Splattery fun
Dashes of paint can add pizzazz
On a recent trip to California to visit my cousin Ingrid and her family, I discovered what world-famous American abstract artist Jackson Pollock, and 13-year-old, seventh-grader Audrey have in common. When the urge to paint and create calls, they grab their medium, spatter and throw it all over their canvas and then stand back in joyful amazement.
Color everywhere, shooting out in all directions! Pollock called his technique “action painting,” while Audrey described hers as “just plain fun.”
While Audrey is too modest to call herself a Pollock protégé, she will admit that she loves to experiment with “paints and crafty stuff,” especially on the spur of the moment. That’s exactly what she did when she and her middle-school friend decided that the canvas butterfly-style chair she decorated when she was an 8-year-old was definitely from another era.
A faded “Girls Rule” painted slogan and mini drawings no longer fit the updated look of her teen-style bedroom. Instead of tossing the comfy chair for something new, she repurposed it on a whim.
The girls removed the canvas from the frame, grabbed a drawer full of acrylic craft paints in squeeze bottles in Audrey’s favorite colors, and headed outdoors in the backyard. They stretched it out flat on an old ping-pong table and the two of them started squeezing and squirting paint with abandon.
The paint took a few hours to dry since some of it came out in “artistic” globs, but the look was sensational and the chair was decidedly hip and trendy.
Enjoy this easy and arty activity this summer using a variety of items you might want to decorate.
If you use a plain cotton baseball cap, stuff it with newspaper to retain its shape while spattering. For a plain canvas tote bag, insert a piece of cardboard or waxed paper between the two layers to protect the backside from any paint that might soak through. Or, decorate other durable cotton items such as visors, aprons, sneakers or even a lampshade.
Set up the project outside with plenty of newspaper placed under the item. Wear an old paint shirt to protect clothing, if you wish. Begin by squeezing out the paint in spurts, alternating with colors. Let dry thoroughly.
Note: Find acrylic fabric-style paint in small- and medium-size squeeze bottles at most craft and art-supply stores.