When I hopped by this painting the other day, I did a double take. I could have sworn it was an old, green wooden door covered in paper and junk. But no! It’s an oil painting by John Frederick Peto! I see all sorts of things in this painting: a key, a portrait of George Washington, a horseshoe, and a bunch of folded and torn papers and books. I even see the artist’s name, painted like it’s carved into the wood! Some of the words are so tiny I can hardly read them. The old envelopes and torn clippings remind me of my bulletin board at home, full of old notes and memories. I wonder what story Peto is telling us?

Say, have you ever gone hoppin’ and boppin’ around the city before? What did you hear, touch, and see? I’ll bet you saw a lot of signs and billboards! They’re all over the streets and highways, hanging off buildings, catching my eyes with their big words and powerful colors. Stuart Davis lived in big, bright New York City! He saw blinking signs and bold displays everywhere, every day. I think he might have been inspired to include some of those words and letters in his big colorful painting Blips and Ifs! What words and letters can you find?

Now that I’ve looked at some wordy artworks, I think I’m ready to make one of my own. I want to use all my favorite letters and numbers. Who knows, I might even add a secret message. . . . Let’s get creative together!

Materials

• Sheets of aluminum foil (as big or small as you want!)
• A soft, clean sponge or a paintbrush with soft bristles
• A fabric placemat or clean kitchen towel
• Toy letters and numbers, like letter magnets or puzzle pieces
• Cardboard, cut down to the size of your aluminum foil
• A glue stick
• Optional: Wikki Stix, twine, toothpicks, wire, or small toys

Instructions

Step 1: Choose which letters or numbers you want to include in your artwork. You can choose them randomly or you can spell something out!

Step 2: Arrange your letters and numbers on your kitchen towel in a design that you like. You can also use Wikki Stix, twine, or other household materials to make your own letters or designs.

Step 3: Lay your sheet of aluminum foil on top of your letter design. Use your sponge or paintbrush to gently pat on top of each letter. You will start to see the shape appear in the foil! Keep going until you can see your design clearly.

Step 4: Glue your finished foil sheet to your sheet of cardboard so that it stays sturdy. Want to extend the fun? Add color to your design using paint or markers!