1. Paper, preferably 12x12 inches or larger, and preferably white or lightly colored. (See notes below directions.)
2. Tempera paint in red, yellow, and blue.
3. Ruler, credit card, or whatever you have that will help to spread the paint
4. Water and paper towels for clean up
Directions:
1. Fold the paper in half, making a crease down the middle. If you have several children, you might have them write their names along the crease on the back (which would be the outside of the paper when it is folded).
2. Open paper. Apply a dime-sized puddle of each of the three primary colors of paint in the center of the paper. The paint will be on or near the crease. Really large paper can take a little more paint, perhaps the size of a quarter.
3. Close the paper. Carefully place hands on each side of the paint spots. If the paper is light, you should be able to see the paint through it. Squish the paint upward. Do NOT plop hands down in the middle of the paint and push outward, or the paint will quickly come out through the sides and lower corners.
4. Keep watching the paint through the paper. Squish around here and there, careful to keep the paint inside the paper, but not getting upset when accidents happen. If you have more than one child, you will almost certainly have a bit of a mess, but nothing that can't be cleaned easily.
5. Open the paper and see where the paint is still thick and wet. Close the paper and use a straight edge such as a ruler to spread the paint as much as you like.
6. Leave the project open to dry. Do not close it and forget about it, or the project will dry closed and the two halves will stick together.
7. Optional idea: When the project is dry, you can refold it and cut around the design, effecting a symmetrical cut. Then, mount the piece onto black paper for a striking look.
Helpful hints:
1. If you use construction paper, begin working with it as soon the paint is applied. Unless the paper is very high end, construction paper will absorb the paint quickly and the paper will be weakened.
2. Unless the child has a strong grip on color theory, I highly recommend using only the three primary colors when first doing the project. I have seen amazement on the faces of children and adults when they see the colors that result from squishing just the three primaries.
3. Blue is a strong color. Use a little less of it.
4. Yellow is the weakest color of the three. Use more of it. In the above example, I should have used more yellow and less blue.
5. I tried using metallic tempera, and it is very sticky. If you use metallic, be careful or you will tear the paper.
6. Do not walk away when the paper is closed. If you forget to open it for drying, your project may be ruined.
7. The above example was done with an 18x24-inch sheet of strong manila paper, similar in consistency to a business folder. Low end watercolor paper would do well, also. If you only have thin paper, you can still do the project; just be careful when handling the paper. If it does tear, it is not the end of the world. You can always let it dry and use it in a collage. Have fun!
