6 foot wall art made by 6 little feet

[3RaysOfSunshine]

We wanted some artwork for the living room, but I didn't want to just *buy* something... I am usually pretty creative, but for some reason when it comes to paint & canvas, my right brain shuts down and I freeze... We have 3 kids & I thought it would be fun to have them help me out... I bought 3 canvases (one for each) and laid them over an old sheet in the garage - I built a support (a square of plywood) so the kids could stand on the canvas and not stretch it out... I squirted out my acrylics in the basic color scheme I wanted them to use on an old piece of laminate I used as a palette and they went to town... The only rules: they had to cover the entire canvas with paint and they could only use their feet. We did this twice actually - the first layer of paint was really green looking so I tried with some different colors for the second layer the next day. They look pretty abstract, but if you look closely, you can see foot/toe impressions in at least 2 of them.

This was a really fun project to do with kids - I'd definately recommend it... just make sure you hold the hands of the really little ones - it can get slippery! And of course acrylics don't easily wash out, so wear old t-shirts.

Now I just have to pick a new wall color for that wall... hmm. Ideas?

[eternallyeve]

That is a wonderful way to make custom art! I must do the same when my boy gets a little bigger (and stops being freaked out by paint on his feet )

[KimD]

This is great.  I wish mine were young enough todo something like this.  Wonder if my niece would let me do this to her.  She will be one the day before her mothers birthday and that would make a great gift from her.  But she doesn't even like to stand in the grass.  Maybe next year.

[KTW]

Look to shades in taupes, lighter-scale ochres, goldens ...

[chimes]

these are really cool! You'll really cherish these when your kids get older.  What a great idea. I'll throw this in the back of my head for when I'm 35-40 and finally have kids (the bf and I have a 10-year-from-now plan going on).... OR for little PAW PRINTS for the "children" I'll have before the real ones.

Great work! I'm sure these were a lot of fun to make!

[gamemom42]

As the mom of a 20, 22, and 30 yr. old, I can tell you that you are going to look back one day and be so so so very glad that this particular inspiration struck and that you followed through with it. 

It would be so much fun, as your babies grow up and have babies, to give the pieces to them to hang in their own nurseries or play rooms.

As for wall color, I think the main thing is to just go very soft and subtle so that your paintings don't lose their "pop".

[chimes]

Oooh. I didn't read the question about wall color.

What would look great with the paintings is a medium cooler grey, but not so much with your furniture. I'd stick with something soft and neutral (but not so stark as white). 

[pinokeeo]

Wow, these are awesome.  You are going to be so glad you did this.  When my son was small, we did hand and foot art with paint.  I still have them and recently showed them to my grandchildren.  Now they want to do it.  Summer project.

As for wall color, I would stick to muted colors like sand, or slate. 

Great project.  Great work.

[gogosummer]

Those are incredibly cool!  I love the effect you achieved!

[audreysmama]

I love this!! I have a 3 month old and cant wait to do something like this with her. Super cute, what a treasure!