Painting with Ice Cubes Process Art Activity

Painting with ice cubes is a fun process art activity that also provides a sensory and fine motor experience.  Kids can make beautiful designs on paper with ice cubes, then preserve their pictures with prints in this fun creative process.

ice cube painting activity on foil for kids

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An ice cube painting activity is fun for a winter theme, but it can be enjoyed any day. 

This is a process art activity, meaning there is are no rules and no expected result.

  • The only result you'll get is a beautiful picture, unique to each painter!

Kids will not only have fun painting with ice cubes, they'll discover how mixing two colors together can result in a different color. This adds some science fun to an art activity.

Related: STEAM Activities for Kids

Brrrr! Painting with ice cubes can be a chilly activity. Feel free to slip a glove on one hand to hold the ice cube.

Painting with ice cubes 

In this activity, kids use ice cubes as painting tools.

Related: DIY Paint Tools from Everyday Items

Before the paint dries, a piece of paper is placed over the paint to make a print.

This will create beautiful artwork that is ready to be framed!

Instructions for ice cube painting

Ice cube painting

                        

Cover your table or a large tray with with a towel or drop cloth.

Choose parchment paper (left) or aluminum foil (right) as your canvas. (affiliate links)

  • Regular paper will get too soggy, as the ice cubes melt during the activity. 

Tape the paper or foil to the table or tray to secure.

 

Ice cube painting activity and print making

 

Place dabs of craft paint on a sheet of foil. (affiliate link)

 

Blend paint colors with ice cube painting

 

Rub an ice cube through the paint. Mix blue and yellow together to make green!

 

Make prints from ice cube paintings

 

Making prints with ice painting activity

 

Place a sheet of paper over the paint. Remove the paper right away - don't let it lay too long on the paint.

 

Mixing colors painting activity with ice cubes

 

Lift the paper to reveal a beautiful print!

 

Ice cube painting process art

 

Repeat the activity on a sheet of parchment paper.

Mix red and yellow to make orange!

 

Transfer ice cube painting to paper

 

Cover the paint with a sheet of paper. Press gently.

Remove the paper right away.

  • If the paper sits on the paint too long the colors will blend together and the paper will get soggy.

 

Process art activity with ice cubes

 


Look at the wonderful design you have transferred to the sheet of paper!

 

Ice cube painting print making


Frame the print by gluing it to a backing of construction paper or a craft foam sheet (shown here).

Ice cube painting and colorful prints

 

Sliding an ice cube through paint colors results in a fun sensory experience.

Kids will love engaging with the colorful paints and cool ice cubes. And they'll be excited to share and display their beautiful paintings.

 

preschool painting with ice cubes for winter theme

 

Visit our Painting Activities Pinterest board for more fun painting ideas!

 


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