Symmetrical Smoosh Heart Art

Symmetrical smoosh heart art has been made in the preschool classroom since the dawn of time. This is a classic for a reason and one you’ll want to do year after year.

Get ready for symmetrical smoosh heart art

I can’t remember a single Valentine’s Day where I haven’t made this type of art either with kids or as a kid myself.

Each one is quick, colorful, and like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.

Grab your paper, paint, scissors, and you’re ready to make the cutest heart art!

💜 Check out our collection of the best heart art projects for kids!

Four finished symmetrical smoosh heart art pieces sit on a purple table, each with different colors of symmetrical paint inside.

Symmetrical smoosh heart art is also a math activity

I LOVE it when the worlds of math and art intersect (which is quite often – they’re practically related).

If you’re looking for an art activity, symmetrical smoosh heart art is perfect.

If you’re looking for a math activity, symmetrical smoosh heart art is perfect.

This is a “two birds, one stone” situation.

💜 Looking for more heart art? We love these activities:

Two hands hold and rub a folded white paper heart filled with small drops of paint.

Materials

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Three photos (1) a white piece of paper is folded in half and a pair of scissors begins to cut out a heart (2) the white heart sits on a table and has several small drops of paint on one half (3) the paper has been smooshed and is opened revealing smooshed paint in the heart.

Directions

Step 1: Fold your paper in half and cut out a heart – if your child knows how to use scissors, this is a perfect step for them to do.

Step 2: Add drops of paint to one side of the heart – if your child cannot squeeze paint directly from the bottle, they can spoon it on from shallow cups filled with paint.

Step 3: Close the heart by folding the two sides together and massaging the colors together – some paint might creep out the sides, and that’s fine.

Step 4: Open the heart to reveal the design – the very best part!

Even if you use the same colors for two hearts, no two will be exactly the same.

Two hands hold a white paper heart filled with yellow and blue paint and is symmetrical on both sides.

How is this a math project?

When you open your heart, the two sides will be symmetrical copies.

Symmetry is a branch of geometry that we see all around us.

When doing this activity with kids, you’ll hear me say things like:

“This side of the heart looks like a mirror image of the other side because they are symmetrical.”
“Do you see this side of the heart has a yellow spot in the middle? Look, the other side also has a yellow spot in the middle. This is because they are symmetrical.”
“Whatever you see on the left half of the heart, you will also see on the right side of the heart. This is because both sides are symmetrical.”

Yep, I’ll say the word “symmetrical” a lot. When children learn new vocabulary, it’s important to use it frequently and in a context where they can see what you are explaining.

⭐ Teacher Tip: After being introduced to symmetry, invite your child to go around the home or classroom and find other items that are symmetrical (including people, animals, clothes, and more).

Two hands hold a white paper heart filled with green, orange, yellow, and blue paint and is symmetrical on both sides.

I will always love symmetrical smoosh heart art

They’re simple.

They’re beautiful.

And they’re exactly perfect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this activity recommended for?

Any that can safely use the materials. For children who are not yet comfortable with scissors, an adult can precut the hearts for them.

What paper is best for this project?

I can’t think of a paper that wouldn’t be fine for this activity! Basic copy paper, construction paper, and cardstock would be great. Watercolor paper is my favorite type of paper because of its weight, but I don’t think you need it for this project.

Is this called “blotter painting?”

Yes! This style of art goes by many names, including smoosh painting (my favorite), blotter art, squish painting, and symmetry painting.