“Which watercolors do you use? Crayola colors look dull.” · Jamy
Author The author's favorite liquid watercolors brand is linked on Amazon in the post's Materials list.
The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · February 2014
Ages4–8 yrs
Prep5 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Kids paint watercolor paper with liquid watercolors, then dab rubbing alcohol on the still-wet paint with cotton swabs. The alcohol pushes the color away and leaves 'fish eye' patterns, swirls and shapes. It is simple process art about observing cause and effect.
⚠️ Safety first
- Rubbing alcohol is flammable. Keep it away from candles, stoves and other heat sources.
- An adult pours a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a cup and keeps the bottle capped and out of reach.
- Rubbing alcohol is poisonous if swallowed. Supervise closely, and skip this activity with kids who still put things in their mouths.
- Work in a well-ventilated room, keep alcohol away from eyes, and wash hands afterward.
- Liquid watercolors can stain. Cover the table and use smocks or old clothes.
Steps
Pour each liquid watercolor into a small bowl and set out paper and brushes.
Paint the entire sheet of watercolor paper with liquid watercolors.
Wait about 2 minutes so the paint starts to dry but is still wet.
Adult: pour a little rubbing alcohol into a small cup and set out a few cotton swabs.
Dip a swab in the alcohol and gently place it on the still-wet painting.
Watch the alcohol push the color away and leave 'fish eye' patterns behind.
Make a small puddle of watercolor and drop alcohol into it to see a bigger effect.
Draw a heart or another shape with an alcohol swab on a wet painting.
Swab alcohol across the painting and watch two wet colors swirl and mix.
Collect the finished paintings, and maybe make a book out of them.
Tips
- The key to a good effect is to get the timing right. If the painting gets too dry, the bleach-out effect is not all that apparent.from the author
- If you have a small puddle going, the effect of alcohol on the colors is quite visible and exciting for the kids to watch.from the author
- On a wet painting, drawing a heart with alcohol turns out pretty neat. It looks like resist art!from the author
- I just loved it when 2 colors swirled and mixed while wet.from the author
- My 5 year old is big on 'scenes', so we made a collaborative art piece together.from the author
- Liquid watercolors give bright colors. A reader found Crayola watercolors dull, and the author pointed her to her favorite liquid watercolors.from readers
Make it your own
- Use eye droppers instead of cotton swabs.
- Turn the textured paintings into a collaborative scene, like an under-the-sea picture with a fish.
- Collect all the artwork and bind it into a book.
- A reader tried the same idea with Sharpie marker drawings and alcohol.
Questions readers asked
What watercolors do you use?
The author uses liquid watercolors, her family's favorite brand, and links to them in the materials list.
Why isn't the alcohol making much of a pattern?
The paint is probably too dry. Add the alcohol a couple of minutes after painting, while the paint is still wet.
What readers say
💬 10 comments ✍️ 4 answered by the author
Answered by the author
✨ Readers' twist
Try Sharpies with alcohol too
A reader has used the same idea with Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol and got wonderful effects.
“I have used this idea with Sharpies and alcohol! Wonder affects!”
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Dull colors? Switch to liquid watercolors
A reader found Crayola watercolors dull. The author points to her favorite liquid watercolors brand, linked in the post's materials list.
“We have been using Crayola and I am very unimpressed with the dull colors.”
🎉 Worked for us
The under-the-sea scene stood out
A reader especially loved the collaborative "under the sea" scene made from the textured painting.
“So gorgeous! I love the "under the sea" scene.”
🎉 Worked for us
Fun for grandparents and grandkids
A grandparent shared that crafting ideas like these are fun with grandchildren, who love it as much as she does.
“It is so much fun crafting with the grandchildren......they love it as much as I do.”
Read all 10 comments
TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Deebi27
Thanks~
Deebi27 · Jun 2014
I love this...I have used this idea with Sharpies and alcohol! Wonder affects!
Carrie · May 2014
Love your ideas.... It is so much fun crafting with the grandchildren......they love it as much as I do.
TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Gina
Thanks for reading Gina. Yes it is so simple yet yields beautiful results. You can't go wrong with watercolor, am I right?
TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Allison
Same here Allison.
Jamy · Feb 2014
That is sooooo beautiful! May I ask what watercolors you use? We have been using Crayola and I am very unimpressed with the dull colors.
Jeanette Nyberg · Feb 2014
I just love all of the experimenting you did, and the results are so fun to look at!
TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Jamy
Hi Jamy Thanks for reading. An Amazon link to our favorite liquid watercolors brand is in the post. Click on the Materials list.
Allison · Feb 2014
So gorgeous! I love the "under the sea" scene.
Gina · Feb 2014
I can't wait to try this simple technique! I had forgotten about this and love the fun you've had sharing it!