School-aged kids will learn how to use spill art to discover new designs in this fun project. Our basic techniques can easily be used at home or in the classroom.
Creating Spill Art
Spill Art can be created in a variety of ways with many mediums. Today, we are using coffee for the base of our spill art but artists also use watercolor, dyes, or anything else that will leave a stain on paper. It’s important to keep color in mind when creating spill art. The darker your coffee (or other liquid) is, the darker and more bold the spill design will be.
Related: Create fantasy maps within coffee spills.
Supplies Needed to Make This Coffee Spill Discovery Art Project
- Dark Coffee – cooled to room temperature
- Cardstock – or other heavy body paper
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Paper Towels
- Protected Surface
Directions to Make Coffee Spill Discovery Art
Step 1
Begin by pouring some room temperature dark coffee into the center of the cardstock. If desired, kids can use their hands to lightly pat the coffee spill to create more splatter.
Step 2
Next, use paper towels to remove excess coffee from cardstock.
To create a darker spill: Lightly touch the top of any coffee puddles with the edge of a folded paper towel. This will soak up excess liquid without removing too much of the coffee.
To create lighter spill designs: Place paper towels over the entire spill and soak up any remaining coffee on the surface of the paper.
Set paper aside to dry.
Step 3
Turn the paper in various directions as you look at the dried coffee spill. Look closely to see what shapes and designs you see represented within the spill. This is a bit like looking up at the sky to find shapes hidden within the clouds.
Step 4
Then, use a pencil to lightly sketch a design within the coffee spill. Look for any details within the spill itself that can add to your drawing. Be careful not to extend the design past the borders of the spill.
Step 5
Lastly, trace sketch with a permanent marker and add final details. Carefully erase any unwanted pencil lines.
Finished Coffee Spill Discovery Art Project
Our discovery art turned out great! Since these projects are made on paper, they can easily be framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style.
Our Experience Making this Coffee Spill Discovery Art Project
I love how unique each design is with this project. Each artist sees different things within each shape and can create anything they choose! I find that kids can more freely express themselves when there is no “right” or “wrong” way to complete the project, or no way to compare their project to others within the class. Each artist begins with a different coffee spill; therefore, kids will create individual designs unique to their own interpretations.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
20 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes
Difficulty
Medium
Estimated Cost
$1
Materials
- Dark Coffee – cooled to room temperature
- Cardstock – or other heavy body paper
Tools
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Paper Towels
- Protected Surface
Instructions
- Pour room temperature dark coffee into the center of the cardstock. If desired, kids can use their hands to lightly pat the coffee spill to create more splatter.
- Use paper towels to remove excess coffee from cardstock.
To create a darker spill: Lightly touch the top of any coffee puddles with the edge of a folded paper towel. This will soak up excess liquid without removing too much of the coffee.
To create lighter spill designs: Place paper towels over the entire spill and soak up any remaining coffee on the surface of the paper.
Set paper aside to dry.
- Turn the paper in various directions as you look at the dried coffee spill. Look closely to see what shapes and designs you see represented within the spill. This is a bit like looking up at the sky to find shapes hidden within the clouds.
- Use a pencil to lightly sketch a design within the coffee spill. Look for any details within the spill itself that can add to your drawing. Be careful not to extend the design past the borders of the spill.
- Trace sketch with a permanent marker and add final details. Carefully erase any unwanted pencil lines.
Notes
Coffee Spill Discovery Art Variations
- Use other mediums to create spills such as teas, watercolors, or dyes.
- Quicken dry time with a hair dryer or heat gun.
- Explore adding other mediums to your project such as colored pencils or paints.
Coffee Spill Discovery Art Variations
- Use other mediums to create spills such as teas, watercolors, or dyes.
- Quicken dry time with a hair dryer or heat gun.
- Explore adding other mediums to your project such as colored pencils or paints.
Other Fun Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog
Did your kids enjoy creating coffee spill art? What images did they discover within their coffee spills?
