We’ve been getting one of our mirrors down lately and propping it up on Maia’s easel for drawing and other art making.
She’s drawn on it with washable markers, window crayons, and regular crayons. They all wash off pretty easily which makes the mirror a great reusable canvas. And the mirror becomes such an interesting part of the artwork since it reflects back light as well as the viewer and the images in the room.
This time we decided to try shaving cream on the mirror—so fun!
Shaving Cream Art on the Mirror
MATERIALS
- Shaving cream
- Large mirror
- Fingers, hands
- Paintbrush (optional)
- Tempera paint (optional)
We also tried shaving cream drawing on the mirror the other day. Maia rubbed an even layer all over the mirror, then used her fingertips to draw in the shaving cream.
What an interesting visual and tactile experience!
When she was finished with a drawing, she would rub the shaving cream all over the mirror again to create an even layer, then start another drawing. She also tried drawing with a chopstick and a fork, but much preferred her own fingers.
I like taking pictures of ephemeral art like this, not only because I have a blog and want to share with you all, but also as a record of the art making when there isn’t a finished drawing that we can save.
Maia painted over the shaving cream as well and made a couple monoprints, but the highlight for her was just drawing in the shaving cream.
I’d like to try shaving cream drawing on the window as well, to see the light shining through the lines. And also paint directly on the mirror without the shaving cream.
So many possibilities!
Update: We’ve tried shaving cream art on the window, too!
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26 Comments
umatji
July 20, 2010 at 8:42 amThat is so ace. Makes me realise how rubbish it is to have carpet in your house. We used to live in a carpet free house and now have a few huge rooms of carpet and apart from the kitchen it is not very friendly for such things. I miss the lovely slate and wooden floor boards. Mind you, winter always makes me more aware of these things. Another inspire – thanks!
Barbara Zaborowski
July 20, 2010 at 10:11 amWhile you have the mirror available, it is also interesting to lay it flat on a low table or the floor and build with blocks on it. As you build a tower up, it is also building down. Now is a good time to try it, before Daphne is walking and getting into Maia’s block constructions.
Lola
July 20, 2010 at 10:14 amLooks so much fun! We’ve got to try this!
Little Wonders' Days
July 20, 2010 at 10:44 amThat looks like a fun sensory project!
Emily Mitchell Peters
July 20, 2010 at 11:37 amWe do shaving cream art on the glass doors of the shower!
Emily Mitchell Peters
July 20, 2010 at 11:38 amThe shower door idea makes it easy to spray it off and start again.
Dawn Lange
July 20, 2010 at 12:00 pmThis helps remind me of the process part of art…
Gianne
July 20, 2010 at 12:22 pmWhat fun! My Charlotte did this a while back on a baking tray and I was shocked by how beautiful the colors mized together like marble. The prints make magnificent cards, right?
Rashmie
July 20, 2010 at 2:35 pmThis is so much fun for the lil ones! Pari and I once made icing using shaving cream – on a cardboard and tissue cake. She loved how it created swirls on the cake and looked so realistic…! We have got to try with it on a mirror…!
Karen Gott
July 20, 2010 at 3:08 pmIn my class we use the shaving cream on a glass or tray & add 2 or 3 droplets of colored inks. The children take a spoon or stir stick and swirl the colors through the shave cream to create neat patterns. Then, we take a piece of white cardstock & place it on top of the shave cream art, to transfer the color patterns to the paper. Wipe off the shave cream & allow to dry. (Sometimes we’ll write the child’s name in white crayon, which will resist absorbing ink, thus revealing their name.) They think this is SO cool!
Colleen
July 20, 2010 at 3:32 pmHow fun! My sons would love to do this, too!
Have an award for you over at my blog, here is the link:
http://sunriselearninglab.blogspot.com/2010/07/cool-awards-for-some-cool-bloggers.html
Thank you for always inspiring me to do more art with my sons. They love being creative and so does their mommy:)
Colleen
lori
July 20, 2010 at 4:15 pmin my preschool classroom, we play with “snow in a can” {shaving cream, i use one for sensitive skin} during our winter months. it’s an easy, no thought sensory project that entertains the children until the “snow melts” {cream disappears}. it washes off easily and cleans the tables at the same time; the room smells marvelously clean and fresh. a great treat for days too cold to go outside. once they are exposed to it, the children ask for “snow in a can” several times a month. so we even get to play with “snow” in june.
raizel
July 20, 2010 at 5:26 pmthats clever. but I see part of the joy in this and creativity as taking the shaving creme out of its usual place ect..
raizel
July 20, 2010 at 5:27 pmgreat idea. I just discovered you r blog and really love it!
Subadra
July 20, 2010 at 11:51 pmHi,
I have awarded you Blog of Substance award. You can find it here http://bookslinksandmore.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-with-substance.html
Your blog is so awesome!
Subadra
http://bookslinksandmore.blogspot.com
molly
July 21, 2010 at 9:07 pmI love this. We have been doing dry erase markers on a picture frame covering fabric — saw it on a blog somewhere, wish I could remember where now! Also the idea of documenting reminds me of an amazing sculptural installation at the National Museum of the American Indian by Nora Naranjo-Morse called “Always Becoming” — made with natural materials outside so it is constantly changing over time. (I hope I am not butchering her ideas about the work too badly in this short space.)
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:32 amHow about putting down a splat mat where the art making is going to take place?
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:33 amI love that idea! Thanks, Barbara! Right now Maia is actually building towers FOR Daphne to knock down. She’ll ask me to bring Daphne over to the tower if she’s not already right there. But I’m sure she’ll want to make some that don’t get knocked down, too.
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:34 amGreat!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:34 amYeah, we’ve done shaving cream marbling, too. It’s a lot of fun!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:35 am:)
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:36 amI hadn’t thought of doing a crayon resist with the child’s name under the shaving cream marbling. That sounds like something we’ll have to try!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:37 amThanks, Colleen!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:38 amSounds like you have a fun preschool classroom!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:38 amThanks, Subadra!
Jean Van't Hul
July 22, 2010 at 7:39 amI’ll have to look into that installation artist. Thanks.