Let’s kick off summer with a fun and easy torn paper beach scene inspired by the Japanese Chigiri-e technique!
I recently came across a sweet watercolor painting of the ocean in my daughter’s mixed media journal. The brush strokes she used to depict the water immediately grabbed my attention and made me consider other unique ways to depict water. And that’s how this fun and easy torn paper art beach scene was born.
The cool thing about this project is that “painting” with torn paper allows lots of room for creativity without requiring precision or any special art skills. That means kids of all ages can enjoy this project and have a great time in the process.
Beach-Themed Torn Paper Art for Kids
Ready to get started with the project? Here are supplies you’ll need on hand for our beachy torn paper art.
Supply List
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- 8 x 10 canvas panel
- Assorted scrapbook paper sheets (blues and aquas are best)
- Acrylic paint for the sand, sky, and accents
- Mod Podge (Any finish will work)
- Paint or sponge brushes (one for paint, one for Mod Podge application)
- Black Sharpie (optional)
- White gel or paint pen (optional)
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, you can get started with this fun beach scene.
Step 1: Paint the canvas.
Begin by painting your canvas with acrylic paint. The upper portion of the canvas should be painted to represent the sky and the lower portion should be painted to represent sand.
While waiting for the canvas to dry, consider exploring the Japanese Chigiri-e technique with your kiddos. Be sure to check out artist and children’s book author Noriko Matsubara’s work for some fun examples of this technique.
Step 2: Prepare the paper.
Next, gather your scrapbook paper and select several sheets with complementary colors and patterns. Then, begin tearing the sheets into strips. These paper strips will represent the water in your project.
Keep in mind that you can purchase individual sheets of scrapbook paper at craft stores. This is a less expensive alternative to large books of scrapbook paper and allows you to easily find complementary patterns and colors for projects like this.
Step 3. Add the paper strips
Once your canvas is dry, take a few minutes to experiment with the paper strip arrangement. This is an important step because it allows you plenty of time to decide how you want to build the layers of the scene using the paper strips.
When you have an idea of how you want to position the strips, carefully apply small amounts of Mod Podge to secure the strips to the canvas.
Step 4. Add accents
Once all the paper strips are glued in place, use small amounts of paint, a Sharpie, or paint pen to add any desired accent marks to your project.
Need some accent inspiration? Here are some ideas to consider:
- Create shells on the sand by dipping the tip of your paintbrush in white paint and carefully adding groups of dots.
- Use a black Sharpie to add spots on the sand or accents to the shells.
- Use bubble wrap or a crumpled paper towel to lightly add paint splotches to some of the paper strips.
- Add splashes from waves or sea foam by creating feathery brush strokes with white paint.
Step 5. Seal the project
Lastly, gently add a generous layer of Mod Podge to seal your work. You can do this with your fingers or an old paintbrush.
Once the Mod Podge layer dries completely, your beach-themed torn paper art is ready to display and enjoy! Remember, we LOVE seeing your completed projects. Be sure to share your torn paper beach scene with us by posting in the Masterpiece Society Facebook group or by tagging us on Instagram. 🙂
Looking for more summer art inspiration? You’ll find lots of fun ideas in our Celebrate Summer course. We’ve also got some quicker projects like cyanotype art and a fun seashell craft waiting here for you on the Masterpiece Society blog.
