Roller Ball Painting

Cover the table with a solid covering of the newsprint.  Cut it to fit the table top.  Tape the seams well so they can’t separate.  Next you must make “bumpers” from tag board (construction paper is too flimsy).  Cut strips of tag board about 3 inches wide.  Then tape these strips around the edge of the table so they stick above the table top about 2 inches (If they stick up too high, participants will break them down by leaning on them).  Now that your palette is ready, you must prepare your participants.  Each “painter” needs to have a clothing protector and a pair of plastic gloves.  Also, roll up any long sleeves.  Gather the participants around the table.

Using plain liquid craft paint, place several dollops of paint of different colors toward the center of the covered table.  Provide 2 hard rubber balls, (solid balls of 2 to 3 inch diameter, not the hollow variety).  Instruct the participants that they are to ROLL the balls across the table to a fellow painter, trying to roll it through the paint.  Continue in this manner until the paper is well covered.  Beginning with three colors and adding a fourth and then a fifth keeps interest high.  Play some music, encourage participants to roll the ball through a particular color.

Once the painting activity is finished, leave it to dry.  Hang it on a large empty wall in your facility and listen to the many comment it will elicit from staff and guests alike.

We have done this same activity using toy spring loaded cars.  This was even more fun, but a little more difficult for painters.  The cars had to be pulled backwards to load the spring and then released.  The cars then moved on their own power across the table.  The cars we use also produce a sound which is even more fun.  One car is driven by a pig and one by a chicken.  As they scoot across the table, they either cluck or oink!  Participants love it!