A is for Art Paintings - 2026

PAINTING A

Pink Skies...Tap, Tap, Tap

Medium: Acrylic Paint and Acrylic Gel Gloss

Classroom: Chicks

Master Teacher: Melinda Gonzalez

Supervising Teacher: Kim Dunlap

The children used a mix of bright pink and orange acrylic paint for the base coat of the canvas while using large square sponge brushes and their fingers to apply it. The breakthrough pop of light orange and blue colors within the sky were created using acrylic paint that was applied with both medium and small rounded sponge brushes as the children tap, tapped, tapped across the canvas. As for the clouds, a mix of white acrylic and gel gloss was applied using a textured rectangular sponge stick to achieve the cloudlike texture.

PAINTING B

Red

Medium: Acrylic Paint and Pouring Medium

Classroom: Ducks

Master Teacher: Linda Marquez Pulido

Supervising Teacher: Kim Dunlap

The children started by painting the canvas with various shades of blue. Once that layer had dried, I mixed pouring medium with different acrylic paints in separate cups. They then took turns pouring the mixture onto the canvas and moving it around until it covered the surface. This process included some children using their hands to move the paint around and holding the canvas as we tilted it to help the paint spread.

PAINTING C

Swish

Medium: Acrylic Paint

Classroom: Koalas

Master Teacher: Imelda Rivera

Supervising Teacher: Eryn Juns

Prior to the actual process of the canvas I had the children practice using the tool (little mops) they were going to use on the canvas across the table and then on the actual canvas without the paint. The artist uses cleaning tools to create some of his artwork which is why I chose small mops for the children to use for the canvas. The process of the canvas took a couple of days to complete. The children used the small mops with white paint to make “swish” motion across the canvas. On the final day of the process the children used a piece of string with a light blue color to add the final touches to the canvas.

PAINTING D

Fantasy and Dreams

Medium: Acrylic Paint and Watercolors

Classroom: Otters

Master Teacher: Giselle Geiler

Supervising Teacher: Eryn Juns

Aakash Mali is best known for his watercolor paintings that are often described as “poetic” or “dreamlike.” Aakash often combines fantasy elements, such as dreams of his, and realistic observations in his daily life. I liked that his art could give the Otters the freedom to customize the canvas in a way that spoke to them, while also honoring Aakash’s vision. The children picked what color they wanted to use as well as how much water they wanted to add. I let them move the brush however they wanted and decide when they were done adding their color. Aakash Mali is perfect for the Otters, since he has a liking to fantasy elements and imagination, and the Otters are all about pretend and dramatic play.

PAINTING E

Spidey and Caterpillar into the Unknown: A Rainbow of I Don't Know, Sparkle?

Medium: Metallic Acrylic Paint and Modeling Paste

Classroom: Pandas

Master Teacher: Marcos Avila

Supervising Teacher: Isabel Richter

We used several pieces of her work as inspiration, combining the color story from one with the contrast between smooth and chaotic elements from another, all tied together by a central theme of nature. The Pandas had a strong voice in directing the piece, voting on colors and steps.

We began by painting the canvas black, then experimented with modeling paste, quickly adapting as it hardened. We formed a large arch and small X’s to represent stars. Next, we added a thin black layer, used tape for geometric shapes, and filled them with red, gold, and silver. In the final weeks, we refined texture and chose a name.

PAINTING F

The Blue Race in the Sky

Medium: Acrylics and Acrylic Paint Sticks

Classroom: Seals

Master Teacher: Cindy Miranda

Supervising Teacher: Isabel Richter

The children in the Seals classroom jumped right into exploring the canvas, experimenting with a variety of colors and painting tools. Now that they are older, we were able to see more of their unique painting styles come to life as they worked together to create a collaborative piece of art. As they painted, they talked about what the colors reminded them of—often things in their environment, like the sky and grass—which is similar to the inspiration behind our artist, Jade Fadojutimi.

PAINTING G

The Barbeque Chicken

Medium: Tempera and Acrylic Paints

Classroom: Elephants

Master Teacher: David Peña

Supervising Teacher: Dawn McCabe

We started cooking up our barbecue art with a hair dryer. As I put down some tempera paint our little artists moved the paint around with the hair dryer. After we determined that we had things just the way we wanted them, we took some yellow acrylic paint and added some spatters to give it that extra touch. I hope you find our art delicious enough to take home.

PAINTING H

Rainbow-ish

Medium: Acrylic Paint

Classroom: Whales

Master Teacher: Maya Massamiri

Supervising Teacher: Dawn McCabe

We began by watching Anne Russinof paint her canvases, really focusing on her brush strokes when the Whales noticed she made these ribbon-like lines doing a variation of “ups and downs;” so after a couple of practice pieces, the Whales were ready for the real deal. After experimenting with different opacities for our background, we experimented with different squiggles to model our canvas after. Then, with a very large paintbrush and a series of “up, down, swoosh, swoosh,” we completed our canvas!

PAINTING I

The Island Safari Park

Medium: Acrylic Paint

Classroom: Dolphins

Master Teacher: Abby Castro

Supervising Teacher: Lee Ann Chavez

Inspired by the colorful murals of Federico Herrero, the children explored painting with rollers to create bold shapes and vibrant layers. Using long strokes and overlapping patterns, the Dolphins experimented with how colors spread and blend. The rollers encouraged full-body movement as they painted. Along the way, they shared ideas and materials, making observations like, “It looks like deer tracks” and “It looks like an owl.” Together, they discovered how simple tools can create expressive artwork.

PAINTING J

Bob's Pesto Pasta

Medium: Acrylic Paint

Classroom: Giraffes

Master Teacher: Gabrielle Prichett

Supervising Teacher: Lee Ann Chavez

Inspired by Kenneth Victor Young, our class explored layering vibrant color. The children began with a base layer, then added bright hues on top while the paint was still wet, just as Mr. Young did. We thinned acrylic paint to help it flow, then poured and spread it across the canvas. Working in pairs, one child pumped air while the other guided the nozzle, creating dynamic splatter effects. Others used cotton balls and sponges to blend colors below. The title is just as creative—a mix of Zay’s favorite food and Hajin’s favorite character.

PAINTING K

Ocean

Medium: Acrylic Paint

Classroom: Elephants, Whales, Dolphins, Giraffes

Supervising Teachers: Lee Ann Chavez and Dawn McCabe

Our preschool artists set out to make waves! Children from the Elephants, Whales, Dolphins, and Giraffes took turns with a spatula (one of Priscilla Batzell’s techniques) swooping and swishing paint across the canvas in various shades of blue, and a hint of shimmer. Painting outdoors made it even more exciting, allowing the space for big arm movements. As layers built and colors blended, something magical happened. The marks they made began to ripple and flow and they noticed waves, currents, and sea-like patterns in their work to create this ocean-inspired masterpiece.