Bubble Painting
Blow through a straw into a paint-and-washing-up-liquid mix, then press paper onto the bubbles. Creates beautiful circular patterns. Perfect for backgrounds, planets, or standalone artwork.
Painting
Ages 4–1120 minsEasyIndividual or small group
Watch on YouTube
Search: "bubble painting art kids tutorial" — video tutorials from popular craft channels
What you'll need
- Poster or acrylic paint (2–3 colours)
- Washing-up liquid
- Drinking straws
- Deep plastic cups or bowls
- White cartridge paper A3
- Aprons
How to do it
- Mix a small amount of paint with washing-up liquid and a little water in a cup — roughly 1 part paint, 1 part liquid, 1 part water.
- Put the straw in the cup and blow (not suck!) until bubbles overflow the rim.
- Immediately press paper face-down onto the overflowing bubbles.
- Lift gently — the bubble pattern transfers to the paper.
- Repeat with different colours, overlapping for effect.
- Leave to dry flat.
💡 Tips
Remind children firmly to BLOW not suck — taping a small hole in the straw halfway down prevents accidental ingestion. Works beautifully as a background layer for further artwork.
Books and materials
Convenience links for everything mentioned above. We link to Amazon — LessonKind may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.