Painting with ice cubes is a fun process art activity that 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.

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An ice cube painting activity is fun for a winter theme, but it can be enjoyed any day of the year. In this activity, kids use ice cubes as painting tools.

This is a process art activity, meaning the value is the experience and there is no expected result.

• The only outcome you'll appreciate is a beautiful picture, unique to each painter! And knowing that early childhood skills have been engaged in a fun way.

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: Combine science and art in  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.

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!

Painting with ice cubes 

Instructions for painting with ice cubes

Prepare the work area by covering 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.

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

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

How to make prints from ice cube paintings

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

Lift the paper to reveal a beautiful print!

Repeat the activity on a sheet of parchment paper.

Mix red and yellow to make orange!

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.

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

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

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.

Related: DIY Paint Tools from Everyday Items

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