2023 New Year Oil-Pastel Smudge-Craft for kids to promote motor control and inspire creativity while enjoying Process Art. [Video Tutorial Included.]
If you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve craft, look no father! So, grab your pastels, and let’s get crafty! Besides, you can use this Q-tip smudging technique for any craft or as a learning activity. Most importantly, with this New Year oil-pastel smudge-craft, there are no set rules or colors to adhere to! Make it colorful or stick to a white pastel. Let your child’s creativity guide the process.
You’ll Need for New Year Oil-Pastel Smudge-Craft:
- 2023 Template (download below)
- oil pastels
- black construction paper
- q-tips
Instructions:
First, cut out the 2023 printable template. Then, tape it to the black paper. After that, either in a circular motion or as streaks, apply pastels next to each other. Finally, use a q-tip to smudge the colors.

Skills At Play
- hand-eye coordination
- color recognition
- fine motor control
- bilateral coordination
- dexterity
- learning through play while fostering creativity

What is Process Art?
“Process Art” is exactly what it sounds like – it’s all about the process and not the finished product or result.
First, the idea behind process art is that the journey of creation is more fascinating than the final product one creates. It’s all about experimentation, exploration, and play.
Thus, Process Art is very important for early childhood development since it helps the body and brain to integrate tactile information in a creative way. Process Art is perfect for little artists since the emphasis lies on the creation of the work, not the outcome! During this fun artistic process, your child learns how colors work, transfer and smudge while developing spatial awareness and sensory integration.
Video Tutorial
Download the 2023 template Below

Have you tried a Q-tip technique with Oil-Pastels? Leave a comment if you did!
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