Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.

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Paint Mixing

Preschoolers love, love, love to mix paint colors, and I like some unique art for memory albums and/or classroom display. The orange/fuchsia diptych art quilt entitled “Now” by textile artist Laurie Brainerd provides just the right inspiration for children to color mix and have an interesting finished project. The unique paper shapes add interest to the painting project.

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The Two-Part Paint Mixing Process

Cut out the two shapes displayed above on light pink or white fade-resistant construction paper.

Day One

Set out yellow and a little red tempera paint along with brushes for children to decorate the shape featured below.

Color mixing paint activity: red and yellow paint set up with an unusual paper shape.

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Day Two

Set out white and a little red tempera paint along with brushes for children to decorate the shape featured below.

(The red paint tends to dominate, so a small amount works best.)

Color mixing paint activity: red and white paint set up with an unusual paper shape.

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Finishing The Look

After both projects dry, use glue tape to attach the pieces to a 12 x 12 piece of card stock. The art can be displayed on a wall and/or saved for a scrapbook-style memory album.

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About Laurie Brainerd’s Work

The art quilt “Now” (2008) is part of Laurie Brainerd’s series of abstract works around formal elements of design. Commercial, hand-dyed, and vintage fabrics were used in the pieces. I discovered the quilt in the gorgeous book “500 Art Quilts” by Karey Patterson Bresenhan.

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Laurie Brainerd makes many unique art quilts. You can find out more about Laurie’s interesting and varied pieces on her website.

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