Turn Spring Mud Puddles Into Paint for Art Project

Have you ever gotten the urge to paint but encountered a problem? No materials! No paint, no paint brushes. What to do? Get those hands dirty!

(Photo via Adobe Stock)

Dirt isn’t dirty. Soil is filled with many healthy microbes that help strengthen immune systems and can help prevent disease. Say yes to dirt this spring! Embrace the mud and paint with it.

Materials  

 

• A shovel 

• Dirt or clay 

• Water 

• A container for mixing 

• A spoon  

• Paper 

• Optional: Plastic worms for fishing, a stick or other items

Instructions

   

1. Head outdoors and find a spot where you have permission to dig. 

2. Find some good-looking dirt. Start digging a small hole and put some of that beautiful dirt in a container.  

3. Sprinkle some water in the container with the dirt. Start slow. You can always add more water, but it is difficult to take water out of the mixture.  

4. Mix until your mud paint has reached the perfect consistency.  

5. Grab a sheet of paper and make your masterpiece. You can use a paintbrush or you can use plastic fishing worms, a stick, your hands or get creative! What else can you use to paint that is not a paint brush? 

Take it further

Does your painting look different when it is dry versus when it is wet? How so? Find dirt from a different location. Is it the same as the other dirt? How does it compare? Which mud paint feels better on your fingers? 

Go beyond the paper 

What else can you paint on? With permission, expand your creativity and go beyond the paper. Try rocks, the sidewalk, your playhouse, a fence. The possibilities are endless! The best part about painting with mud is that you can take a gardening hose or a bucket of water to wash away your artwork for a blank slate to start your creativity all over again.  

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