Lesson 39 - Spin Art Class

In today’s lesson we explored spin art. It is a technique which uses everyday items such as plastic lids, (as you would find on a plastic storage container) paper plates and even cd’s to create colorful, round, abstract circles. It shows children how they can use almost anything to create a beautiful piece of art that looks professional and is fun to make.

We began by having each child practice a spin art sample on a piece of paper. First, they put small dots of different colored paint on the inside of the lid. For their first attempt  they chose 2 or 3 colors. Next they turned the lid paint-side down onto the piece of paper and twisted the lid either clockwise or counter clockwise. This mixed the paint colors into a beautiful swirl pattern. When they thought they had enough twisting, they lifted the lid and looked at the finished product. The children practiced on paper as much as they needed before making a final circle on a large canvas.

This project was fun to create because it used much hand-eye coordination, and it was fun to watch the paint mix through the clear plastic lid as the children were turning it. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the senses. Each child created one final swirled circle on a piece of canvas. For this final attempt they chose over three colors, some blending only cool colors (blues, greens, etc), while others using warmer colors (yellow, orange, red, purple); still others used a combination of both to make very interesting combinations. They also had a chance to use different sized circles, some smaller (as in a coffee cup) and some larger.

Somewhat reminiscent of our Kandinsky circle lesson a few months ago, the final product was outstanding both in color combination and in how they looked spaced on the canvas.