Toddler Tuesday this month explored how we can use our imagination to create art. Having an imagination means that we can create or see a picture in our mind of something that isn’t real. Many artists create works of art using their imagination. Sometimes art doesn’t look exactly like the world around you.
This painting, “The Spirit of Grand Central Station – The Man Who Helped the Handicapped,” is by the artist Thornton Dial Sr. Grand Central Station is a big train station in New York City that many people use. Dial was inspired by the sights and sounds that he heard and saw there. What colors do you see? Dial imagined these colors when he heard different sounds. Do you think he heard loud or quiet sounds at the train station?
Now it’s your turn to color your imagination. Let’s make a bubble print.
You will need:
- large white paper
- photograph of your toddler
- straw
- washable paint
- dish soap (preferably a “grease-removing” brand, such as Dawn or Palmolive)
- water
- small cup
- protective table covering (plastic tablecloth or newspaper)
- wet wipes or damp cloths for quick cleanups
To create your bubble print:
- Cover your work surface for easy clean-up.
- Stir 2 tablespoons of paint, 2 tablespoons of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of water in a small cup.
- Dip the straw in the soapy paint. Blow through the straw to create a mountain of bubbles that rise above the rim of the cup.
- Press your paper on top of the bubbles to create a colorful print. Repeat as many times as you like.
- Take a photo of your toddler. Tape it to the middle of the paper.
- Once finished, let the paint dry and admire your imaginative work of art.
