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As winter blankets the world in a glistening coat, what better way to celebrate the season than with a flurry of creative activities? Our Snowflake Crayon Resist Art Projects for Kids promise to turn ordinary paper into a canvas for enchanting winter scenes. This easy and mesmerizing technique allows young artists to explore their imagination while learning about resist art.
Inspired by a previous art project where I transformed regular coffee filters into magical snowflakes, my kids and I had so much fun creating them that I wanted to introduce them to other ways of crafting snowflakes in their art. Gather the materials from the list below and let the creativity begin!
Materials Needed:
White watercolor paper
White Oil Pastels
Watercolor paints
Paintbrushes
Cup Filled With Water
Paper Towels
Step #1: Draw Snowflakes
Begin by using white oil pastels or white crayons to draw intricate snowflakes on a sheet of white paper. Encourage creativity in the designs, from simple six-pointed flakes to more elaborate patterns. It was really hard trying to photograph drawing with white oil pastel on top of white watercolor paper.
Take note of your artwork as you draw. The use of a white oil pastel on white paper might make it a bit challenging to discern your design initially. However, with a discerning eye, you'll start to notice the subtle marks left by the oil pastel, revealing the intricate details of your artistic creation.
White Crayons vs White Oil Pastels
Indeed, it's a pertinent inquiry! I delved into experimenting with crayons as an alternative to oil pastels. While crayons are commonplace and easily accessible in many households, I discovered that they didn't perform as effectively as oil pastels but will still work.
Crayons:Â Crayons, crafted with wax, possess a waxy quality that doesn't resist water as efficiently. When watercolor paint is layered over crayon, the wax tends to repel the water, leading to less distinct resist effects.
Oil Pastels:Â In contrast, oil pastels are formulated with a non-drying, non-hardening oil and wax binder. This unique composition offers superior water resistance, allowing the envisioned design to emerge vividly when watercolor is applied.
While the idea of using crayons is appealing, especially considering their ubiquitous presence, the superior water-resistant properties and vibrant outcomes of oil pastels make them a more effective choice for achieving captivating watercolor resist effects.
Step #2: Color the Background
Once the snowflakes are drawn, let your little artists paint with watercolors to fill the background. The wax from the oil pastels will resist the watercolor paint later, revealing the snowflakes in beautiful contrast. Because you are painting the sky, I recommend sticking with blues, purples, pinks, and maybe even some sea green.
Pro Tip: When painting skies, aim for smooth color transitions and avoid harsh lines. To achieve this, try dampening the paper by painting it lightly with just water or using a water spray bottle. Then paint as normal with the watercolors. This technique helps the colors blend together easily.
Step #3: Let it Dry
Allow the masterpiece to dry completely. Lay them out across your countertop and avoid stacking them until completely dry. Once dry, the vibrant snowflakes against the watercolor background will showcase the beauty of winter.
Step #4: Display Your Masterpiece
Show off your completed Snowflake Crayon Resist Art with pride, transforming your home into a winter wonderland infused with the creativity and joy of your little artists. Whether you choose to hang it on the fridge or frame it for the nightstand, your child will delight in seeing their artwork proudly displayed, fostering a sense of accomplishment and building their self-confidence.
This Snowflake Crayon Resist Art Project is not only a delightful winter activity but also an opportunity for children to experiment with color, resist techniques, and explore the wonders of winter. Let the snowflakes dance and the colors come to life in this charming art venture. Gather your supplies, and let the winter creativity flow!
Don't miss out on the excitement! Explore a range of projects, from Pirate Cootie Catchers to discovering the art of transforming toilet paper rolls into adorable Bumble Bees. We're here for all your creative endeavors!