This project is the exact opposite of those times you give your children a direction for painting. Set out all your painting supplies (including some that might not be obvious painting supplies!) and let your children lead the way.

Our paints included dot paints, watercolors, fingerpaints, and regular tempera paint.  Our supplies included paintbrushes, craft sticks, sponges, pom poms, a rolling pin… and fingers of course! I simply set all of this out, along with lots of thick white paper.

Veronika was first most interested in the fingerpaint, wanting to use her fingers.

But then she loved moving the rolling pin through the blobs of paint.

The resulting artwork on this sheet was so beautiful and shimmery!

Next she loved using the sponges (I had both shape sponges and makeup sponges), which she pressed and swirled through the paint in such lovely ways.

Soon she was dotting all over this masterpiece with dot markers!

Finally, she moved onto the watercolors. It quickly became clear, though, that the water was more of a hit than the hues!

Meanwhile, this hodgepodge of painting supplies even enticed big brother Travis over. Although he normally likes to color in coloring books these days, he decided watercolor might be fun, especially if tied into favorite TV show characters.

What interesting shapes or creations will your children paint when you set them loose? Please share in the comments!