks, brushes, or their fingers.
Make the prints
- One at a time, place each bird template face down onto the textured paint. Press gently and evenly over the back of the sheet to transfer the painted texture. Creating a mono print.
Pro tip: don’t leave the paper sit too long, it could stick if the paint drys
Reveal your artwork
- Carefully peel the paper away to see the textured print. Repeat for both sides of the bird.
- Set them aside to dry completely.
Cut and assemble
- Once dry, cut out the printed bird body.
- Ensure the child has printed two sides of the bird.
Build your bird
- Flip over one side of the bird’s body (the back piece).
- Attach the hanging string at the top and pipe-cleaner legs at the bottom using glue or tape.
- Once the string and legs are in place, glue the front and back of the bird’s body together, carefully lining up the edges. This will create one complete bird with legs and a string for hanging.
Important: Do not glue the wings together. Leave them loose so they can be folded outward, away from the body to give your bird a 3D effect.
Add final touches
- Stick on eyes and any other decorations.
- Finish by hanging your bird for display.