It’s Missy, artist and guest blogger here at PBS KIDS Utah, back with another great arts and crafts project. I stumbled upon this simple and fun technique on YouTube about 10 years ago and have been playing with it and perfecting it ever since. It’s called string painting!
Supplies:
- String
- Scissors
- A sketchbook/notebook
- Craft paint
- Muffin tin or paint palette
- Paintbrush
Instructions:
- Squeeze a few different colors of craft paint into your muffin tin, one color per cup.
- Cut your string into 12-18 inch sections, one string for each color of paint.
- Holding onto the end of one string, dip it into one paint color. Use a paint brush to completely cover the string, except the end you are holding onto, in paint. (If your paint is thick, add a bit of water. You don’t want big clumps of paint on the string).
- Open your sketchbook to a blank page. Lay the paint covered string on the paper in a twisting line with the dry end hanging out over the edge.
- Close the sketchbook and press firmly.
- While pressing on the sketchbook with one hand, pull the string out of the sketchbook and set it back in the muffin tin.
- Open the sketchbook to reveal a mirror-image abstract shape.
- Let the page dry for a few minutes and repeat steps 3-7 with another color of paint and a new string.
- Let your painting tell you when it is done. I usually paint with 3-5 colors on each painting.
Wrap-up:
Look! You have created a magnificent, interesting piece of abstract art. Take a close look and notice the paths the strings took on their way out of the sketchbook. These string art creations tend to be full of movement and grace. They look great framed either as a single piece of art or both mirror image pieces together. Be creative and have fun!
.png)