I always like to look out for new activities with Monkey and a couple of weeks ago I saw a post (I’m really sorry I can’t remember where) of an activity I remember as a kid. Magic Watercolour Painting. The premise is simple you draw a picture on a white piece of paper, using a white wax crayon. When you paint over the picture using the watercolour paints, the wax repels the paint and your picture appears.
I thought this sounded simple and fun for Monkey. I thought I could draw something and I imagined him loving the images revealing themselves underneath. We haven’t really done watercolour painting before, sticking to poster paints generally, so I thought this would be nice to try.
I bought some uber cheap watercolour paints, found a white wax crayon and drew somethings on some paper. I kept it simple, drawing numbers (because he loves them) and I also wrote out a Happy Birthday message to his Great Grandpa, thinking it would be a nice picture to give him.
Sadly we didn’t ever give him that picture, because, well it didn’t exactly work out. It’s not that it was a total disatser, because it wasn’t. Monkey very much enoyed the watercolour painting, although he did for some reason decide everything had to be black (cheerful colour) and sometimes randomly spent some time going from paint to water to paint to water without getting anything on paper, but it was a learning experience and he had fun.
What was unfortunate though, is that the ‘magic’ side of the activity didn’t really happen. The images just didn’t really appear. Not in the way I remembered or thought they would. Occasionally you could see a bit of a number or letter, but then they seemed to disappear 🙁
I wondered if maybe the crayon was a washable one or something, so I found a different brand of white crayon (a more basic one) and tried that, by drawing a clock. Not much of an improvement.
I then drew some numbers in really thick crayon, going over and over the image so get as much wax on the paper as possible. This gave the best result of the day, in that you can at least see the numbers… but it’s still not really the way I am remembering it!
Has anyone got any tips? Am I missing some crucial step? I would love to know where I am going wrong with what I thought would be such a simple and fun activity! Monkey enjoyed himself so I’m not too despondent about it but I was a bit gutted it didn’t go quite the way I had planned!
I used to scribble crayon on paper, paint over the top and then my Mum would use a coin or a pin to remove some of the wax to make a picture: would that work?
ooh yes I do remember doing that too, hmm will give it a try, thank you! 🙂 xx
I have vague recollections of doing something similar too, but I can’t remember what we did differently. I often worry when activities don’t turn out as planned but then remember that Potato having fun is the most important thing.
#MiniCreations
You are so right and it is so important not to worry, as they don;t really care how it was ‘supposed’ to go anyway! xx
I remember doing this, I think you need thicker paint rather than watery as you can see it better, we used to do fireworks pictures at school like this! #minicreations
ooh interesting, I think we will have to give it another go! xx
I remember doing fireworks but we covered a picture with black crayon and scraped it away to reveal the colours underneath. I’m going to try this soon with my lot but haven’t tried paint. I hope you find a solution,a least Monkey enjoyed the activity. #familyfriday
absolutely that is definitely the main thing! Yeah I remember doing those too, they are fab pictures! 🙂 xx
Lucas says – Black is an awesome colour and as always Monkey knows exactly what he wants and goes for it……………. Awesome job dude
Thanks for linking to #minicreations
thanks Lucas, he certainyl knows his own mind our Monkey! xx
Love the idea, I wonder why it didn’t work out? Popping by from Creative Monday
Thanks Fiona, yeah I am not sure, I may well give it another go and see if we can find a solution! Will let you know if I do! xx
Try using a candle instead of a crayon, then thin paint. That’s how we’ve always got the best results.
Hmm we did wonder about using a candle as I guess the wax is thicker? Will give it a go, thank you for the tip! xx
Aww yes I can remember doing something like this …
Thanks for linking up
#CreativeMondays
I remember doing something like this too. Think my little man would enjoy this. #familyfriday
ooh yes give it a go, hpefully you will be slightly more successful! xx