We’re crazy about creativity at the Georgia Museum of Art. Let’s warm up our creativity by pretending to paint a big picture in the air. Use your finger like a paintbrush. What if you were dancing instead? Can you move your arms like flowing ribbons? Great job! Creative expression is all about using art, music, movement and words to share our ideas and feelings.
Take a look at these paintings. What objects do you see? What colors do you notice? These are still-life paintings. A still life is a picture of things that don’t move, like fruit, flowers or toys. Sometimes still-life paintings tell a story about the artist. These artists were working during a time and place that had rules about what they could or could not paint. Because of this, they would creatively hide stories in their paintings. If you painted a still life, what objects would you want in your painting?
Now it’s your turn to creatively express yourself.
For this activity, you will need:
- white paper (cardstock works best)
- washable paint
- large resealable sandwich bag
To make your smear art:
- Cover your work surface for easy clean-up.
- Pour small amounts of 1 to 3 different colors of paint on your white paper.
- Carefully place the paper inside the resealable plastic bag and close it tightly.
- Use your fingers to mix the colors all over your paper. Tap, swipe or use your whole hand to create different textures.
- Once your paper is completely covered in paint, remove it from the bag and allow it to dry.
