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Rock and Roll Painting with Conkers

October 17, 2013 by Anna Ranson

Have fun with an active painting activity using conkers or chestnuts to rock and roll over the paper! Lots of fun and produces beautiful, abstract art for framing or turning into cards, wrapping paper or collage material for future projects. Conker or chestnut rolling art

We have recently collected the most enormous basket full of conkers, the seeds which fall in spiky husks from the great big Horse Chestnut trees in lots of British parks. [I think they may be known as horse chestnuts or buckeyes in other parts of the world.]

We have set test out for everyday play, sorting and rolling on our Autumn nature discovery table, but we have so many it seemed a shame not to use them in some art activities too!

Invitation to create with conkers and paint

 

To do this art activity you need: a washing up bowl, (or any shallow bowl or tray with edges), some ordinary kids paints, a handful of conkers and lots of sheets of paper (that will fit inside the base of the box/tray.) Action painting with conkers

They placed the paper in the bottom of the bowl, squeezed some different colours of paint directly onto it, then simply dropped 4 or 5 conkers in and rolled them around like crazy!

Rolling conker art

As the conkers travel through the paint they pick it up and transfer it all over the paper in a lovely, unpredictable variety of lines, colours and patterns and the colours blend together to make some beautiful marbled effects.Painting with conkers

With lots of paint it made a gorgeous colour and pattern swirled effect, and when they tried with less paint the zig-zagging line patterns were clearer.

Exploring paint rolling with conkers

 

Because it’s such a fun and quick activity, which involves lots of movement (and laughs!), they were able to produce many paintings, one after the other in quick succession. It would be lovely to try monotone versions using simple white on black or glitter glues added into the mix for sparkle!
I think we will use these for cutting into birthday cards or wrapping small presents with.Rock and roll painting with conkers

Cakie: 5.1

Pop: 3.6

Bean: 1.7

See our extensive Art and Craft activities collection for more fun ideas to try at home with kids!

Search our Autumn play and learning activities collection here

 

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Filed Under: Age, Art, Art, Create, Creativity, Gross Motor Development, Learn, Nature, Paint, Preschooler, School Age, Toddler Tagged With: Art, Art and Craft, Autumn, Painting

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50 Autumn Play and Art Activities for Kids »

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    October 17, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    Beautiful post! We haven’t tried this type of painting yet, but we will have to soon! Your photos are stunning 😉

  2. Coombemill says

    October 17, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    Wonderful photos, you make it look so easy but I bet we would get a brown mush!

  3. Sarah @ How Wee Learn says

    October 18, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    Oh your paintings look beautiful! What a wonderful use for chestnuts. We will be giving this one a try. Perhaps with red and green to wrap some Christmas Presents …

  4. Holly says

    October 18, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    We just did this in the dining room and the kids loved it…less mess but still messy 🙂

  5. Jeanine says

    November 29, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    COOOL!!!! I just purchased some walnuts LO actually doesn’t want to make into little creatures NOW, we have something to do with them! I’ll get the bins ready before she’s home from school
    Thank You!!

Trackbacks

  1. Simple science with kids: things that roll - Octavia and Vicky says:
    March 27, 2014 at 8:56 am

    […] with some roly poly eggs or some lovely chestnuts. Marbles work great […]

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About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

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