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Friends Art Lab / Blog / Rainbow Sponge Painting Art Project

Rainbow Sponge Painting Art Project

By Kristian Klebofski   Published: March 2, 2023    Updated: March 12, 2023

You can create endless, easy rainbows with just paint and a sponge! Sponge rainbow painting is going to be your new fave.

A hand pulls a pink sponge across a white piece of paper and pulls a painted rainbow across. A paper plate with rainbow paint sits above the paper.
Table of Contents:
  1. Rainbow sponge painting is gorgeous every time
  2. Rain is a big deal here, so we do a lot of rainbow sponge painting
  3. Materials
  4. Directions
  5. What kind of paint do you use for sponge painting?
  6. Extensions for this activity
  7. FAQ
  8. Rainbow sponge painting is always a hit!

Rainbow sponge painting is gorgeous every time

We have been doing this project for years and years, and it’s absolutely gorgeous each time you create a rainbow.

PLUS, because we have done this activity so many times, we have two quick tips that make it a success every time. It’s a simple project already, but our two very best tips make it fail-proof.

DOUBLE PLUS, the materials are the simplest (paper + paint + sponge), so you can start making these almost immediately.

Related: Check out the enormous rainbow on our GIANT St. Patrick’s Day coloring page!

A hand pulls a pink sponge across a white piece of paper and pulls a painted rainbow across in the shape of an arch. A paper plate with rainbow paint sits above the paper.

Rain is a big deal here, so we do a lot of rainbow sponge painting

As much as we can in the preschool classroom, we connect our classroom activities to actual, tangible events and things the kids can see and interact with.

Enter: rain.

I love rainbow art in the spring because rain is a big deal here in California.

Some years, there is very little rain and you frequently hear, “When is it going to rain?” and “Oh, good, it’s raining! We needed it.”

On the other hand, some years, there’s an onslaught of rain, and you overhear people saying, “Whoa, this is too much rain!” and “The ponds and creeks are full.” So whether the rain is nearly absent or abundant, it’s often talked about and something the kids hear about regularly.

So, let’s make some rainbow art!

Looking for more rainbow activities? Check out these beauties:

  • Rainbow Kindness Rocks – Hello, Wonderful
  • Paper Plate Rainbow – The Best Ideas for Kids
  • Rainbow Fruit Skewers with Vanilla-Honey Yogurt Dip – The Comfort of Cooking
The materials for the project: a white piece of paper, a paper plate with paint on it in rainbow order, and a dry sponge.

Materials

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  • Sponge
  • Paint – in colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple
  • White paper 
  • Paper plate
  • Pen or pencil 
A close up of a dry, pink sponge that has been dipped into the rainbow paint and has paint in rainbow order across the edge of one side.

Directions

Begin by adding the paint to your paper plate in rainbow order.

QUICK TIP #1: Before adding the paint to the paper plate, set the sponge on the paper plate and draw two lines: one at the top of the sponge and one at the bottom. When you add the paint to the plate, make sure the paint fits inside these two lines.

Next, get your sponge ready to dip.

QUICK TIP #2: Use a dry sponge for this activity! I have seen many people recreate this activity with a wet sponge (and I have tested it myself), and it’s much, much easier for kids to manipulate when it’s dry.

Stick the end of the sponge into the paint, set it on the edge of your white piece of paper, and pull it across. As the sponge pulls across, you’ll see a rainbow appear before your eyes!

Dip the sponge into the paint again, making more and more rainbows. Once the paint is out, simply “refill.”

A close up of a painting where four rainbows have been pulled across the paper.

What kind of paint do you use for sponge painting?

We use BioColor paint (a fantastic kids’ paint), but any of your favorite kids’ paints should work!

The only paint I wouldn’t use is acrylic paint simply because of its quick dry time. For this project, your kid will repeatedly dip the sponge into the paint, and acrylic can dry very quickly.

A close up of a painting where four rainbows have been pulled across the paper with an assortment of straight, curved, and wavy lines.

Extensions for this activity

After making straight rainbows across the paper, invite your child to think of other things they could “draw” with the sponge.

Some fun ideas to try:

  • Vertical rainbows
  • Curved lines
  • Wavy lines
  • Letters
  • Shapes
A close up of the paint on the paper plate in rainbow order.

FAQ

What age is this activity best for?

Any age that can manipulate the materials, but won’t try to eat any of them.

How long do these take to dry?

These dry pretty quickly since there isn’t much paint on the paper!

Does this stain the sponge?

It depends on the kind of paint you use. Our sponges didn’t stain (they were also washed quickly after the project was done).

A close up of a dry, pink sponge that has been dipped into the rainbow paint and has paint in rainbow order across the edge of one side. Behind is a rainbow sponge painting in progress.

Rainbow sponge painting is always a hit!

Watching rainbows effortlessly spread across a paper will always fill your eyeballs with hearts.

And since this activity takes seconds to prep, you can make rainbow sponge paintings all year long. Maybe you’ll make straight lines today, letters next week, flowers the next…

If you love this project, you have to try rainbow paint popsicles next!

Have fun, friends!

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Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

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