If your little one loves to paint but often puts paint in his mouth, what you need is a non-toxic watercolor recipe. If your child is old enough to understand better but you're still worried that he's using toxic paint, you can make your own watercolors using non-toxic art supplies, such as tempera paint.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Creating a Solid Watercolor (Pan Watercolor Paint)
Step 1. Mix baking soda with vinegar in a 2:1 ratio
Pour 45 grams of baking soda into a measuring cup. Add 30 ml of vinegar. Stir the ingredients, then let the mixture foam.
- Use a rice measuring cup to prevent the mixture from overflowing. If you don't have a large measuring cup, use a large bowl.
- If you don't have baking soda on hand, look for bicarbonate of soda. Do not use expanding powder (baking powder).
Step 2. Pour in a small amount of light corn syrup and corn starch
Add teaspoon of light corn syrup and 2 tablespoons (15 grams) of corn starch. Stir all the ingredients with a spoon or craft stick until the starch is dissolved. At this point, the mixture will appear very thick (and this is normal).
- If you don't have light corn syrup on hand, you can use golden corn syrup instead. If not, try looking for Karo syrup.
- If you don't have corn starch, use cornstarch. Do not use ground corn or corn meal.
Step 3. Pour the batter into a muffin bowl or ice cube tray
The mixture is enough to fill six muffin cups (about half the volume), or 12 bowls (a quarter the volume). For an ice cube container, the volume filled will depend on the size of the container. As an estimate, you can fill about 1-2 containers.
The mixture will harden when poured. If it hardens, just stir again. You can also scoop it out with a spoon
Step 4. Pour food coloring into each cup or container
Use a toothpick to add 6 drops of gel food coloring to each bowl or container. Stir in food coloring and mix using one clean toothpick or craft stick for each different color. Keep stirring until the color is even and there are no clumps of dye remaining.
- If you don't have gel food coloring, you can add 20 drops of liquid food coloring for each bowl or container.
- Use one color for each bowl. You can use the same color for multiple bowls.
- If the paint is too runny, add a little cornstarch or cornstarch.
- Feel free to mix 2 colors to create new colors.
Step 5. Let the paint dry for a few days
This process takes (at the fastest) 2 days to 1 week. Some paints will never dry completely and have a chewy, jelly-like texture. If you're in a hurry, you can dry the paint in a warm, dry place (eg near a fireplace) for 24 hours.
Step 6. Apply paint as you would regular dry watercolors
Fill the cup with water. Dip the paint brush in the water, then brush it over the paint to wet it. Use brushes and create awesome works of art.
Store paint in a cool, dry place. Keep in mind that eventually the paint will rot. If the paint starts to look or smell weird, throw it away immediately
Method 2 of 3: Making Liquid Watercolors
Step 1. Put the powdered drink without sugar into the cup
Purchase a packet of unsweetened beverage powder (eg Kool-Aid or JPS products). Open the package and pour the powder into the cup. The color of the paint will depend on the flavor you choose. Pay attention to the color of the packaging to get an idea of the color that will be produced.
- Do not use powdered drinks that contain sugar or powdered jelly. The sugar will make the paint feel sticky.
- Keep in mind that some flavors do not display the correct color. For example, a "wine"-flavoured beverage might be gray instead of blue or purple.
- This method is suitable for children. The paint you make is edible, although it may not taste as good because you're using a powdered drink without sugar.
Step 2. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water
One tablespoon of water is usually enough for a pack of drinks, both large and small. Reduce the amount of water if you want a darker color, or add more water if you want a lighter color.
While this may sound like too little, you only need a spoonful of water. After all, you'll be making paint, not juice
Step 3. Repeat the process to create more colors
Again, you'll only need 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water for each color you're making. Once you've made all the colors, you can pour the mixture into small paint cups, small jars, or even ice cube containers!
Step 4. Pour the paint into a more practical container
You can use the paint directly from the cup, but if you want to save it for later use, it's a good idea to pour the paint into small jars.
Step 5. Use paint like regular liquid watercolors
The paint is ready to use so you don't need to add water to moisten or wet it. Keep in mind that this paint can leave stains. Protect the work area and wear an old t-shirt or artist robe.
- Use a watercolor brush to paint. Do not use a brush with coarse or hard bristles.
- Scrape off the paint once it dries to bring out the scent!
- Discard any remaining paint or store in a small jar for use the next day.
Method 3 of 3: Creating Another Type of Watercolor
Step 1. Mix water with food coloring to make paint quickly and easily
Put 60 ml of water in a small container. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring, then stir. Test the paint on a piece of paper. If the color isn't dark enough, add more food coloring.
- You can use gel food coloring, but you'll need to stir it longer.
- The amount of water used will depend on the amount of paint you want to make.
Step 2. Dissolve solid watercolors in water to make liquid watercolors
Fill a glass jar with 120 ml of hot water. Remove the non-toxic solid watercolor from the container, and drop it into the water. Wait a few minutes, then stir. Add (maximum) 120 ml of water if the resulting color is too dark.
- Although the paint may appear cloudy at first, it will eventually become clear.
- Make sure the paint used is non-toxic. Most watercolor products for children are non-toxic.
Step 3. Dissolve non-toxic tempera paint with water to make liquid watercolor
Look for non-toxic tempera paint. Pour some paint into a glass jar, then add 120 ml of water. Stir the mixture to dissolve the paint. Add more water if you want a lighter color.
- This paint has a more opaque color, like gauche paint.
- You can use poster paint, finger paint, or even acrylic craft paint. However, read the packaging label first to make sure the product is non-toxic.
Step 4. Soak dried non-toxic markers in water to make liquid watercolors
Collect several dry markers of the same color. Read the packaging label to make sure the product is non-toxic, then place the marker in a glass jar. Fill the jar with 120 ml, then let stand for 1 week. After that, take out the marker and you can use the paint to paint.
The water will evaporate so the paint color will appear darker. If the resulting color is too dark, add more water
Tips
- Use a soft-bristled paint brush. Do not use hard or abrasive paints as they are too stiff for painting.
- Rinse the brush with clean water before you dip it in another colored paint.
