Pumpkin Patch Paintings (Balloon Prints)

I have never been a fan of "cookie cutter" projects. I do understand value in children understanding how to follow directions, but I also try to make sure that even with the craft projects we do, children have lots of choices in order to use their own creativity.

I always think more about this concept when it is nearing Halloween. One of my undergraduate professor's at Northern Michigan University always used the example of Halloween pumpkins/Jack-o-lanterns as a very common cookie cutter project. I even remember one year a group of students covering the door to her office with identical looking paper cut-outs. I don't think a year has gone by where I have not thought about her and the cookie cutter pumpkins this time of year.

Art of course, it about the process, it is an opportunity to learn through exploration of materials and to find your own personal way to express yourself. There are no rules, no limits..... in art, anything is possible.

In art, pumpkins can be any shape.

They can be any color.

Your pumpkin patch can be green, or pink, or white.... or any color you choose.

Today, we painted pumpkin patches. We did not make "cookie cutter" jack-o-lanterns. We made a mess, mixed colors and even popped a few balloons.

Balloons make funny paintbrushes.

If you plop them down just right, you can make a circle.

If you swirl them in enough colors, you get very colorful pumpkins.

When you squeeze them too hard, they pop! It makes a loud noise and the pieces and paint go flying! This post was linked up at:

Comments

Ticia said…

And if you read "Spookley the Square Pumpkin" you learn that it's good to have different shaped pumpkins.

October 27, 2010 at 4:36 PM

Amy A @ Child Central Station said…

YES! Ticia- We love that book!

October 27, 2010 at 5:42 PM

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