Ink Blot Monsters

This project takes its inspiration from the Stefan Bucher's Daily Monster web site.

You can begin with liquid ink, food coloring, liquid watercolor or even some day old coffee. The idea is to have a very fluid and staining media. You only need a small amount, a dot about the size of a quarter can be applied to your paper with a spoon or dabbed with a brush. 

Use a straw to blow directly on top of the liquid. It will start to move around the page. We found that blowing on top made interesting more intricate designs while blowing from the side tended to move the entire blob. Continue this process until you have moved the pigment around the paper to create a design.

At this point you may want to stand back from your paper or even turn it around a bit and solicit help from a friend or family member. Look for animals, creatures or images in the blot and think about ways to add features to bring out what you see.

Use fine line markers to add eyes, teeth, toes, claws, whatever you image to make your creature come to life. 

Allow it to dry flat and then display and share—maybe there is a story you can tell about your monster or begin again and make him a friend!  

Kathryn Horn Coneway is director of Art at the Center, a unique studio designed for kids and families. Learn more about Art at the Center on our website www.artatthecenter.org