Icicle Drip Art Painting

Our theme this month is Winter in the Woods with Experience Early Learning. One of our focus days was all about icicles, and we brought the theme to life through an engaging art activity: icicle drip art painting.

Setting Up for Icicle Drip Art Painting

I love to use our easel for creative projects! It’s a big, homemade one I found at a yard sale for just $2—a fantastic find. This particular painting process works perfectly on an easel.
Here’s how we did it:

1. We started at the top of the paper and used pipettes to drip paint downward.
2. We thinned tempera paint and used our favorite Handy Art Liquid Watercolors and pipettes.
3. The paint consistency was thick enough to run slowly down the paper, creating beautiful icicle-like streaks.
4. Once finished, we laid the paintings flat to dry.

For an extra touch, we mixed in some sparkle paint. Don’t be afraid to add it to your colors; it gives a magical effect, especially to shades like purple and blue!

Benefits of Vertical Work

Working on vertical surfaces offers much more than just a fun painting activity—it’s a vital developmental tool for preschoolers. Here are some key benefits:

Enhances Fine Motor Skills

Using pipettes to drip paint strengthens hand muscles and improves eye-hand coordination. These skills are foundational for writing, cutting, and manipulating small objects.

Promotes Proper Wrist Position

Painting on a vertical surface positions the wrist correctly, helping children develop the stability needed for effective fine motor control. This proper alignment supports the skillful use of finger muscles.

Children tend to straighten or flex their wrists when working on flat surfaces, as children often do. When this happens, it interferes with using the small muscles in the hand properly. Other vertical surfaces like magnetic boards, dry-erase boards, and chalkboards are excellent for small muscle development in the hands.

More Winter-Themed Activities to Try

Looking for more ways to embrace the Winter in the Woods theme? Check out these engaging activities:

• B is for Bear Den: Create cozy bear dens using craft materials to teach about hibernation and letter recognition.
• Frozen Ice Gems: Make colorful ice gems with water and food coloring for a fun science and sensory experience during sub-zero temperatures.
• Winter Ice Science Art & Sensory: Combine science and art by exploring the effects of salt on ice. Add colors to turn the activity into a mesmerizing sensory experiment.