As an alternative, you can take this activity outside for a more full bodied experience and use a much larger piece of paper. One of the beautiful things about splatter painting is that it allows children to be completely expressive. They can drip, splash, or splat the paint any way that they want. The goal of this type of abstract art is to promote exploration and creativity. There are no mistakes! 

Creative activities, such as painting, promote mental calmness and encourage relaxation. Often, when people are creating art, they get into a mental flow; which helps them focus on the art piece they are bringing to life, instead of their worries [1]. Splatter art paired with essential oils is the perfect recipe for promoting relaxation and relieving anxiety.

Related: How to Draw a Mandala Step by Step – Calming Art

Creating a Sensory Experience with Essential Oils

In aromatherapy, inhaling the scent of an essential oil (or absorbing it through the skin) is believed to send messages to the limbic system, a brain region that influences our emotions and nervous system. It is thought that the use of essential oils can affect stress levels, blood pressure, breathing and immune function.

Essential oils have been known to help calm a child who is feeling anxious or stressed [2]. Chanel has a diffuser in her room that she uses on a regular basis to help her sleep better at night and she thoroughly enjoys incorporating these fragrances into her artistic creations.

Daniela Montalto, Ph.D., a child neuropsychologist at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone, states that “a soothing or familiar scent can ease anxiety”[3]. So, if your child can tolerate the fragrance of essential oils, adding them to your calming toolkit could be beneficial. It’s important to note that aromatherapy is only effective if the child finds the smell calming. When choosing essential oils for this activity, get your child involved and see which fragrances they prefer. Lavender is generally a hit with kids because of its mild, flowery scent. Here is a brief description of the essential oils that we used in our splatter art:

Lavender – the fragrance from the oils of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness. It’s also said to help reduce stress, anxiety, and possibly even mild pain.

Frankincense – frankincense oil is typically sourced from the resin of the Boswellia carterii or Boswellia sacra tree. It is often used to ease stress, anxiety, and colds. 

Lemongrass – lemongrass is extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant, lemongrass oil has a powerful, citrus scent. Lemongrass essential oil is a popular tool in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

Here’s our YouTube video that will show you step-by-step how to create an amazing splatter painting.