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Sponge Art Cat

One of the easiest and most versatile of art projects is sponge art which provides color to the project through a pouncing or dabbing motion. The resulting colors are mottled and have lightness and depth and is very forgiving and permitting. Additional colors can be added easily, filled in or left light and details can be added or not. The technique can be adapted to thumbprint or fingerprint for little artists, or to fat paint brushes which gives a different stippling effect. No matter which technique you choose the resulting art is not difficult and the finished result is satisfying. So, how to make a sponge art cat?

What You Need

Cat template (see below)
Art paper or card stock –  9×12
Scissors
Paints / Stamp pads
Sponge (small – cut a piece from an unused kitchen sponge) or fat paint brush
Blue tape / washi tape or low tack tape

Template

Download template.
Thanks to Pattern Universe where you can find just about any pattern you might need several cat templates are available.

This is the basic template that can be used for many projects. It has just the right amount of detail, but not too much, and has enough space so that any little artists don’t have to worry too much about getting paint in the wrong places, and there is enough space for bigger artists to add details.

Colors

For this project either paint or stamp pad works best.

Paint:
Can be applied with finger, sponge or stippled with a brush.
Might be good to know: can be messy

Stamp pads:
Are perfect  as they are clean and don’t spill – but are more expensive.
Have a range of options to choose from: single color pads or pads with multiple colors.
Some colors on the multiple pads can be removed.
Might be good to know: If you are doing this project with very young artists the single color palette is preferable as there won’t be problems staying on the one color and getting the cross coloring. Clean up is easy.

Use what you have – just have fun!

Any colors are fine, (except white!) and little artists normally like to use bold primary colors. This project was done with a summer beach idea so shades of blue were used.

How To

Carefully cut out cat template.
Try and cut cat shape from paper without cutting through the paper edge.
Young children should have an adult cut the cat shape.

Viola! 2 cats.

The cat template is not for this project. Put it somewhere safe.

This project uses the paper with the cat cut out of it.

Place the empty cat paper onto the card stock and tape lightly with low tack tape. It is best to tape both pages to the work surface.

And off you go! Fill the shape carefully, try not to rip / pull / roll the edges of the top sheet and just fill the space with color. Using either a sponge, fingers or brush stipple or pounce the space with color. Light movements work best.

Carefully remove the tape.

Remove the template and enjoy your creation!

Simple and fun.