Every summer we make spin art in Art Bar Camp. It’s actually a wonderful first day project to loosen the kids up, get them chatting with their new friends, and build teamwork but sharing paints and helping each other. Once dried, these petite little paintings can all be hung up together to make a gorgeous spin art wall backdrop!
Spin art is a pretty old-timey art activity. I remember doing this as a kid, and that was decades ago! My good friend Meredith from Homegrown Friends did a similar spin art project a few years back which I love! Her spin art looks a little different because she used a gadget called a Swirl & Spin, and she glued them to a big canvas which is a brilliant idea. Then you can move it around to other rooms!
Using salad spinners is also fun because of the whole “reveal” part when you pull off the lid. And… it uses those big arm muscles and gets the kids active. Here is the supply list, some easy step-by-step directions, and a fun video so you can see the kids in action…
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Supplies needed to make Spin Art:
~ Salad spinners (I get mine at IKEA, but Amazon has them)
~ Tempera paint (IKEA has a great set of bright colors, but I also often use just regular temperas that I put in squeeze bottles)
~ Paper (I cut up sulphite paper into small squares – allow for at least 10 per person, if not 20)
~ Pencil (for names)
~ Tarp or newspaper on the floor for drying
Easy step-by-step directions to make Spin Art:
1. Cut you paper to fit inside your salad spinner. They should mostly lay flat, with just the corners bending a little up the sides.
2. If you have group, have the children write their name on the back of their paper in the middle before putting it in the salad spinner. Otherwise they’ll never know whose is whose when they are dry, because they will make a million.
3. Put the paper in the salad spinner and squeeze out some paint on top of the paper.
4. Close the lid of the salad spinner and spin it for 20 seconds really fast.
5. Peak in to see if it is done. If it is, take it out and lay it down on some newspaper or a tarp. If it isn’t, keep spinning! You can add more paint, too, if needed.
6. When they have all dried, hang them individually on the wall about an inch apart. This would be such a cool party backdrop for photos!
Watch this quick video to see the kids in action!
That’s all there is to it!! Spin are is super easy and fun. The key is in the prep. Cut enough paper, have enough paint, and find a big spot to dry them all.
xo Bar
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Did you like this post? Here are more summer fun art ideas:
How do I clean the salad spinner?
Just with soap and water!