Here’s a quick lesson that will only take about one hour to do. It requires a supply of foam, so either purchased the foam sheets from your favorite art catalog or recycle the foam lunch trays or even meat trays from home.
I used glitter liquid watercolors for this project but any paint would do, even a nice even coat of tempera. In any case, set out one color and a few large wash brushes and ask the students to lay a wash over the entire sheet of watercolor paper (size is up to you). If you use tempera paints, water them down significantly and use just one color. Set aside to dry (about ten minutes for watercolor).
Hand a small piece of foam to each child (approx 2″ x 4″). Draw a fish along the entire length or foam. Add scales, eye, designs, etc. Then, with a dull pencil, push down all of the foam surrounding the fish. This takes a bit of time.
Place a palette of blue tempera paints of the table. I selected greens, blues, whites and purples.
With a dry brush, apply paint to foam fish and gently press the fish onto the watercolor paper. if your foam is thin like mine, encourage the kids to tap gently instead of rubbing so the fish won’t move or smear.
Encourage the kids to overlap their fish and point them in the same direction so they look like a school of fish.
Third Grade Results!
I did an art project similar to this with my two year old about a month ago. You can see it here.
http://theadventuresofbear.blogspot.com/2009/10/start-swimmy.html
Just in time for my Letter F week! Thanks!
hi I'm an art teacher in Houston and I just started a blog if you want to check it out! I am sure I have used some of your ideas in the past and I love reading your blog! Thanks,Natalie http://www.elementaryartfun.blogspot.com
great! I'm doing printmaking and need a young kid project..
Wow, the prints look great! You are such an awesome teacher!
They turned out great, and I'm sure the kids had a lot of fun making them!
Very nice! you made a very unique arts I really love it,I think you have a future as a catalog designer try to study about this.=)
I love this project BUT we have done this project with kinders using REAL FISH!! they had a blast and it was fun trying to get 5 year olds to touch a raw fish. The key is to not use too much paint so you can get a good print of the scales.
thanks for the site. I needed an idea for my printmaking lesson with 1st grade and I think i found it.
I will tie this in with the japanese fish printing art form. Also, if you did not do this, a piece of folded tape on the back of the fish, like an upside down “t” makes a great handle to both put the block down, and when finished, to pick it up. Keeps the prints sharper as the kids do not have to pry the block up with their fingers.
That’s a good tip. Thanks, James!