Have a kid who loves to draw? Check out our NEW Drawing Skills Master Class!  Designed for kids 6-11 to gain skills and confidence.

How to Make Fruit and Vegetable Prints

by Jean Van't Hul
July 28, 2022
printmaking_for_kids_with_veggies_

Make colorful fruit & vegetable prints on paper in this easy introduction to printmaking for kids. Stamp potatos, apples and celery!

Printmaking can sound like an intimidating art term, but it can actually be quite easy to pull off!

Take the simple fruit and vegetable prints for example. This is a great opportunity to introduce toddlers or preschoolers to printing (or stamping) prints.

apple_printing
Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

You simply need to grab an apple, some paper and paint to get started, making this a super easy printmaking activity for kids!

fruit and vegetable printmaking pin

Fruit & Vegetable Prints

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Gather your fruits and vegetables.

    Use fruits and vegetables you already have, or make a special trip to the grocery store with your child to pick out produce with potential.

    Look for star fruits, citrus fruits, or anything with an interesting shape or texture. You can cut an apple crosswise for the star pattern in the center. Try something really small, such as a blueberry or grape cut in half, or really big, such as a grapefruit or cabbage cut in half. Carrot tops or celery can be used to make an interesting feather pattern. Try a zucchini cut lengthwise and one cut across for different effects.

  2. Lay out a sheet of paper

    Use masking tape to hold the paper in place. Pour tempera paints, in the colors of your choice, into shallow bowls or plates.

    printmaking_for_kids_with_veggies_
    Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

  3. Dip the fruit or vegetable in the paint

    Press it firmly to the paper, lifting it up smoothly to create a clean print.

    Don’t worry about clean prints with the younger toddlers, just introduce them to the general concept of printmaking.

  4. Repeat!

    Repeat with different fruits and different colors of paint.


    Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

printmaking_with_fruits_and_vegetables
photo by Jean Van’t Hul

More Printmaking Ideas for Kids

Pin It For Later

Note: This is reprinted from the “Small Hands, Big Art” article in the July/August 2007 issue of Mothering magazine.

How to Make Fruit and Vegetable Prints

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Print
Share
Pin