Chinese New Year Ink Blowing Painting
Suitable for Age
3–6 years old
(With adult supervision, especially when using straws)Chinese New Year Ink Blowing Painting is a process art activity where children explore how ink moves using breath and natural materials.
The focus is on exploration, sensory experience, and creative expression, rather than creating a fixed image or finished craft.This activity connects children to the festive season through colour and movement, without requiring them to replicate symbols or outcomes.
Learning Benefits
- Develops breath control and oral motor coordination
- Encourages creative confidence and independent thinking
- Strengthens fine and gross motor skills
- Supports sensory exploration and focus
- Introduces cultural elements in an open-ended way
Materials
Paper
- Chinese New Year red paper
Colours
- Black
- Pink
- Yellow
- Gold
Tools
- Straw
- Leaves
Preparation
- Cover the workspace with newspaper or a plastic mat
- Prepare small trays or palettes with paint
- Place one red paper per child
- Demonstrate safe straw use (blowing only, no sucking)
Steps
1. Ink Blowing (Branches & Movement)
- Drop a few drops of black paint onto the red paper.
- Use the straw to gently blow the ink outward.
- Watch the paint spread and form organic lines and branches.
- Encourage slow, controlled breaths.
2. Leaf Stamping (Colour Exploration)
- Dip leaves into pink, yellow, or gold paint.
- Stamp freely across the paper.
- Allow colours to overlap naturally.
3. Finger Painting (Dot, Dot, Dot)
- Dip fingers lightly into pink, yellow, or gold paint.
- Press fingers onto the paper to create dots.
- Explore spacing, rhythm, and layering.
- Encourage children to notice how each dot looks different.
No need to create flowers or specific shapes.
Dots can simply be dots.
Adult Role
- Prepare materials and ensure safety
- Model curiosity rather than giving instructions
- Avoid correcting or guiding the outcome
- Encourage exploration and independence
Important Reminder
This is process art, not craft.
The value is in the experience — the breathing, stamping, dotting, and experimenting — not the final result.
Extension Ideas
- Display the artworks as seasonal decorations
- Use the painted paper for collage or future projects
- Photograph the process for learning documentation