Blot Art

Time

4 3 2 1 Mid Stages

Benefits

Participants

One to One or Group Activity

What you need

A4 art paper folded down the middle
Different colour paints

Intro

Most of us will remember painting on one half of a page and folding it in half to print the other side to make a surprise picture. This is called ‘blot art’. It’s a fun and easy way to create something cheerful – and explore your imagination.

It’s even been used in a scientific setting to help understand what people might be thinking. But more often than not it’s just a nice creative activity that invites the imagination to see shapes and things among the blots of paint

Enjoy this activity in a group and invite people to discuss what they can see

The Activity

Give each person a sheet of paper
Explain and demonstrate to the group that they’re going to paint a random image on one side of the sheet and then fold it over and press down, so the paint prints on the opposite side
Unfold the paper carefully
Invite everyone to have a go
People can then hold up their image and explain what they think it looks like
Ask each person in the group if they can see the same thing or if they can see something else, ask them to describe it
Give everyone a chance to talk about their own picture and comment on everyone else’s