Art Project #13; Water Gun Art
My kids thought we had the best art project EVER yesterday!
I had been promising them for a few years now that we'd use water guns for art class. We tried a paint gun fight one year but after complaints of paint in the eye we had to stop and I had told them we could try it with paper one day.... but I kept putting it off.
I figured our 100 days of art challenge was the perfect time to finally get to it.
I knew we needed a nice warm, sunny day to attempt this art project so that the boys would be outside and could jump in the lake for easy clean up. Yesterday was bright and sunny and I thought; why not? They've been asking to do this for a long time.
We dragged our easel outside, taped a piece of large watercolor paper to each side and found our water guns. (We have these Nerf super soaker water guns). I brought out our liquid watercolors and we set to work. (I bet this would work just as well with food coloring!).
First we tried just putting the liquid watercolors in the gun and shooting them for intense color but found that the watercolors leaked out and would not shoot out at all.
Then we tried adding some water to the guns while adding a bit more watercolor to them. It worked perfectly!
Whenever they wanted to switch colors they'd clean out the gun, put some more water in and add some more watercolors.
I can't say their pictures came out beautiful. I can't say we necessarily have something new we want to hang on our wall. But that's OK. We did see some neat patterns emerging, watched the colors mix, and learned that watercolors will overpower one another when they get too watery.
The art lesson was about the process of creating art and not the final product. I think the boys really enjoyed the freedom of knowing they could't "mess up."
Once they all decided they were done we rinsed out the water guns, the boys jumped in the lake, and we set their paintings aside to dry.
I used the hose to wash up our easel and the surrounding area. Clean up was pretty simple and the project didn't use up nearly as much as of our liquid watercolors as I had first feared.
I had been promising them for a few years now that we'd use water guns for art class. We tried a paint gun fight one year but after complaints of paint in the eye we had to stop and I had told them we could try it with paper one day.... but I kept putting it off.
I figured our 100 days of art challenge was the perfect time to finally get to it.
I knew we needed a nice warm, sunny day to attempt this art project so that the boys would be outside and could jump in the lake for easy clean up. Yesterday was bright and sunny and I thought; why not? They've been asking to do this for a long time.
We dragged our easel outside, taped a piece of large watercolor paper to each side and found our water guns. (We have these Nerf super soaker water guns). I brought out our liquid watercolors and we set to work. (I bet this would work just as well with food coloring!).
First we tried just putting the liquid watercolors in the gun and shooting them for intense color but found that the watercolors leaked out and would not shoot out at all.
Then we tried adding some water to the guns while adding a bit more watercolor to them. It worked perfectly!
 |
| Rather than wait for a turn at the easel, Alec set up in the driveway |
Whenever they wanted to switch colors they'd clean out the gun, put some more water in and add some more watercolors.
I can't say their pictures came out beautiful. I can't say we necessarily have something new we want to hang on our wall. But that's OK. We did see some neat patterns emerging, watched the colors mix, and learned that watercolors will overpower one another when they get too watery.
The art lesson was about the process of creating art and not the final product. I think the boys really enjoyed the freedom of knowing they could't "mess up."
Once they all decided they were done we rinsed out the water guns, the boys jumped in the lake, and we set their paintings aside to dry.
I used the hose to wash up our easel and the surrounding area. Clean up was pretty simple and the project didn't use up nearly as much as of our liquid watercolors as I had first feared.
Others in this series:
Project 3: Star Wars Crafts
Project 4: Watercolor compass circles
Project 5: Floral pens
Project 6: Watercolor outlines
Project 7: Scratch art jellyfish
Project 8: Oil pastel flowers
Project 9: Fingerprint dandelions
Project 10: Beaded Sun Catchers
Project 11: Bird crafts and snacks
Project 12: Symmetrical, color mixing, butterflies
Project 9: Fingerprint dandelions
Project 10: Beaded Sun Catchers
Project 11: Bird crafts and snacks
Project 12: Symmetrical, color mixing, butterflies
Project 13: Water gun art
Project 14: Watercolor Kits
Project 15: Dragonfly Silhouettes
Project 16: Painting pet rocks
Project 17: Spray Paint Resist
Project 18: Water bottle windsock
Project 19: Stained glass made easy crafting kit
Project 20: Tin can windsock
Project 21: Firework glue art
Project 22: Qixel art kit
Project 22: Qixel art kit
Project 23: Makit Bakit Kits
Project 24: Wood burning cutting board
Project 24: Wood burning cutting board
Project 25: Making our own rafts
Project 26: Spray Painted Canvas
Project 27: Paper bowl jellyfish
Project 28: Tin Foil Art
Project 29: Oil Pastel Bubbles
Project 30: Chalk Pastel painting
Project 31: Washi Tape Votive holders
Project 32: Drip Painted Pots
Project 33: Sun Art
Project 34: Tissue paper transfer
Project 35: Stained Glass dragonfly
Project 36: Art Museum field trip.
Project 37: Taking a Family Art Class
Project 38: Painting Minecraft T-Shirts
Project 39: Painting Pikachu
Project 40: How to Draw Books
Project 41: Wax resist Watercolors
Project 42: Splatter Paint Canvas
Project 43: Fine line fall leaves
Project 44: Fairy Village field trip
Project 45: Oil Pastel Resist Leaves
Project 46: Tissue Paper Leaf Art
Project 47: Bat Silhouette Painting
Project 48: Beginner Photography
Project 49: Making Harry Potter Wands
Project 50: Drawing Cat Faces
Project 51: Making Homemade cards
Project 52: Learning the Art of Zentangle
Project 53: 3-D printing
Project 54: Gingerbread Train
Project 55: Paint Swirled Ornaments
Project 56: Loom band ornaments and bracelets
Project 57: Candy trees
Project 58: Strand of light chalk drawings
Projects 59-64: Christmas Crafting Kits from Oriental Trading
Project 65: Painting Ceramic Village Pieces
Project 66: Washi Tape Cookie Cutter Ornaments
Project 67: Learning Origami
Project 68: Art Books and Artist Study
Project 69: Playing Go Fish Art
Project 70: Edible Chocolate Art
Project 71: Geometric Hearts
Project 72: Marble Swirled Hearts
Project 73: Solid Tempera Paint Drawings
Project 74: Qixels 3-D Maker
Project 75: Making Cupcakes
Project 76: Window Marker Art
Project 77: Shamrock Zentangles on Scratch Paper
Project 78: Painted Pandas
Project 79: Minecraft Digital Art
Project 80: Charcoal Drawings
Project 81: Chalk Pastel Lighthouse Drawings
Project 82: Dying Easter Eggs With Bleeding Tissue Paper
Project 83: Painting Pottery
Project 84: Drawing En Plein Air
Project 85: African Savannah Paintings
Project 86: Woven CD Garden Decoration
Project 87: Working with Clay
Project 88: Art Lessons with Art Academy
Project 89: Melted Bead Wind Chimes
Project 90: Perler Bead Projects
Project 91: Ivory Soap Carvings
Project 92: Ice Cube Tie Dye
Project 93: String Art
Project 94: Multimedia Ocean Paintings
Project 95: Balloon Splatter Painting
Project 96: Making Mosaic Stepping Stones
Project 97: Glass Bead and Glue Sun Catchers
Project 98: Coloring Book Art
Project 99: Metal Stamped Bookmarks
Project 67: Learning Origami
Project 68: Art Books and Artist Study
Project 69: Playing Go Fish Art
Project 70: Edible Chocolate Art
Project 71: Geometric Hearts
Project 72: Marble Swirled Hearts
Project 73: Solid Tempera Paint Drawings
Project 74: Qixels 3-D Maker
Project 75: Making Cupcakes
Project 76: Window Marker Art
Project 77: Shamrock Zentangles on Scratch Paper
Project 78: Painted Pandas
Project 79: Minecraft Digital Art
Project 80: Charcoal Drawings
Project 81: Chalk Pastel Lighthouse Drawings
Project 82: Dying Easter Eggs With Bleeding Tissue Paper
Project 83: Painting Pottery
Project 84: Drawing En Plein Air
Project 85: African Savannah Paintings
Project 86: Woven CD Garden Decoration
Project 87: Working with Clay
Project 88: Art Lessons with Art Academy
Project 89: Melted Bead Wind Chimes
Project 90: Perler Bead Projects
Project 91: Ivory Soap Carvings
Project 92: Ice Cube Tie Dye
Project 93: String Art
Project 94: Multimedia Ocean Paintings
Project 95: Balloon Splatter Painting
Project 96: Making Mosaic Stepping Stones
Project 97: Glass Bead and Glue Sun Catchers
Project 98: Coloring Book Art
Project 99: Metal Stamped Bookmarks
Project 100: Water Balloon Art
I think my boys would love This- thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing. My boys may also thank you soon.
ReplyDeleteI saw it on Pinterest (of course!) and knew we had to try it. As long as it involves some sort of weapon my boys are all for it!
DeleteI found you through the Party at My Place Linkup. My son would think this is the best idea ever! We'll definitely give this a try this summer. I am already running low on ideas and it's only been a few days!! I can't wait to look through your other art project ideas.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help! I have a few other summer fun idea posts. I'll look through and link a few here for you to peruse.
Delete75 More Things to do in Spring and Summer... http://www.ourunschoolingjourney.com/2015/03/75-more-things-to-do-in-spring-and.html
Delete115 screen free activities to do around the house: http://www.ourunschoolingjourney.com/2015/07/115-screen-free-activities-to-do-around.html
DeleteI wish I would've thought of this when my boys were younger!! Maybe grandkids one day?!
ReplyDeleteThere you go! That's planning ahead. ;)
DeleteHow fun is this. I want to try it. I bet your kiddos had a blast. Very creative idea. Thanks for sharing at my party today.
ReplyDeleteI would have joined in if I wasn't wearing my regular clothes. I just stood far enough back that the ricochet didn't hit me.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! I'm not sure my kids would stick with shooting the paper, though. haha Pinning!
ReplyDeleteMy kids had a full on paint war with water guns last year and soon realized that while it sounded fun paint does sting when it gets in the eyes. They were totally content to keep it on the paper this time. Thanks for the pin!
DeleteThis looks like a fun summer activity. I'll have to add it to our summer to do list. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun; messy but fun!
DeleteI love this idea. Great way to have fun with art while working on fine motor skills.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was.
DeleteWhat a fun project!! I bet my big kids would love this just as much. Thanks for sharing it on the Virtual Fridge!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteAnother cool outdoor activity. Thank you so much for linking up with us on #FabFridayPost I'm off to buy a water gun for my kiddos now. :D xx
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun!
DeleteI can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot of fun (and of course they filled them water and turned it into a fight afterwards).
Delete