Bright Ring Publishing
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Body Part Prints from Big Messy Art
Big Messy Art
Stamping with different parts of the body? YES! This is a truly big and messy art activity that is especially for naturally messy (creative!) artists, and also gives more timid souls an opportunity to explore at their own pace.
Big Messy Art by MaryAnn Kohl
Paperback $14.95

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Materials:
  • old hand towels
  • tempera paint
  • shallow pans
  • large sheets of paper
Process:
  1. Consider doing this project outside on a summer day with lots of water and towels for cleanup and a change of clothes on hand. Wear old play clothes or old bathing suits. For indoor creating, be prepared! Cover the work area with plastic sheeting or newspapers.
  2. To make the stamp pad, fold the old hand towels into thirds. Folded towels will be about 7" x 14" (18cm x 35cm), in three layers. Soak each towel with tempera paint and place in a shallow pan.
  3. To make the body part prints, press a body part (fingers, hand, arm, foot, shin, cheek, chin, even a bottom!) on the pad and then on the paper. Make as many body prints as desired.
  4. Set the paper aside, and allow the prints to dry while making additional ones.

Clean-up tip: Artists can rinse themselves in the soapy water, hose off, and dry with old towels. An additional bath or shower may be needed later.

Variations:
  • Attach the paper to the wall or large easel and make prints.
  • Trace an artist's body on the paper and let him or her add the prints to fill in. An older artist can create himself or herself on the paper without an outline.