Paint by Fingers

Time

Art & Crafts

4 3 2 1 Mid-Late Stage

Benefits

Participants

One to One

What you need

Large plain tray
Coloured paints
Large sheet of thick paper
Plastic non-latex gloves (optional)
Table covering

Intro

Know an artist who loves the feel of paint on their fingers? Well this is the perfect activity for them. It’s a bit messy, but a true artist will feel right at home with it. And because it’s based around using your fingers to paint, it’s ideal for those who aren’t able to hold brushes anymore.

It’s a one-on-one activity and best done at a table, but with a few adjustments (and lots of protective covering) you can make it work for anyone who’s in an armchair or bed. There are no barriers to creativity!

The Activity

Place the tray in front of your artist and tell them they’re going to get creative with lots of coloured paints
Ask them to choose a mix of colours to use – 3 or 4 is enough
Encourage them to randomly squeeze splodges of the paints onto the tray, helping them, if necessary
Next, you guide their hand onto the tray and encourage them to mix the colours up with their fingers (use gloves if they don’t want paint on their hands)
Encourage your artist to play with the paint so they create an abstract masterpiece
Allow them time to enjoy the feeling of the paint on their fingers as they go
Then press the large sheet of paper carefully on top of the paint (after you’ve both washed your hands)
Lift it up, leave it to dry – and your work of art is then ready to be displayed