Needed:- Canvas
- Acrylic paint (I used mixtures of ultramarine blue, cadmium red, cadmium yellow medium or light, white, with a small amount of brown) and paintbrushes
- Wet wipes
I've made three of these paintings so far with two butterflies, three butterflies, and nine butterflies, and with children ranging in age from one year to eleven years. Here are some tips to make it easier:
1. Paint canvas background color (I used ultramarine blue) the night before. If needed can do a couple coats.
2. Mark ahead of time where you want footprints to go.
3. Don't try to do all the footprints at once unless you have other adults to help.
4. Wipe child's feet with wet wipes first, before applying the paint. Do one foot, wipe clean, then the second foot, and wipe clean.
3. Don't try to do all the footprints at once unless you have other adults to help.
4. Wipe child's feet with wet wipes first, before applying the paint. Do one foot, wipe clean, then the second foot, and wipe clean.
5. Toddlers and babies are easiest to do if you have a second adult to
hold them while you put the paint on their feet, then the two of you can
lower and press each foot straight down and straight up from the
canvas. Then immediately can wipe feet clean with the wipes before the
paint spreads elsewhere. If making the painting on your own with kids,
strap baby/toddler into high chair with a snack while you paint their
feet, and then hold the canvas upright to push the foot into it. The
first method works better if possible.
6. Kids who are preschool/early elementary age are easier to do - have them sit on a chair, wipe their feet, apply paint one foot at a time. They can stand, leaning against you for balance, while you press their foot straight down and up from the canvas (canvas is on floor, with tarp/plastic underneath). I usually have put the foot over my shoulder to have the greatest control over getting it where I want it to go.
7. Some footprints turn out better than others - can always paint over them with the background color and then do them again another time, or can fix them as needed with paint and paintbrush.
