Giant Water Bead Painting – Easy Process Art

Explore giant water bead painting—a simple, colorful art activity that engages kids in sensory exploration and creative expression. This easy process art activity offers a unique, tactile experience for young artists (and it’s a BLAST!).

Ten giant water beads sit on a piece of paper in a clear container. The white paper has several neon yellow and neon pink splats of paint on it. Next to the plastic container are three white bowls, each with neon paint and spoons.

Giant water bead painting is bouncy, colorful fun

Regular water beads are awesome.

But GIANT water beads are extra, super awesome!

Typically, water beads are used in sensory tables, but today we will use them for an out-of-the-box, easy process art activity.

🧡 Related: Know what else is better in GIANT-size? Our collection of GIANT 10-foot coloring banners (they’re jaw-dropping!).

Giant water beads sit on a piece of paper in a clear container. The white paper has several neon yellow and neon pink splats of paint on it that have been spread all around the paper from the giant water beads moving around on it.

Doing giant water bead painting is like marble painting…but better

I love, love, love marble painting, and it will forever be a classic process art project.

Replacing marbles with giant water beads? It takes it to a whole new level.

When the water beads hit the side of your box or container, they bounce around, making this project absolutely delightful!

🧡 Looking for more process art activities? Your search is over:

A clear container with a white piece of paper sits in front of three white bowls with spoons and neon paint (blue, yellow, and pink) in them. Behind the bowls is a large plastic container filled with tons of giant water beads.

Materials

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Giant water beads
Paint
White paper
Box or plastic tub

‼️SAFETY NOTE: Water beads can be dangerous if ingested. When doing this activity (or any water bead activity), an adult must always supervise. If you even think your child might try to ingest the water beads, wait until they’re older and until this activity doesn’t pose a risk.

A white paper has several neon yellow and neon pink splats of paint on it and sits in a plastic container. Behind it sits three white bowls with spoons and neon paint (blue, yellow, and pink) in them. Behind that is a bucket of giant water beads.

How do you paint with water beads?

Begin by placing a piece of white paper into the bottom of your box.

Next, add paint directly onto the paper.

Then, add in the giant water beads.

Invite your child to move the box side to side, forward and backward, and all around to swirl and mix the paint up!

A zoomed in photo of giant water beads in many colors.

Do you have to throw away the water beads after each painting?

Water beads are surprisingly more durable than you might imagine, and a handful of giant water beads can make dozens of art pieces.

Once a water bead is done, you’ll see it begin to crack or break apart.

We’ve painted with water beads many times and have never experienced them ever breaking when painting, though!

PRO TIP: When hydrating your water beads, I always make them a little smaller than I know they can be. They last much longer by not being stretched to and beyond their limits.