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by Lisa M. Cope
Topics: Kindergarten, Arts and Crafts

Though kindergartners might not know who Jackson Pollock is, they sure will know how to invoke his spirit and style. Letting kids splatter paint on paper is a guaranteed hit, because what child doesn't love to get his hands on a squirt bottle and make a mess? Make this project even more exciting by creating your very own art gallery, complete with a mock auction.

Let your child use his imagination and some paint to make a wild print on paper. Once the work of art is dry, have him set his price. It can be anything from three jelly beans to two chocolate kisses. Have fun with deciding what the art should cost and then hold a mock auction in your house. So get your gavel and let the art auction begin!

What You Need:

  • Spray bottles (unused)
  • Paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Water
  • Newspaper
  • Paper
  • Items for purchasing (jelly beans, stickers, small chocolates, nuts, etc.)
  • Tape

What to Do:

  1. Dilute the paint with water and pour it into several spray bottles. Make sure each child has a few colors to choose from.
  2. Lay out some newspaper on the surface where they’ll be painting. The squirting can get out of hand!
  3. Place a sheet of paper in front of each child and let them go crazy. Have your child see what happens when he squirts the paint bottle close to the paper as opposed to squirting it from farther away.
  4. Have your child also try placing objects, such as leaves or rubber bands, on his paper and squirt the paint over them. Use homemade stencils such as circles, squares and triangles to see what happens when the paint is sprayed around them.
  5. You can also give your child some paint brushes - not for painting - to dip into paint.  Then let him splatter the paint onto the paper, just like Pollock.
  6. When your child has finished his masterpiece, set it aside to dry. Explain to him how the family auction is going to work. Divvy up your monetary items (let’s say some stickers) equally among however many kids (and parents!) are involved. Have each child hang his or her art work along the wall in the living room.
  7. If you want to really make a night of it, invite friends over to your “gallery,” serve lemonade and have your guests walk around and examine the works of art. When everyone is ready, start auctioning off the pieces to the highest sticker bidder!