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Splatter Art in the Kitchen
By Christina Quick | February 25, 2008
With several recent rounds of ice and sleet, my nature-loving family has spent more time indoors lately. When the inevitable boredom set in late last week, the kids and I turned to a library book about famous artists and their work.
My son and daughter were fascinated by the story of Vincent van Gogh cutting off part of his ear. They stared endlessly at the amazing details in Albrecht Altdorfer’s The Battle of Issus. But they were especially intrigued by Jackson Pollock’s splatter painting technique. Pollock often spread his canvases on the floor, dripping and flinging paint from above using a brush or wooden stick.
“Can we try that?” they asked eagerly. “It looks like fun!”
In a moment of spontaneity, I dragged out a roll of newsprint from the closet and spread it over our kitchen’s tile floor. I then armed the kids with several bottles of washable tempera paint, brushes and sponges.
At first, they dabbed at the paper. But it didn’t take long before their inner abstract expressionists emerged and they were tossing and squirting a rainbow of paint in every direction. I stood nearby with a wet cloth, wiping up stray specks and gently reminding them to keep it on the paper.
Remembering how Pollock often left his own handprints in his work, they decided to create footprints in theirs. Shucking their socks, they gingerly stepped — and then ran — through the paint. Soon they were slipping and sliding across it through shrieks of laughter.
By the time I called an end to the fun, the paper was in shreds and both kids were covered with paint. The mess wasn’t really as bad as it sounds. Cleanup was as easy as carrying my budding artists to separate showers and stuffing their “canvas” in a trash bag.
Their work may not be ready for the galleries just yet. But the fun afternoon we shared added some color to our lives and helped lift us from our winter doldrums. I’m looking forward to spring when we can try it again — outside, on the grass.
What do you and your kids do for fun when you’re stuck indoors?
Topics: Family fun |
February 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I usually set up our living room as a movie theater and watch movies all day. We also play mahjong or do karaoke.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I love the thought of the freedom the kids got while they were painting. I don’t have kids of my own yet, but I remember how my mom used to keep us entertained when we were stuck inside. She kept a box or two of our toys in the attic. When we were bored with the things we had out and Mom was about to lose her mind with us bugging her about it, she would go into the attic and pull down one of the boxes. It was like Christmas again!