Have fun with this painting technique to make a mystery painting.
Painting is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the work of arts and crafts. It has many formats and allows creativity of expression that allows kids to explore freely. There are a variety of painting mediums that can be explored - water colors, oil painting , still life and modern art.
With this fun mystery painting you can introduce even toddlers and preschoolers to the wonderful world of painting. So grab your paintbrushes and artist's aprons, spread out some newspaper and get started. You may discover you have a budding Picasso on your hands!
Mystery Crayon Painting - Wax Resistant Painting
What you will to make your mystery painting:
- wax crayons - you want very light colors - white, yellow, pale pink
- white or light colored card stock or heavy paper - you can use cardstock to match the crayon color to really hide your picture
- dark water based paints such as poster paint - blue, black, dark green, red or purples work well
- wide paint brush
- water
- newspaper
- a friend to paint with
What you do:
1. Have the child draw a picture of anything he wants on the white paper. Have them press down hard with the crayon but be careful not to break the crayon. You want the lines to be thick. Tell them not to tell what they are drawing.
2. Next thin the paint with water. Pour a small amount of paint into a disposable bowl and add water. You want the paint to fairly thin.
3. Spread the newspapers out on the table so that you protect your work area from paint and to make clean up easy. Trade pictures with your friend.
4. Lay your picture on top of the newspaper. Now dip the paint brush into the water and start painting in wide strokes. Start at the top and go across until the entire picture is covered. Can you guess what yor friend drew as the mystery painting shows through?
The paint will resist the wax crayon revealing the "hidden" picture. You can also draw a snow scene, underwater scene or night time scene and paint over it with blue paint for a realistic looking effect.
Fun Idea:
Draw a mystery painting and mail it to a friend. Sent them the directions on how to reveal your painting. It could be a secret message instead of a picture. Make a mystery birthday card that the birthday person has to paint in order to see the special message inside.
More painting fun can be found in the painting index.
