Resist Techniques That Reveal Hidden Pictures
Drawing Special Effects With Crayons and Glue
Jul 16, 2009
With these resist techniques, children draw a picture that uses crayon or glue and then show off the image with the application of watercolor paints or chalk pastels. Use some of the techniques with texture rubbing plates. Try other techniques when decorating cardboard treasure boxes or photo frames.
Crayon and Watercolor Resists
On watercolor paper, draw and color a picture using crayons. Then, color over the image with watercolor paints. The wax crayon will repel the paint. Encourage children to think ahead as to how they will incorporate these two mediums. If drawing a picture of a house and yard with crayon, they could then paint the sky and grass. Children don’t need to avoid painting near or on the crayon image, as the watercolor paint will bead off the wax.
To use this technique with texture rubbing plates (or with leaves), peel the paper off the crayons and rub the long edge of the crayon on a sheet of paper held on top of the rubbing plate. Paint over the texture with watercolor paints.
Color a pattern over a cardboard or paper mache box or picture frame and then paint the object for a different use of this method.
Watercolor and Wax Paper Resists
This effect is similar to the pictures drawn with crayon, but instead children hold a sheet of waxed paper over a piece of watercolor paper and press a picture or design onto the paper. Parents want to cut a piece of waxed paper the size of the painting paper. With a dull pencil, ballpoint pen, or craft stick, children rub the wax from the paper onto the watercolor paper.
Try creating patterns instead of detailed drawings with this method. Avoid shifting the watercolor paper or the waxed paper while drawing the image as it is impossible to line up. Parents can tape down the watercolor paper and the waxed paper, individually, to a desk or tabletop to prevent movement.
Paint with watercolors over the entire page. This method works well for abstract designs because it is difficult to follow the wax lines, so encourage children to paint sections of the paper in different colors. Children can also try painting an image of a scene, an animal, a flower, etc. where the waxed patterns reveal to become textures within the painting.
Glue and Pastel Resist
Draw a picture onto drawing paper with white glue (avoid washable glue). Allow the glue to dry completely. Color the picture with chalk pastels, allowing some of the color to go over the glue. Where the glue rises away from the paper, the pastels can create a shadowy outline. Some of the color will stain the glue.
The effect can be a bit like a coloring book image, only instead of black lines defining the shapes, the lines are clear glue. If this technique is used on paper mache or cardboard boxes or picture frames, a parent will need to spray a fixative over the chalk pastel so it doesn’t wear off the object.
These three techniques allow children to explore resists with glue, crayons, and waxed paper. Add watercolor paints or chalk pastels to these drawings, revealing the hidden patterns and pictures.
 |
