Blotter Art: Color, Balance & Symmetry

Blotter art is one of the easiest ways to create colorful abstract art and is a good exercise in color, balance and symmetry. Look carefully and you'll see that each design includes a mirror image of itself from left to right and has been created along a fold in the paper. Imagine how dramatic each of these paintings would look in a frame or as a journal cover! You can also create these same designs on t-shirts by adding Fabric Medium to BioColor® ahead of time to make your paints permanent. Blotter art shows off the beauty and vibrancy of BioColor® and is a great time to incorporate BioColor® Gold, my personal favorite.

To make blotter art, fold heavy white construction paper in half and place "dime sized" dots of BioColor® along the fold. Then fold paper in half again and rub the paint out to the edges with your hands and fingers. Or add lines by pressing into the folded paper with a BioColor® scraper or craft stick to make the contrasting lines you see in these designs. Open up the folded paper to find a beautiful abstract painting inside. Keep it just the way it is, or add a little more paint and re-fold it to alter your picture. As long as you use heavy construction paper, you can work with your painting for quite a while until you are happy with your design. Keep going until you like it! That's the magic of art.

For more detailed instructions, find a complete lesson plan for Blotter Art, T-Shirt Blotter Art, and BioColor® Blotter Art Masks in Smart Art, and Smart Art 2, available through Discount School Supply.

Materials You'll Need:
BioColor®
BioColor® Gold
BioColor® Scraper
Twist Top Nancy Bottles
Heavy White Construction Paper
Paper towels

Optional:
Smart Art Ideas
Smart Art Ideas 2