The Imagination Tree

Creative play and learning for kids

Fireworks Spin Art Paintings!

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It’s Bonfire Night here in the UK on November 5th which is a traditional time to gather for a family fireworks display, warming food and hot chocolate around a huge bonfire while an effigy of Guy Fawkes is burned on top. A fabulous historical and traditional event that is plenty of fun, if not very noisy!
fireworks spin art
It seems a great time to do some fireworks art! We absolutely LOVE using the salad spinner to make beautiful paintings and it seems to perfect way to make spin and splatter art to represent fireworks bursting in the sky! Add in some fabulous glitter paint and the effect is beautiful. (You know how I feel about glitter improving pretty much everything in life!)

I cut some black sugar paper into rectangles that would fit in the base of our salad spinner and got out a range of really bright water based paints and sparkly acrylics for the girls to choose from.

We fixed the paper into the base with a little bit of blu-tac to keep it steady, then the girls squeezed dobs of paint directly onto it, in any position they wanted.

Here’s an example of one piece waiting to be spun!

Then close the lid and spin! This part is really great for exercising those gross motor skills and, depending on the style of the spinner, can actually be quite difficult for little ones to do! If it came out looking not too interesting, we added more paint on top and spun again. Sometimes we did this up to 3 or 4 times, with some beautiful layered results!

The combination of bright colours with the glitter made some really sparkly, striking pictures!

 

Bang!!
Whizz!!
Fizz!!
Pop!!

They LOVED making them because of the quick and easy results and how much they differed each time. The unpredictability was part of the surprise and fun! In the end we made at least 20 or more. And Pop keeps getting the spinner out of the cupboard because she wants to make some more!
fireworks spin art
Now that they are thoroughly dry I am going to iron them (low heat, on reverse, under a tea towel) and then straighten them up and frame them together into a large frame with a white mount edge and black frame.

Learning Links:

  • creativity: using a range of media, experimenting with making art with new equipment, colour mixing, discussing how a picture looks
  • physical: gross motor skills, turning, winding, pushing, pumping
  • knowledge and understanding: discussing history and traditions
Cakie: 3 years 2 months
Pop: 19 months
 
Don’t forget to check out the 2nd play challenge over on hands on: as we grow today!

Comments

  1. Naomi Jane says

    I love the contrast the black card gives to the paints. What I loved even more was the concentration on Pop’s face when she was squeezing the paint in 🙂

  4. Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

    Thank you!
    Naomi- I know, I just love her expression of sheer effort and concentration!
    Kelly the glitter acrylics are from The Works (though when I went yesterday they had none!) and the bright paints are just ELC £1 bottles. Hope that helps!

  9. Anonymous says

    I can’t wait to see them framed! This was beautiful and super easy too! Great job girls!

  10. Helen Bromley says

    These are fabulous! Just wish I had a class to do them with :(. Will have to try it on an INSET!!
    The other great technique for fireworks is wet chalks… simply soak some chunky coloured chlaks in water (not too long, or else they will fall apart) and make patterns with them on black sugar paper – watch the colours change as teh chalks dry. A winner every time!
    By the way – I am with you on the glitter front. I think that glitter and post it notes are the key to successful learning 😉 xxx

  12. Ellie says

    Fantastic, they look gorgeous, love the glitter. I’ve just managed to find a salad spinner in the charity shop so think we’ll definitely be having a go at these. Thanks for sharing. Ellie

  13. Andrea says

    I did this with my girls today and we had a blast!
    What a fun, easy project that looks fantastic.
    They are going to become our new birthday cards.
    Thank you for the GREAT idea.

  14. RedTedArt says

    Mmmh, I thought I already left you a comment… mind = sieve. Anyway, I ADORE your spin art. It looks WONDERFUL and so perfect for firework day!

    Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!!

    Maggy