My art class for toddlers and preschoolers did @artpantry‘s family canvas challenge. Each week we added a layer to a 3′ x 4′ canvas. It’s a wonderful process art opportunity that kids will LOVE!
*We use affiliate links and may earn commission from purchases made through those links.
Week 1: Washable Tempera Paint
We used blue, yellow, and white washable tempera paint to cover the entire canvas. The kids first used brushes, but they abandoned them when they realized that they could use their hands to spread the paint. It got messy, but it was so fun!
Week 2: Paint Sticks
We used solid tempera paint for our second layer. The kids each got to use Kwik Stix Paint in blues, greens, yellows, and white. They loved trading the colors with each other, and they covered the whole canvas in paint.
Week 3: Paint in Spray Bottles
We used spray bottles with liquid watercolors inside to add another layer to our canvas. The kids loved spraying the paint, and they actually didn’t spray anywhere but the canvas. So it wasn’t as messy as I feared!
Week 4: Fabric and ModPodge
We used ModPodge and fabric pieces to add another layer to our canvas. The kids loved spreading the glue with sponge brushes, sticking the fabric onto the canvas, and spreading layers of ModPodge on top of the fabric pieces. The ModPodge picked up a bit of the washable tempera paint, making a kind of blue/green glue layer that actually looks really cool on top of the fabric.
Week 5: Sidewalk Chalk and Beads, Washi Tape, Buttons
Our finished product! This week we used sidewalk chalk. The kids could color wherever they wanted on the canvas with the chalk. The kids also glued buttons and beads onto the canvas, as well as stuck on Washi tape. They were not super interested in the chalk, but they were fascinated with the Washi tape! When we do this project again though, I probably will skip the Washi tape because it doesn’t stick super well to the canvas.
We have art history crafts!
- Frida Kahlo fabric flowers
- August Macke watercolor paintings
- Robert Indiana letter art
- Betsy Ross flags
- Gerhard Richter squeegee paintings
Follow us on Instagram for more art history and process art activities!
