Watercolour Seashells
Turn everyday shells into shimmering treasures.
The Set Up
Lay out a collection of shells and beach finds in different shapes and sizes. Add watercolour palettes, brushes, jars of water and trays to catch the drips.
This is collaborative and open ended. There is no finished piece, only the joy of exploring colour on familiar forms!
There’s delight in painting something so familiar and seeing it differently. Little hands can layer colours across the top, fill grooves with patterns, or let watery washes flow. Holding and turning the shells feels really different from painting on paper.
If you want to spark ideas, ask the kids to notice the colours already hidden in the shell. Many shells carry faint pinks, soft purples or streaks of gold that only appear when you look closely.
Variations
Try liquid watercolours for stronger intensity.
Offer prompts for pattern making such as dots, stripes, spirals or cross hatching.
Mono-printing with the shells and rolling them across a page.
Mix in pebbles, driftwood or coral so the palette expands beyond shells.
Materials
A range of seashells or other beach treasures
Watercolour palettes or liquid watercolours
Brushes in different sizes
Jars of water
Trays or boards to hold the shells while painting
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Watercolour Seashells
Turn everyday shells into shimmering treasures.
Bookmark
Creative Exploration
The Set Up
Lay out a collection of shells and beach finds in different shapes and sizes. Add watercolour palettes, brushes, jars of water and trays to catch the drips.
This is collaborative and open ended. There is no finished piece, only the joy of exploring colour on familiar forms!
There’s delight in painting something so familiar and seeing it differently. Little hands can layer colours across the top, fill grooves with patterns, or let watery washes flow. Holding and turning the shells feels really different from painting on paper.
If you want to spark ideas, ask the kids to notice the colours already hidden in the shell. Many shells carry faint pinks, soft purples or streaks of gold that only appear when you look closely.
Variations
Try liquid watercolours for stronger intensity.
Offer prompts for pattern making such as dots, stripes, spirals or cross hatching.
Mono-printing with the shells and rolling them across a page.
Mix in pebbles, driftwood or coral so the palette expands beyond shells.
Materials
A range of seashells or other beach treasures
Watercolour palettes or liquid watercolours
Brushes in different sizes
Jars of water
Trays or boards to hold the shells while painting
Back to Top
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Thoughts?
Would love to hear if youv'e tried this or have any ideas on how to make it even better!
