Mini Monets and Mommies: Preschool Paint Project: Pointillism to the Point

Monday, March 24, 2014

Preschool Paint Project: Pointillism to the Point

Get to the point with this art-history inspired project.

If pointillism is something that you may vaguely remember from your college intro to art history class, don't worry - this project is easy enough for the novice art mom and her paint-loving preschooler to do. Before you begin the actual painting, tell your child that he's going to make a picture using tiny points or paint tip blotches. You can easily adapt this project, tossing the paintbrush and having your child try it with his fingertips, a q-tip or even the end of a twig.

Here's what you'll need:
  • Paint: Choose a washable tempera or finger paint.
  • Thin paintbrush (or not, if your little artist is using his fingers, a q-tip or another similar "pointing" tool).
  • Paper: Pick your own - construction paper, printer paper, card stock or even tissue paper.
Here's what to do:
  1. Choose a subject. Go for an outdoorsy seasonal scene, create a still life from a bowl of fresh fruit or let you little one go wild and design his own abstract art.
  2. Mess-proof (or at least prep for the mess) by placing newspapers or a painter's tarp on the work surface.
  3. Pour quarter-sized pools of paint onto a paper plate or piece of cardboard. Use a rainbow of colors or add in a color mixing aspect to the activity. If you're trying color mixing, use red, blue and yellow (tell your child that these are the primary colors) and white (to make the colors lighter - e.g., pink).
  4. Have your child dip the end of a thin paintbrush (or finger, q-tip, etc.) into the first paint color. Using the paint-covered tool, he can dot away to start his masterpiece. Help him to wipe off the paintbrush with water and a paper towel in between colors.
  5. Encourage your child to layer dots in different colors or place the hues right up against each other.
If your child is struggling to understand the idea, don't do it for him. Instead, make your own and let him watch. Then have him create his own artwork on his own piece of paper - that you don't work on. Add another layer to this learning opportunity and take your child to the local art museum to see real pointillism pieces. Don't have an art museum nearby (or one with a piece in this style)? Go to the library and check out a picture-filled art history book or search the web for artists such as Seurat or Signac.

Are you looking for more famous artists/ art style activities? Check out and follow my Pinterest board!
Follow Erica Loop's board Famous Artist Kids' Activities on Pinterest.

7 comments:

  1. Great idea. I tried pointillism with my two children last week (2 & 4) and they loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great engaging information. Thank you for sharing. I found this post engaging and meaningful, which has added value to my understanding. Keep sharing good information. Thanks
    app development companies india
    app development india
    apps developers in india
    mobile app developers

    ReplyDelete
  3. IEEE Final Year projects Project Centers in India are consistently sought after. Final Year Students Projects take a shot at them to improve their aptitudes, while specialists like the enjoyment in interfering with innovation. For experts, it's an alternate ball game through and through. Smaller than expected IEEE Final Year project centers ground for all fragments of CSE & IT engineers hoping to assemble. Final Year Projects for CSE It gives you tips and rules that is progressively critical to consider while choosing any final year project point.

    JavaScript Online Training in India

    JavaScript Training in India

    The Angular Training covers a wide range of topics including Components, Angular Directives, Angular Services, Pipes, security fundamentals, Routing, and Angular programmability. The new Angular TRaining will lay the foundation you need to specialise in Single Page Application developer. Angular Training

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really liked your Information. Keep up the good work. Wentworth Point preschool

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice Blog. Thanks for Sharing!!! Wonderful blog & good post. It’s really helpful for me, waiting for a more new post. Keep Blogging!
    Visit Best Astrologer in Bangalore.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 에볼루션게임 먹튀검증 안전노리터 go

    ReplyDelete