Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 small mixing bowl, about 2 cups in size
- 1 measuring cup, 1 cup size
- 1 measuring spoon, 1 tablespoon size
- 1 wooden craft stick or teaspoon for stirring
- 4 sheets watercolor paper, 9 inches by 12 inches, at least 140-pound weight
- 1 paintbrush, medium round or flat, about 1/2 inch wide
- 3 small cups, 2 fluid ounces each, for color
- 3 tablespoons liquid watercolor or washable food coloring, 1 tablespoon per color
- 1 small dropper or pipette, optional
- 1 pencil, standard writing size, optional for light outlines
- 1 plastic table cover or reusable tray, large enough for the work area
- 1 roll paper towels, at least 10 sheets
- 1 apron or old shirt, adult or child size as needed
- 1 sheet wax paper, 12 inches by 16 inches, for drying each artwork
Instructions
- Cover the table with the plastic cover or set a reusable tray beneath your supplies.
- Measure 1 cup of warm water into the mixing bowl, then add 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Stir with the craft stick or teaspoon until the sugar mostly dissolves.
- Set the three small color cups beside the paper and pour 1 tablespoon of liquid watercolor or washable food coloring into each cup.
- Place one sheet of watercolor paper on wax paper.
- Dip the paintbrush into the sugar water and paint a thin line across the paper.
- Add a few more marks while leaving spaces between them.
- Touch the dropper to one color cup and place a small drop onto a wet sugar-water line.
- Continue across the page, using about 1 tablespoon of each color in total. Leave some white paper visible.
- Try a gentle tilt if the page has a small amount of liquid on it.
- Set the finished sheet flat on the wax paper and leave it undisturbed for 2 to 4 hours.
- Rinse the brush and color cups with warm water right away.
Notes
This project is great for children around age 3 and older with close adult supervision. Use washable colors and protect clothing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
