Eric Carle Inspired Art

Since we’re studying caterpillars and butterflies in May’s nature calendar, I thought that this Eric Carle inspired art project would be a fun add-on. First, you might want to read the book with your child. You could check your library for the digital version. If you can’t find it, the author reads it on YouTube. Discuss with your child how the artist might have made the artwork.

Eric Carle Inspired Art

In this project, you will be using paint to make vividly colored and textured paper. Then you will cut out shapes from the paper and use them to make a picture collage.

You will need the following materials.

• card stock
• paint
• comb, bubble wrap, crumpled paper, etc.
• scissors
• glue

Instructions

• If you are using the printable available below, print it on white card stock. (Use setting “shrink oversized pages.”)

• Cut one piece of card stock in fourths.
• Paint one fourth of the card stock shades of green. I used a comb to swirl the colors together.
• Paint one fourth shades of yellow and orange. I used the same method as the green, but feel free to use your imagination. There’s not really a wrong way to do this.
• Paint one of the fourths using shades of red. I used bubble wrap to make swirling patterns.
• There will be an extra ¼ piece of paper that you can do with what you like.
• Cut out desired shapes from each of the different colors and make your picture.
• You can experiment with different colors, textures, and pictures. Cut out shapes to make flowers, butterflies, trees, or the letters of your name. You could spell out “Happy Mother’s Day” or “Happy Birthday.” Use your imagination.