Creative non-traditional drawing techniques for kindergarten

Updated: 04/05/2021

All children love to draw, but many are unable to draw beautifully using “standard methods.” Unconventional techniques will come to the rescue, turning aesthetic education into a fun game. Which is very good for younger children. Unconventional techniques simplify a child’s work: there is no need to master a brush or draw complex compositions, but the end result is wonderful drawings.

Drawing with palms or legs

For this technique, you will need children's palms, plain white paper and gouache (or finger paints are better, as they wash off well). The main blank is created using the imprint of children's palms or feet. Then the adult himself or together with the child completes the small elements.

Rocket in the form of a footprint

Pink flamingo made from handprint

Preschool children will enjoy drawing with their palms. Animals, birds, and natural phenomena are the best.

Interesting video lesson on drawing with palms

Types of non-traditional drawing in kindergarten

What is especially valuable about non-traditional methods is that most of them can be done by young children, in contrast to the usual drawing with a brush or felt-tip pens and pencils. For middle-aged children (4-5 years old), more complex techniques are available, which are performed with the help of adults. Children aged 6-7 years can use all non-traditional methods independently.

The following describes various methods for practicing non-standard drawing, as well as recommended ages for children.

Fingergraphy

The simplest and most common method of non-traditional technique is drawing with fingertips. Special finger paints are well suited for this; you can also use gouache or watercolor, after wetting it with water.

All that is required of the child is to dip his finger in the paint and leave a print on the paper. It’s fun to decorate the templates this way (you can print them out or draw them by hand):

• Add leaves to the bare tree;
• On the stem and core - petals;
• For the ladybug, make spots on the back;
• For the New Year tree - toys;
• White spots on the fly agaric cap;
• Butterflies have spots on their wings.

Note! Any picture can be fully colored using fingerprinting or the missing elements can be added.

Drawing with palms

This method can be considered the next step after finger painting. The entire palm will be involved here. The same paints can be used as for fingerprinting. Here are some options for drawing with your palms:

• Chick. You should apply yellow paint to your palm and leave an imprint on the paper - you get a body. Then apply paint to the fist and thus make a head for the chicken. All that remains is to add the beak, legs and eyes.
• Fish. To do this, you can apply different colors to your palm, then leave an imprint on the paper and add eyes and fins to the image.
• Tree. To do this, use brown or black palm print paint. Then decorate the resulting tree with leaves using fingerprinting.
• Peacock. This beautiful bird will come from two or more handprints. Then you should draw the head, paws, eyes and decorate the tail.
• Flower. It is worth using bright paint to leave an imprint. Then add a stem with leaves to it.

Cockerel made from a palm print

Note! The open palm most closely resembles a bird. Therefore, using this technique you can make any bird of your child’s choice.

Drawing with cotton swabs (poking method)

This method is reminiscent of fingerprinting, but it uses an alternative tool for making a print - a cotton swab. The mark it makes is small and more round, so this method is good for drawing spots on animals. Another option is to completely paint the image with pokes, thus obtaining a mosaic effect. Using cotton swabs you can draw the following:

• Grains from a mouse or chicken;
• Rowan berries;
• Snowfall;
• Rain;
• Starry sky.

Formation of spatial thinking in preschool children

You can also use a few pokes to create an object of the required shape, for example, tree leaves or flowers.

Note! You can draw with several sticks at once; for convenience, they can be secured with a string.

Drawing with bulk substances

For this method, you can use salt, sand or any cereal. Drawing occurs in stages. First, you should put some design on the paper. Then drop PVA glue into certain places and sprinkle them with salt or cereal. After drying, shake off excess. The result will be an unusual three-dimensional drawing. You can experiment with this method of drawing on the following topics:

• Winter forest;
• Fireworks;
• Snowstorm;
• Pattern on butterfly wings;
• Flowers.

Snow-covered birch tree made with salt

Note! It is more interesting and colorful to use colored grains or sand. To do this, you can use food coloring or buy ready-made colored sand.

Drawing with crumpled paper

For this method it is more convenient to use gouache. You will need a small piece of paper that needs to be crumpled. Then dip this lump in paint (if necessary, add water to the gouache) and begin to apply it to the paper. The drawing turns out airy and light. Here are some ideas of what you can draw this way:

• Lilac branches;
• Dandelions;
• Clouds;
• Snowy spruce trees;
• Blooming meadow.

Lilac branches

Note! In this way you can color the image in an unconventional way. For example, make a shaggy cat or a fluffy owl.

Drawing with threads in kindergarten

Thread drawing can be a little challenging for preschoolers, so it is recommended to do it with older groups. This is a rather complicated technique and little ones cannot cope with it. To create such a pattern, you need to prepare threads (it is advisable to choose thicker ones, for example, wool). Next, you need to cut a thread about 30 cm long and dip it thoroughly in paint. Then you should place the thread on the paper, for example in a loop, and pull it down. For convenience, you can use two sheets of paper to properly press the thread on both sides. Another option is to fold the sheet in half and thread the thread inside. You can create a variety of patterns, for example:

• Abstraction;
• Flowers;
• Snail (the thread for this should be folded into a spiral);
• Butterfly.

Note! Nitography is the most complex drawing technique for children. But the result is very unusual, and the creation process is interesting and will appeal not only to children, but also to adults.

Monotype

This is a technique of creating an image using a print. A suitable method for kindergarten is when a sheet of paper is folded in half and an image is painted on one side. The design is then pressed onto the other half of the sheet, thus creating a symmetrical image. What can you depict using this technique by drawing only half of the image?

• Butterfly;
• Reflection in the water of the landscape;
• Ship with reflection;
• Vase with flowers;
• Sun;
• Tree.

Landscape with reflection using monotype technique

Note! Monotype is interesting because its result can be unpredictable. The resulting drawing always comes out unique.

Drawing with foam rubber in kindergarten

The execution process and the result are ultimately similar to drawing with crumpled paper. For this technique you will need a piece of foam rubber or a dishwashing sponge. Foam rubber does not need to be soaked in water; it should be immediately dipped in paint. Ideas for images using this technique:

• Snowman;
• Christmas trees;
• Tree crown;
• Winter in the forest.

Landscape painted with foam rubber

Using this technique, you can paint animals, then they will look fluffy.

Blotography

The essence of this method is to initially drop paint onto a piece of paper, forming a blot. Then you should supplement it with various details, obtaining some kind of drawing. This method perfectly develops children's imagination.

To get blots or splashes of paint on paper, you can use a cocktail straw. Using the same tube, you can inflate the blot, obtaining the desired image, for example, the following:

• Tree branches;
• The man's hairstyle;
• Any character.

Note! You can supplement the image with the same paints or felt-tip pens, or even plasticine.

Drawing with wax crayons

Wax crayon can be replaced with a paraffin candle. The essence of this technique is that with the help of a chalk you can draw any design, which will then not be painted over with watercolors and will appear on the surface. Examples of possible images:

• Fireworks in the night sky;
• Sea bottom;
• Cloudy sky;
• Stained glass.

Project in the preparatory group on the topic “Professions”

Note! If you use white chalk, you can make a secret drawing or note, since the image on the paper will appear only after using paint.

"Secret" image

Spray

Creating an image using this technique involves splashing paint onto paper. To do this, you can use a toothbrush or a hard brush. In this case, the splashes are small and distributed chaotically. Therefore, it is better to use stencils to obtain a drawing of the desired shape. This could be a stencil:

• Christmas trees;
• Cat;
• Colors;
• Tree.

Note! In addition, with the help of spraying you can fill in the background of the future drawing. It could be grass, starry sky, snowfall.

Drawing on wet

In this method, paint is applied to a damp surface. As a result, you can get a blurred background for your future drawing. At the preparatory stage, it is better to mark the future drawing with a pencil on a sheet of paper. This should be done before you need to wet it with water. Do not wet it too much; excess water should be removed with a sponge. Watercolor on wet paper will spread evenly from the brush. This way you can let the different colors mix on their own, so the color transition will look even. What can you draw on the raw side, except for a plain background:

• Setting sun in the sky;
• Clouds and storm clouds;
• Flowers;
• Trees;
• Sea bottom.

Note! After the background has dried, you can add any details to the drawing: birds, fish or an outline.

Batik

This is a technique of painting on fabric. For this activity you will need a piece of white cotton material. For kindergarten, the simplest painting option is suitable - knotted. To do this, you need to tie several knots on the fabric, then dip them in paint. After drying, the knots should be untied - interesting patterns will remain on the fabric.

Drawing with traffic jams in kindergarten

Balsa wood stoppers are great for making circular impressions on paper. It is better to take several corks so that you can use each one for a different color of paint and do not mix them. Using this technique you can draw:

• Berries;
• Caterpillar;
• Chickens;
• Leaves;
• Flowers.

Note! If you cut the cork, you can give the prints a different shape.

Stamping

This technique is quite simple to implement and is suitable even for younger kindergarten groups. The idea is to dip a stamp in paint and leave an imprint on the paper. Moreover, you can choose anything as a stamp, for example, the following:

• Leaves;
• Vegetables;
• Fruits;
• Twigs.

Note! It is very convenient to cut stamps of various shapes from potatoes. You can also make stamps from foam sponge.

Ebru

The Ebru technique involves painting with liquid paints on water. Paint and water have different densities, so you can make some kind of pattern on the surface of the water. Then a sheet of paper or cloth is applied to the surface, and the design is transferred to the new surface. Water can be made more dense with a special solution, which is sold in an art store. Thanks to this, the paint does not dissolve in water, but remains on the surface in the form of a film. You can drip the paint onto the water and then use a stick to make patterns.

This technique is suitable for older groups of kindergarten or lower grades of school. Exercises with ebru can be turned into a fabulous game. Children of all ages really like this technique. Without any special skills, already in the first lesson you can feel like an ebru master.

Drawing on water using the ebru technique

Drawing with natural and other stamps

Another technique for preschool children, which is attractive due to its accessibility and simplicity. Dried flowers and leaves, branches and other natural materials are used as stamps. How to draw? Paint is applied to the natural stamp and an imprint is created on the canvas. It is convenient for novice artists to use fruits and vegetables cut in half, and wooden blocks.

Tulip from a print with a bow

Pattern with lines from a natural stamp with thread

Suitable stamp drawing video tutorial

Also suitable as stamps:

• disposable forks
• combs and brushes
• cotton buds
• cut paper blanks
• bubble wrap
• and much more

Examples of stamps

Examples of stamps for drawing

Example of drawing tulips with forks

Tulips made from imprint with forks

Rosette from a Chinese cabbage stamp

Drawing roses using Chinese cabbage stamps

Acrylic pouring technique

Description

This is an abstract painting with liquid acrylic on canvas, which is called Acrylic fluid art. Paints are diluted with water or a special solution so that they can flow freely over the paper. You can pre-mix several colors. If you add liquid PVA or car oil to acrylic, you will get additional effects.

Abstract fill with a shout

Beginners use the simplest technique. The canvas is tilted in different directions, liquid acrylic (approximately the consistency of shampoo) is freely poured over it.

Examples

The popularity of this method of drawing is explained by the lack of a unified technique (no matter how paradoxical it may sound). Each painting with liquid acrylic is unique; the filling cannot be repeated. The process of painting itself is reminiscent of psychological relaxation: the canvas will absorb everything that is in your soul. You let the paints flow freely across the paper, and you don’t know what will come out. And this is the main advantage of technology.

Acrylic pouring - sea and sand dunes

Acrylic pouring - river and sand

Abstract acrylic pouring in dark colors

What materials are needed

For successful creativity you will need:

• acrylic paints;
• thinner (the simplest is water);
• plastic cups and mixing sticks;
• canvases;
• gold leaf, car oil, glitter - to give additional effects;
• disposable towels, oilcloth, robe - for protection from paint.

The list of basic materials is elementary - canvas, acrylic paints and water. But even with such a minimal set the work turns out excellent!

Instructions

I recommend watching the video for beginners

The author mixes yellow paint in a plastic cup and dilutes it with an acrylic compound (40% liquid PVA glue + 60% water). The composition varies from artist to artist.

Similar actions are repeated three more times with different colors. Then the artist mixes the colors together and begins to create.

Drawing with plasticine

This is a harmonious combination of modeling and appliqué art. You will need wax plasticine (it is softer and easier to spread over the surface), a flat base (cardboard, plexiglass, plastic), a knife and a rolling pin to level the plasticine. The technique is simple: you need to smear plasticine over the workpiece (ladybug, blue sky, snow, trees).

Baby elephant made of plasticine using smearing technique

Smearing is the simplest technique for painting with plasticine. A more complex one involves creativity with plasticine balls.

This video shows how to draw raspberries with plasticine.

In an interesting way, you can draw such a tree with plasticine.

Wood made of plasticine flagella

To do this, you need to fill a regular syringe with soft plasticine and lower it into hot water. The mass will become even more plastic and will be easy to squeeze out. You will get flagella from which you can assemble interesting pictures, as in the example above.

Drawing with salt and glue

Excellent drawing lessons for children 3-8 years old can be carried out using salt, colored cardboard, PVA glue, and a brush. The technique promotes the development of fine motor skills and perseverance.

First, you need to print the selected composition on colored cardboard. The child applies glue along the contour, then takes salt and sprinkles it on the desired areas. When the composition is ready, the cardboard is tilted to shake off excess salt.

Next, using a brush and watercolor paint, color is applied to the dried salt.

Bullfinch made of salt and glue, painted with paints

Colorful jellyfish made from salt and glue

The video lesson shows how to paint beautifully with salt and glue.

Child development through drawing

Artistic representation is the first opportunity for a child to develop on the creative side. Any artistic process is closely related to thinking and logic; the child thinks through every little action to make his creation perfect. In addition, this process perfectly develops creative thinking, fine motor skills of the fingers, attentiveness and concentration on one action. Any artistic work perfectly develops creativity: fantasy and children's imagination.

Monotype

One of the types of printed graphics, for which you will need paints, a brush and white paper. We fold the sheet in half, then unfold it and apply a design on one half. Then we fold the sheet back, pressing the drawn part tightly against the empty one. Let's unfold it and see what happens!

Butterfly drawn using monotype technique

Video lesson on drawing using the monotype technique

One stroke painting

Description

The “one stroke” decorative painting technique is very popular, which translated from English means “one stroke”. It was invented in Europe. Among the Slavs, this technique is known under the term “Khokhloma”. The upper part of the brush is dipped in paint of one color, the lower part in the second. In one motion, images of flowers, trees, and animals are applied. The meaning of the technique is a smooth transition from one color to another. This makes the image very bright and realistic.

Examples

As a basis, you can take a cardboard blank, for example, a flower. You need to paint it with a brush with a beveled edge; it is convenient for making halftones. By painting the petals one by one, you will end up with a wonderful bud.

Birds and portraits come out well with this technique. First, a blank is created on a sheet of white paper with a simple pencil. The brush is dipped in two paints and drawn over the surface of the drawing. It is important to tilt and rotate the brush correctly.

Blue firebird painted using the one stroke technique

Drawing a carnation using the one stroke technique

Blue flower using one stroke technique

What materials are needed

To successfully use this technique you will need:

• paints with an acrylic base of medium viscosity;
• synthetic brushes with smooth and beveled edges;
• container with water.

At first, you can use regular gouache.

Instructions

The technique of drawing with one stroke is shown in the video lesson

The artist teaches techniques for putting paints on a brush and two basic strokes.

The materials you will need are 1 paper plate, 1 flat brush, two colors of paint (white and green), paper towels and a glass of water.

Video lessons of drawing with one stroke

I chose two videos on the technique of drawing with one stroke.

Bud and rose in one stroke

Good master class for beginners

The artist dips the top of the brush in white paint and the bottom in burgundy. And he draws a flower on white paper.

Christmas tree in 2 minutes: draw with “one stroke”

In this lesson, the artist draws a New Year's tree.

Drawing on ice

Your child will definitely enjoy this very exciting process. Pre-freeze the water in a small container. Then take out a piece of ice and place it on a plate next to your child.

Use watercolor paints. By lowering a brush with paint onto ice, you can create both abstract drawings and more understandable images.

It is very interesting to watch how the paint spreads over the ice layer and gradually paints it over, mixing with other colors.

Rainbow on Ice

Shaving foam drawing

An unconventional technique that your baby may also enjoy.

We will need:

• 2 parts shaving foam
• 1 part PVA glue
• Dyes (food or gouache)

Mix glue with paint, mix and add foam - you get foam paint.

Apply it to a pre-prepared contour or as you wish, for greater imagination.

Using this technique, natural objects are produced well, and the drawings are soft and voluminous. They will fall off over time, but the texture will remain the same. The result will please you, and even more so the child.

Using foam paint you can paint balls like this

Shaving foam balloons with glue

or watermelon

Watermelon slice made from shaving foam with glue

or this cloud with a rainbow

Rainbow in the clouds made of shaving foam with glue

Painting with foil

Description and examples

Another interesting unconventional drawing technique that has gained recognition among beginners and professional artists. And its meaning is simple. Take a small piece of foil from which a lump is formed. Then it is lowered. into paint and applied with dotted movements onto a sheet of paper or canvas.

There is another option when the paint is first applied in thick layers, and then it is shaded using crumpled foil.

Photo source - youtube.com

Typically, this technique uses acrylic paint or gouache. Landscapes are the best. A brush is used to work out small details.

The peculiarity of this technique is that the paint, under the influence of foil, acquires a heterogeneous texture and looks voluminous after drying.

Video tutorials on painting with foil

Here is a list of lessons that I found easy to review.

Moonlight night painted with foil

First, the author attaches a moon stencil (circle) to the paper to preserve a white background for it. Next, apply drops of paint around the moon. Using a wad of foil, shades the paint. The surface is textured. A lot of paint is applied and it takes the form of the curves of an improvised “brush”.

After the paint has dried, the artist begins to work with the texture of the moon, applying the paint in dotted movements.

Attention! To prevent layers of paint from mixing, you need to use different pieces of foil for different colors. For the background - one, for the moon - the second, and so on.

Smaller details, trees, a ballerina against the background of the moon are painted with a brush.

Spring bouquet painted with foil

And again my favorite lilac. In this lesson, the author mixes two painting techniques - sponge and foil. Using the first, the background is drawn, and using the second, the lilac. And this is justified. Flowers look voluminous against a shaded background. Their textures don't mix.

Winter night using foil painting technique

Romantic, atmospheric design, quite easy to reproduce.

Drawing on shaving foam

Another non-standard way to use this accessory.

The drawing technique is simple:

• Apply a thin layer of foam to the tray
• Level it with a ruler so that the surface is even.
• Apply paint using dotted movements (preferably undiluted gouache)
• Using a cotton swab, draw patterns on the foam
• If you want to transfer the drawing to paper, then carefully place the piece of paper on the surface of the foam and just as carefully lift it. The design will be imprinted on its surface.

This drawing technique is good because you don’t have to draw a picture, but simply paint with paints, mix them, get new colors. Explain to your child how this is done and he will be delighted. The soft texture of the foam will make the combination of colors even brighter and richer.

Abstract drawing of shaving foam

Bright mixture of colors on shaving foam

Spray technique

Description

Another interesting unconventional drawing technique, although it requires a lot of additional materials. To prevent drops of paint from staining everything around, cover the surrounding surfaces with oilcloth. It is best to paint over a sink or bathtub.

The paint is mixed with water to the consistency of thick sour cream. The brush or toothbrush is wetted in water, and excess moisture is shaken off. Splashes cover individual areas of the canvas. If necessary, the position of the hand changes, and the paint is sprayed horizontally, vertically, etc. If you need to increase (decrease) the size of the drops, the bristles are brought closer (further away) from the paper.

Examples

Trees, leaves, the sun and other natural phenomena are produced interestingly using the “spray” technique.

tree created using the spray technique - lesson

You can use stencils, cover certain areas of the sheet with them, and cover the background with splashes of paint.

Autumn forest using spray technique

Instructions

Video lesson that can be used as instructions.

The author makes a spray with a workpiece that is pre-coated with acrylic varnish.

Video tutorials on painting using the spray technique

I have put together three video lessons on this drawing technique.

How to draw dandelions

A master class that beginners can take as a basis for drawing. The author sprays three tones of blue paint onto white paper. Then use a cotton pad to wipe away any excess drops in the middle of the pattern. The stems of the flower are already drawn in them with a brush.

How to draw winter

Great tutorial showing how to spray paint a snowy landscape.

Still life with flowers using spray painting

Master class on drawing a still life with flowers

It is carried out by two people - an adult and a child.

Drawing with threads

This technique appeared recently, but has already found its connoisseurs, especially among children.

Everything is simple here:

• Take the album and open it.
• Dip a thread of medium thickness into paint or coat it with several paints (gouache)
• Lay out the thread in any shape on the right side of the open album and close it.
• Then you pull the thread from the folded album.
• Open the page where you drew and admire your creation.

This technique is shown very well in the following video.