Paint isn’t just for brushes, and noodles are no exception. You can make all kinds of fun art using food with your paints and preschoolers gain experience exploring different tools, shapes and textures when they paint with unusual items. For this project we used spaghetti noodles and finger paint. Watch out, the noodles get a bit slippery when covered in paint!
Spaghetti painting art
Spaghetti painting can get a little messy, so plan ahead and make sure to cover the work area. Preschoolers should wear a paint shirt to prevent any paint getting on their clothes. You can swirl the noodles around on the paper, use the noodle in a whip motion to splatter paint or add a whole bunch of noodles at once. Have fun exploring what noodle painting can do!
To make a spaghetti painting you’ll need:
- Cooked and cooled noodles
- Finger paint
- Paper
- Paint shirt and paint mat
Supplies to make a spaghetti painting
One you have all your supplies gathered, just dip the noodles and go. You can explore color mixing as well as the results from different kinds of pressure using the noodles. Pulling a noodle gently and lightly across the paper will make a different design that mashing a paint covered noodle on the paper.
How to paint with spaghetti noodles:
- Put paint in a bowl or on a plate so noodles can easily be covered with paint.
- Dip a noodle in paint and then apply to paper to create painted picture.
Spaghetti noodle in paint
Paint with spaghetti noodle on paper
Try dipping the noodle in more than one color and watch how the paint mixes on the paper.
For even more fun, try using different shapes of noodles. Compare what type of design each noodle creates on the paper. If your preschooler is a bit timid with slimy textures, have a washcloth or paper towel available so they can paint a bit and easily wipe their hands clean.
Written by Jen Goode
Jen Goode is a work-at-home mom of 3 and the owner and “doodler in charge” of JGoode Designs, a Denver based art and design studio. She has been a creative professional since 1996. Jen, shares her creative inspirations here at Projects for Preschoolers as well as 100 Directions and as a featured contributor on various sites throughout the web.
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I love this! Very creative, very fun!