Symmetry Painting

This symmetry painting activity is an open-ended way to explore with paint, as well as learn about an element of art. Can you guess what that element might be?? If you said symmetry, then you are right! With this quick and easy activity, both school-aged and adolescent children can create their own designs or pictures with just paint and paper. And, as if that was not enough, it is a fun learning opportunity for each artist to create their own hypothesis about what will happen when paint is added

to one half of paper and then folded over on itself.

This activity can be as simple or as abstract as

possible, and the only limitation is your imagination!

You Will Need:

• Towel (or a space that could potentially get messy)

• Paint

• Printer or Construction Paper

• Paint Brush (optional)*

• Bowls (optional)*

*These are not required to complete the activity, but can add an extra level of creativity for older school-aged children and adolescents.

Let’s Get Started:

Step 1:

The first thing that you need to do is find an art space. If you are worried about the area you chose getting messy, make sure you lay down a towel to prevent paint from spilling.

Step 2:

Now, place your paint and paper in your work space, or on top of your towel, if you choose to use one.

*If you choose to use a paint brush and bowls for paint, include them in your work space at this time, too. But remember, these added materials are not required for the completion of this activity.

Step 3:

Next, fold your blank piece of paper in half and unfold it, again. Make sure that you can see the folded line down the middle of your paper, like in this picture.

Step 4:

Open your first paint color and squeeze a couple of drops onto one side of the paper. Make sure that you ONLY put paint on one half of the paper.

For older kids, or kids who want to use a paint brush for this activity, you can squeeze paint into individual bowls. Again, MAKE SURE that you paint is only on one side of the fold the entire time.

Step 5:

If you choose, you can repeat step 4 with as many paint colors as you would like.

If you are using a paint brush, create your picture using as many colors of paint as you would like.

Remember: All of your paint should be on the same half of the paper.

Step 6:

Once you are satisfied with your paint on one half of the paper, pick up the blank half of paper and fold your paper along the same line as you previously have, pressing the blank paper into the paint.

This is a good time to make a hypothesis, or educated guess, about what will happen when the paper is unfolded.

Step 7*:

Finally, unfold your paper and observe your creation!