I Love This Mirror Art Technique
When you paint on one side of a piece of paper. Then fold it and press the paint on to the other side. You can make a wonderful, painted mirror effect.
It's very easy to do, and you don't have to just do butterflies. I often help my children to paint half a face and fold and press. Then you get some very weird effects, lol!
What Do We Need to Make Painted Butterflies?
- Think paper
- Poster paints or acrylic paints
- Felt tip pens
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
Fold Some Card Ready For A Mirror Fold Printing Picture
Step One
First we need to fold out thick paper in half. Make a nice crease. Then open it out again.
Start Painting One Side Of Our Mirror Print Picture
Step Two
Now we are only going to paint on one side of the crease. So pick a side.
Then once we have painted, we are going to fold the paper over and sort of print the paint from one side on to the other side.
This will produce a perfect match on both sides. Like a mirror.
So start adding splodges of paint, however you like. Do some practises and have fun. We need to work sort of quickly, because if the paint starts drying, it won't print as well.
Paint some blobs of paint that look like one wing of a butterfly.
Reveal The Mirror Print Picture
Step Three
Once you have some blobs of paint on one side of the crease, fold the paper over. When the paper is folded over, press down to print the blobs of paint from one side to the other.
Now you can open the paper again to see the result. Magic! We should have a sort of blobby painted butterfly.
Completing The Mirror Print Picture
Step Four
Leave the paint to dry and then we can add some details. Add antennae using the felt tip pens. Maybe add some eyes and a little smiley mouth.
Don't worry if your painted butterflies looks a bit strange. Just have another go.
Now you can cut out all your painted butterflies and do anything you like with them. Make a hanging mobile, or greetings card, or decorate a book cover or anything you like.
Think of other things you can paint on one side and mirror print to the other. Maybe try painting some funny faces of your own.
