Comb Painting

Isn’t it fun to experiment with various types of tools when painting?  As a teacher, my classes used combs, toothbrushes and various types of hair brushes to create texture for Eric Carle inspired works and the kids wanted to try combs for painting with at home.  We are welcoming some new babies into our family so we wanted to use this technique for creating gift tags and our daughter requested a necklace as well, but it could work just as well on paper!

Materials

• Building blocks (e.g., Keva Planks, Ikea Fundera blocks)
• Drill (to be used by an adult)
• Paint
• Old combs (you could also use popsicle sticks to create a similar effect, pulling them through the paint, turned sideways)
• Plastic sheet (we used an overhead sheet)
• Lace
• Beads
• Wood glue

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Don your smock.  Lay out your plastic sheet in your craft tray and make lines of paint.  (This is one way to start to see the effects of the comb, however, then branch out to your own experimentations!)

• Pull the comb through the paint to combine the colours.

• We then took our blocks and put them into the paint, creating a print on them.

• Allow to dry overnight.

• Have an adult drill a hole in the planks on one end.  (These ones were made using a wide tooth comb.)

• To create the tags, write the recipient’s name over the dried paint with permanent marker and then thread ribbon or lace through the hole and affix it to your gift.

• Or create a necklace in the same manner and enjoy this statement piece!

Purpose

• Painting with various materials.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.  Be sure to remove your necklace for play (e.g., the playground) or for younger children use a safety release clasp.
• Beads can be a choking hazard therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.
• A drill is intended for adult use, with the accompanying safety gear.