Experiments in Art

What we did in art this week
Our background of wet-on-wet painting last week was completed this week.  The drawing of our flowers now needed to be filled with color. Last week we used cool colors in the background.  This week we used warm colors in our flower drawing to make it pop. out from the cool blue soft backgrounds.

With our watercolor papers we all played after completing a lesson.  Several techniques includes stamping flower shapes with the end of paint brushes,, making a wet-on-wet background (to paint on later) and making a sky-scape..

For mom, dad and the whole family 

Cloud-scapes and salt water is fun for everyone.

Cut a sheet of watercolor paper in half and in half again so you have a piece about 4" x 6" or four smaller papers from one watercolor sheet.

On watercolor paper leave the bottom inch or two dry.  Wet the upper half with water except for some irregular shapes that will be clouds. When wetting the paper make sure it is wet enough to see it glisten and reflect light.  While the paper is this wet, add some blue or any sky color you want and let it spread.  It will spread every where except where it's dry.


Perspective trick:
Clouds appear smaller near the horizon and larger near the top of the paper.


Salt Water - literally!
Let the sky dry completely.  Next, wet the bottom half of the paper with water so it's nice and wet.  Add some blues for water and let it spread..  While the watercolor is still very wet put some salt on the wet color.  Don't use too much salt or it will just not work.  Enjoy making more than one until you get your clouds and salt water just right.

Why salt?
Salt absorbs the color of the paint and as it pulls the color out of the paper it leaves a star like, crystal shape.. 

You will all have a lot of fun with this.  I suggest making more than one at a time.  While one sky is drying start another.  What can you to with these?  Glue it on a gift bag so you are ready with a bag that is also a gift.

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