Happy 4th of July! I hung these giant coffee filters on a line and set up this invitation to paint last week in art camp. They reminded me so much of fireworks, I thought that today would be a good day to post my photos.
I got this idea from my friend and colleague Kim Poler, who runs a studio called Beehive Art in Massachusetts (read my interview with Kim from earlier this year). Kim has been using these giant coffee filters for years and years. She and her former partner, Susanna Carrillo, discovered them when they were running art camps together in Rowayton, CT. You have to check out this photo and this photo on Kim’s Instagram where I got my inspiration. Kim gave her students droppers to paint with, which is another brilliant idea.
My other art teacher friend, Jennifer Bryant from Small Hands Big Art in Charlotte, NC, also uses these giant coffee filters. And you won’t believe the incredible sensory wall she created!!
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SUPPLY LIST FOR PAINTING GIANT COFFEE FILTERS:
~ Giant coffee filters (we used 18-inch but you can also buy the 24-inch)
~ Liquid watercolors (8-ounce bottles in some bright colors)
~ Jars to hold watercolors (I use jam jars and baby food jars, but also I bought these hexagonal 4oz jars that I love)
~ Brushes
~ Twine and clothespins
Here is a short video of the kids in action.
HOW TO SET UP THIS COFFEE FILTER ART INVITATION:
Set up for this art invitation is easy peasy, and the process is so much fun for children of every age – toddlers and up!
1. Tie a line across the room, or outside. I tied mine above the table to catch drips. Hang the coffee filters with clothespins.
2. Set out the paints, putting one paint brush in each color.
3. Let the kids paint to their heart’s content!
After the kids left for the day, my son came home from sports camp and was immediately drawn to the table set-up. Any time I can entice my 11-year old son into an art invitation, I know I have hit the art invitation jackpot!
My 14-year old daughter also had a go at it. I actually kept this invitation up for two days. I really started loving the way the drippy table paper was turning out, too!
I love the weight and feel of these coffee filters. I think I will cut them up and use them as collage material. The best part is that the color is equally vibrant on both sides!
xo, Bar
Woukd love to know where you can get these gigantic coffee filters. My class of three year olds woukd love this activity!
Where can I get this gigantic coffee filters ? My Kindergarten students would love this activity !!!
Marilyn, I got them at Discount School Supply. Click the red link under supply list and it will bring you to the filters. xx Bar
Can you share ideas on how to display these?
You could tape them to a window, or a wall, or hang on a line with clothespins. You could also tape a bunch together and make a wall hanging. Hope this helps! xx Bar
This looks so fun! What kind of paints did you use?
hi Kathy, we used liquid watercolors. the link is in the post. we love them and use them all the time. xx Bar
I love these Ideas! I use liquid watercolors to as a teacher and need to mention they do stain terribly! Your hands, your clothes… just filling them up for the day and my hands are blue for some reason, careful as I try to be.
There’s nothing as vibrant and beautiful though! I use mini muffin tins and 2 ounce, lidded plastic container to hold the liquid paint with a rock in one section to weight them down (helps prevent spills!)
I wish I had thought of the plastic egg cartons!
Yes, the paint does stain hands. But then again, my hands are always a bit of a painty mess 😉 I have found it comes out of clothes, though. Thanks for the tips!! ~ Bar
You could also starch them and shape over bowls to dry, them group them on a wall a la Dale Chihuly. I love this coffee filter idea so much, I’m going to coat them with polyurethane, shape them, and make my own “Chihuly-esque” wall grouping. Grownup art project; not for kids.
Oh I love that idea!! Thank you for the suggestion! ~ Bar