Matisse Style Window Decals

We developed this activity by accident. We had planned on making etched paintings on a surface of aluminum foil. When it was time to scratch the surface and create a drawing, the dried paint mixture peeled easily into a strip of congealed pigment- perfect for a sunny window. 

You will need:

cardboard, paperboard or other stiff surface

aluminum foil

tempera paint

liquid soap

a sharp stick/scissors and/or a pocket knife (if an adult is using)

We began by wrapping a stiff surface with aluminum foil and taping down in back. We used cardboard and paperboard. Our boards were 8 1/2" x 11". 

Then we mixed about 1 ounce of tempera paint with about 6 drops of concentrated dish liquid (we used concentrated Dawn). 

We applied an even coat to 4 out of 5 of the aluminum boards. Our helper covered one entirely but unevenly. Each board took the entire ounce of paint. You want the layer to be thick enough to peel off without breaking but not so thick is loses it's transparency. 

After we discovered our paint peeled easily, we used a sharp knife to score the surface. Children can then take a pointed object, such as a pencil, scratch stick, etc. to peel each shape up from the foil. The surface which was painted unevenly was a little more difficult to work with, but it provided an interesting visual element to the mix. It reminded us of blue ocean waves. 

The shapes stick easily to the window. (It is summer at the moment and the window is warm so we aren't sure how well the will stick to a cold window during winter.)

Can you see where we got our inspiration?

Featured above is "The Snail" collage by Henri Matisse.