Crayon Resist Process Art

Crayon Resist Process Art

Crayon resist art is a fantastic process art exploration for young children. The process can be explored with toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond. 
Learn a new art process, develop fine motor skills, and engage in creative expression. 
​The invitation is simple and can be done with common art materials. 

Materials

For this invitation you need a few simple materials. 

• Watercolor paper (other paper works, but watercolor paper works well with this invitation)
• Watercolors (liquid watercolors are great for this exploration, if you don't have them you can use watercolor palettes or see our cost saving trick below)
• Eye droppers/Pipettes (if you don't already have these on hand consider investing in some, they are inexpensive and can be used for a variety of science and art explorations, a small baster would also work)
• Containers for the watercolors (we used mini party cups)

Homemade Watercolors

Here is a cost saving trick for creating watercolors. Save up markers that have dried up, then place the marker in a small water bottle and fill with water. The color will drain out of the marker and mix into the water. 

Begin exploring

Our exploration started with writing the each child's name on their piece of paper in their choice of color. They then use the dropper to drop watercolors on the paper. This will take some practice as preschoolers are still developing the strength, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination necessary for using these tools. 

Once they got the hang of it the process exploration really began!
Some kids chose to draw their own images, scribble, and some asked adults for assistance with shapes and names. 

An older child in the group drew a picture of his house in a rainstorm!
He dripped blue paint on the picture for the rain (see the finished piece below). 

As children are creating talk about what they are seeing on the paper. What is happening to the picture? Why do you think the watercolor is not mixing with the crayon?
Extend this activity by inviting preschoolers to only color with a white crayon on white paper and then add watercolors to reveal their drawing. 

When the rain is finished it's time to wait....

And here is the fun result!

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