Art Class: Watercolor Resist
What you need:
• Watercolor paints (See the recipe posted August 10 on the Kids’ Blog)
• Water and brush
• Crayons
• Removable tape such as Scotch Magic Tape, washi tape or painter’s tape
• Watercolor paper or other heavy paper
• Optional: string or yarn
What you do:
• Use the crayons and removable tape to create a design on the paper.
• Dip the brush into water and then into the watercolor paint. Tip: If you don’t have watercolor paint, see the recipe on our blog and make your own or see other options below.
• Repeat that last step, applying random swatches of color all over the page.
• When the paint is dry, remove the tape to reveal your design in white space. Did you notice also that the paint wouldn’t cover the crayon marks? That’s the “resist.” The medium, in this instance crayon, “resists” the water.
• Add a layer of string painting for added dimension when the painting is dry: Cut lengths of string or yarn and dip into a paint color that contrasts the watercolors in the background. Lift it out and then drop it onto the watercolor painting to make some abstract designs!
Other options for watercolor paint:
• If you have gel crayons, scribble some spots on a palette, palette paper, or waxed paper and dip your brush into water and then apply it to the scribbled spots to lift the paint. It works!
• Try using watercolor markers: scribble spots on a plastic tray or palette paper or waxed paper and pick up some color with a paint brush dipped in water. This works, too!
• If you have acrylic paint, water it down to make it lighter in color and consistency. (Shh! “Real” artists say not to do this, but art is all about experimenting and creativity – try it and see what you think).
Additional Tips:
• For more color contrast, use acrylic paint for the string painting layer.
• Add a splatter layer: When your painting is dry, dip your brush in any contrasting color and flick the brush so that paint droplets splatter across the paper. More paint and less water will keep the color more intense. Watercolor paper options: If you don’t have watercolor paper, use what you do have. Paper that can absorb water is preferred – try construction paper or cardstock. Copy paper will be too thin.
