Rain painting is an easy STEAM project activity for kids. Learn how to make rainy-day art with this hands-on art and science activity outdoors (or indoors) at home or in the classroom.
Here’s a rainy-day art and science (STEAM) project activity you can try at home or in the classroom: rain painting. This creative rain art lesson is easy for kids of all ages to enhance their creativity and learn something new. Try painting in the rain with this fun rain art and science project idea the next time it rains. Or, learn how to make rain with the simple DIY alternative rain painting ideas below!
Have you ever tried making art in the rain on a rainy day? Toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and school-aged elementary kids will each enjoy making rainbow rainy-day art with this hands-on rain art project and unique educational science learning activity. No rain? No problem! We’ll show you how to do this rainy-day art and science activity using a few alternative rain painting methods in the step-by-step rain art instructions below.
Children of all ages, and even adults, will enjoy drawing or painting with a rainbow of colors and watching how quickly their artwork is transformed in the rain. Look at this list of outdoor rain play ideas for more rainy-day activities! First published in November 2015, this rainy day art project lesson is regularly updated and republished to improve the content. You might also enjoy this list of rainbow arts, crafts, and painting ideas.
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Rain Painting Art Project Activity Ideas:
Have you ever tried painting in the rain? Rain painting invites artists from toddlers to teens to embrace the unpredictable elements of nature as an integral part of their creative process with this unique rainy-day art idea. Creating art in the rain is a sensory journey. As raindrops cascade from the sky, artists can use the rhythm and movement of the falling water to transform ordinary markings on paper into rain artwork masterpieces.Â
When creating this simple rain craft, each droplet becomes a stroke of nature’s brush, transforming ordinary watercolor pencil, pen, or brush marks into captivating works of art. Painting with the rain this way captures the moment in a mesmerizing blend of color and creativity combined with the beauty of nature.
As artists immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and sensations of the rain and stormy weather, a new world unfolds. From the gentle patter of raindrops to the forceful nature of a torrential downpour, the rain transforms the environment into a wonderland. The earthy scent of wet pavement and every aspect of the surroundings become sources of inspiration, resulting in artworks that capture the essence of a rainy day in all its beauty and complexity.
This remarkable art process is shown in the photograph below. You can see how a simple rainbow marker drawing transforms into a beautiful rainbow of colors merging and blending after it sits in the rain. Take your art project outside the next time it rains with the rainy-day craft activity tips and instructions below! Making rainbow rainy-day art is a fun and easy STEAM activity for kids that combines science and art. Try these flower art projects and painting ideas for another fun rainy-day art project idea.
What is rain painting?
Rain painting most often refers to artwork created using rain or rainwater in conjunction with rainfall as a vital element of the process, whether natural or artificial. This involves various techniques, such as using fresh rainwater from the sky to react with different art mediums. This is often accomplished by allowing the raindrops to fall directly onto the artwork to interact with pre-applied drawings, paints, and other materials to create new, unique textures and patterns.Â
Rain paintings are a dynamic art form that captures the rain’s transient nature. They result in visually striking works of art imbued with the spontaneity and fluidity that can be captured only when caught amid raindrops, as shown in the photograph below. However, the effect of rain can be simulated indoors, so artists of all ages and abilities can experiment with the aesthetic possibilities of rainfall in a more controlled environment if necessary or desired. Scroll down for a few alternative rain painting techniques and a step-by-step DIY tutorial for painting rain art. You might also enjoy painting with black glue to create faux-stained-glass watercolor art, such as a rose.
How to Make Rain Art in a Rainbow of Colors:
Rain painting is a fun way to get creative on a rainy day. Gather washable markers (or watercolor pencils or paints) and heavyweight paper, such as watercolor paper or cardstock. You need tough paper to withstand the rain to make rain paintings. We recommend using heavyweight (140lb) watercolor paper
or heavyweight cardstock. However, heavy rain will challenge even the thickest of papers. Please use caution when handling artwork after sitting in the rain if it is precious.
If you want to try this activity but don’t have any rain showers in the immediate forecast, we recommend using a spray bottle or watering can to gently ‘rain’ on your drawings. Creating a light sprinkling of water that can quickly transform marker or watercolor pencil drawings into rainy art is easy. You can even drip water from your fingertips or flick it onto artwork of various types.
However, if you choose this rain painting method, it is best to drip, spray, or splash water on your drawings outside. Alternatively, you can paint with artificial rain in the bathtub, a shower, or a large sink. Just be mindful not to wash the whole picture away! Grab your favorite rain art supplies from the recommendations below, and scroll down for detailed instructions for this unique art process.
Rain Art Supplies:
- Heavyweight watercolor paper or cardstock
- Choose one of the following art mediums to create art for a rain painting:
- Use of the following to rain on artwork:
- Rain on a rainy day outdoors
- Misting spray bottle
- Gentle indoor watering can
- Alternatively, you can use the Stockmar or liquid watercolor paints recommended above as rain!
- These watercolor paints are concentrated. You might want to mix them with water before creating rain art paintings.
- Rain on a rainy day outdoors
Related: Best Art Supplies for Kids (and Why Young Artists Should Use Them)
Rain Painting Rainy Day Art Step-by-Step Instructions:
First, read the step-by-step instructions to learn how to paint with rain to create rain art. Understanding the steps involved and knowing what to expect before starting this outdoor art project for kids is best, especially when working with young children such as toddlers and preschoolers. Next, use the DIY rain painting instructions below to invite children to make rain art with actual or simulated rain at home or in the classroom.
Related: 20 Ways to Play in the Rain
1. Draw on heavy watercolor paper or cardstock using a rainbow of colors:
- Invite children to draw a rainbow or use watercolor pencils, markers, or paints in the colors of their choice to create art on heavyweight watercolor paper or cardstock in any way they would like.
- Create a picture, artwork, or doodle using all the rainbow colors or just a few different colored options they can choose from.
- Avert potential rain painting meltdowns by reminding children that these pictures will not look the same when finished. If they draw something special, they may want to save it and make a messy drawing to create rainy-day rain art.
- The photograph below shows the transformation of a toddler’s marker scribbles after sitting in the rain for only a few minutes. Look out, Jackson Pollack, here comes a toddler’s rain painting!
Related: Rainbow Science STEAM Projects for Kids
2. Place the drawing or artwork in the rain, or spray it gently with water:
- Place your drawing or painting out in the rain and watch what happens when it sits in the rain.
- Children love watching the rain transform their watercolor pencil or marker drawings and paintings to create new rain artwork!
- Alternatively, you can put rain art outside and set a timer to check it in a few minutes.
- However, please don’t leave it out too long in the rain, or it will all wash away. I’ve seen it happen many times! It is much more fun to stay and watch the colors blend and transform as the rain falls on the artwork.
- No rain? No problem! Use a watering can, a misting spray bottle, or dripping wet fingertips to gently simulate raindrops falling on your artwork.
- Please note that different types of pencils, markers, paints, and amounts of water will produce various results depending on colorfastness.
- For example, permanent markers may not transform, while ultra-washable markers might thoroughly wash away.
- Make it into a science experiment. Encourage children of all ages to experiment with different art mediums, such as watercolor pencils, marking pens, and paints, to see what happens when rain or water is added at home or in the classroom.
- The photograph below shows a rainbow drawn with washable markers after a few minutes in the rain. A similar but different effect will occur with watercolor pencils or paints. Test them all for a fun science activity for kids!
to gently simulate raindrops falling on your artwork.
3. Allow Rain paintings and rainy day art to dry:
- Please pick up your rainbow rainy day art and carefully bring it inside to allow it to dry.
- When you carry the wet rain artwork inside, hold it as flat as possible. Please be mindful that rain paintings can drip and create quite a mess.
- We recommend preparing a surface with old towels and flat sheets to place the rain art on to dry.
- Tile or composite floors, countertops, and tables with flat sheets, old towels, drop cloths, or tarps on top of them work well.
- You can also put it in the bathtub, but only if the art medium won’t stain the ceramic or plastic.
- The colors may shift and change depending on how much water is on the paper. Watching the colors move on wet paper is also fun for kids!
Related: Top 10 Rainbow Suncatchers
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Try painting in the rain with this fun Rainy Day Art Project Idea:
The most common rain painting method requires artists to embrace the challenge of working outdoors in rainy conditions—in other words, paint in the rain, with the rain. Watching the rain paint the watercolor pencil or marker colors pre-applied on the page transforms marker drawings and other forms of artwork on paper into something new or unique.
Making art in the rain on a rainy day invites artists to explore the interplay between their creativity and the forces of nature. Embracing the rain as both muse and medium, artists can bring their visions to life amidst the drizzle. Alternatively, you can create rain art with traditional mediums like watercolor paints. Watercolors blend with raindrops, much like washable markers, to form fluid and organic compositions on paper or canvas.Â
Or, working with a paintbrush as the rain falls upon their paintings, artists can find inspiration in the atmospheric conditions and the interplay between water, pigment, and surface to create unique forms of artwork. You don’t even have to limit yourself to just rainwater. You can also use liquid watercolor paints as rain by dipping your fingers in the paint and allowing it to fall like rain as it drips from your fingertips onto the paper below. Or try making shadow art for another fun outdoor STEAM project for kids.
Another fun way to turn a rainy day into art:
Another fun way to turn a rainy day into art is to create pieces that appear only when it gets wet outside with the rain painting technique and tutorial in Popular Science. This rain art method makes it easy to write safety messages that appear in the rain or create the outline for simple games such as hopscotch on the sidewalk and other outdoor surfaces.
However, this form of rain art, also known as rain works, is temporary; it lasts, on average, only 2-4 months. Visit the Popular Science rain art tutorial above to learn how to make rain works using another rain painting technique, or scroll down for a step-by-step DIY tutorial that makes it easy to transform marker or watercolor pencil drawings and watercolor paintings in the rain, as shown in the photograph below!
Rain Painting STEAM Project for Kids:
Try rain painting with kids at home or in the classroom to make beautiful rain art decorations today! Making rainbow rainy day art is an easy art, science, and STEAM activity for kids. It’s fun to make rain art on a rainy day, outdoors or indoors, with this hands-on STEAM project idea for kids of all ages.
Children love to learn as they watch colorful pictures transform in the rain. You might also enjoy experimenting with watercolor resist mediums, this fantastic collection of easy rainbow art projects kids LOVE, and these arts and crafts, as shown in the photograph below. Or try these fun indoor and outdoor rainy day activities!
Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this easy rainy day craft and Rhythms of Play HERE!
More Fun Rainy Day Art Projects, Crafts, and Painting Ideas for Kids:
- Art and Science: Experiment with Watercolor Resist
- Single Color Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting
- Four Season Hand and Fingerprint Tree
- Heart Art Projects and Painting Ideas
- St. Patrick’s Day Arts and Crafts
- Easter Art Projects, Crafts, and Painting Ideas
- Flower Art Projects, Crafts, and Painting Ideas
- Halloween Art Projects, Crafts, and Painting Ideas
- Christmas Art Projects, Crafts, and Painting Ideas
Rainbows have always remained a marvel in the minds of most growing kids. There are so many lovely stories attached to the rainbows. Rainbow art seems like a great way to bring out the best in kids. Thanks a lot for sharing this post. Amazing pictures too.
Thank you, Sachin! I agree rainbows are filled with magic!