Bubble Art Painting Activity

Bubble art is a fun process art activity for all ages! Make your own paint using watercolors or food dye and dish soap.

Make bubble paint art by blowing colorful bubbles at watercolor paper. As they pop, they’ll make messy circles. You can mix up your own paint with a few basic supplies. Choose your favorite colors!

Tips for making bubble paint

There are a couple of ways to make paint for bubble art. They’re all a bit different, so pick the one that works for your kids.

• Watercolors and dish soap:
  • For each cup, start with a few tablespoons of water and add the watercolors like you’re rinsing a paintbrush. Stir the water until the color is even, then add a squirt of dish soap.
  • This makes good bubbles that hold their shape, but the colors are pale.
• Food dye and dish soap:
  • For each cup, start with a few tablespoons of water and add a squirt of food dye. Stir the water until the color is even, then add a squirt of dish soap.
  • This makes bubbles that break pretty easily, but the colors are vibrant.

You can also try either watercolors or food dye with homemade bubble solution. This is a fun option if you’re going to blow bubbles in the backyard and use just a bit to make paint.

How to make bubble art

Supplies

• small bowls or cups
• water
• watercolors or food dye
• liquid dish soap
• watercolor paper
• bubble wand

Instructions

1. Make the bubble paint.

Start by mixing up the bubble paint. You can make one color or a whole palette, but each one needs to be mixed in a separate cup.

For each cup, start with about 2 tablespoons of water and add the watercolors or food dye. Stir the water until the color is even, then add a squirt of dish soap.

Use the bubble wand to stir each cup. When the paint is bubbly, it’s ready.

2. Set up an art station.

This is a messy activity, so paint outdoors if you can. Indoors, use a drop cloth or disposable plastic tablecloth to cover the table. Set up the paint cups and a sheet of watercolor paper on a table.

3. Blow bubbles.

Dip the bubble wand in the paint and gently blow directly down toward the paper. Some bubbles will pop, but a few should settle on the paper. If you’re too close, the bubbles will splatter. If you’re too far, the bubbles will go everywhere.

As the bubbles pop, they’ll leave paint outlines on the paper. Blow bubbles toward the paper until you’re happy with the design. Let it dry completely.

Printable instructions

Bubble Art

Print

Mix water and dish soap with watercolor or food dye to make this fun process art project.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Dry Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Estimated Cost $1

Materials

• small bowls or cups
• water
• watercolors or food dye
• liquid dish soap
• watercolor paper
• bubble wand

Instructions

1. Make the bubble paint.
   Start by mixing up the bubble paint. You can make one color or a whole palette, but each one needs to be mixed in a separate cup. For each cup, start with about 2 tablespoons of water and add the watercolors or food dye. Stir the water until the color is even, then add a squirt of dish soap. Use the bubble wand to stir each cup. When the paint is bubbly, it's ready.
2. Set up an art station.
   This is a messy activity, so paint outdoors if you can. Indoors, use a drop cloth or disposable plastic tablecloth to cover the table. Set up the paint cups and a sheet of watercolor paper on a table.
3. Blow bubbles.
   Dip the bubble wand in the paint and gently blow directly down toward the paper. Some bubbles will pop, but a few should settle on the paper. If you're too close, the bubbles will splatter. If you're too far, the bubbles will go everywhere. As the bubbles pop, they'll leave paint outlines on the paper. Blow bubbles toward the paper until you're happy with the design. Let it dry completely.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• Erupting Volcano Art Project
• Yarn Art Invitation to Create
• Pretty Paper Butterfly Craft