Create a control study using watercolor paint and other materials to inform further art making and experimentation.
MATERIALS
- watercolor paper or thick paper
- liquid watercolors (3 colors)
- paint brushes
- paint containers
- vinegar (1 tablespoon)
- salt (1 teaspoon)
- baking soda (1 tablespoon)
- oil pastel/crayon
- black permanent marker
TRY IT!
- Divide your paper into a grid by drawing 6 spaces with your black permanent marker.
- Create a drawing with your permanent marker in each space.
- Label each space with permanent marker:
- Control. Materials: watercolor
- Salt. Materials: watercolor + salt
- Oil pastel/crayon. Materials: watercolor + oil pastel. Tip: draw with oil pastel/crayon before applying paint
- Baking soda. Materials: watercolor + baking soda. Tip: sprinkle baking soda on top of watercolor paint
- Vinegar. Materials: watercolor + vinegar. Tip: use paintbrush to drop vinegar on top of watercolor paint
- Baking Soda + Vinegar. Materials: watercolor + baking soda + vinegar.
- One at a time, paint each space with watercolor paint and designated material for that space.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
- What did you notice?
- What were you surprised by?
- What do you think will happen when…?
- What was your favorite interaction?
LEARNING BEHIND THE PLAY
- Introduction to artistic and scientific processes of experimentation and observation.
- Introduction to chemical changes (e.g. baking soda, vinegar, watercolor).
TAKE IT FURTHER
Apply Your Learnings! What were your favorite paint and material interactions? Create a mixed media artwork using the materials you just experimented with!
- Experiment with Other Materials. What other materials could you experiment with in combination with watercolors?
- Create New Paint. Combine watercolors and baking soda to make a fun thick paint. Combine watercolors, baking soda, and vinegar to create foamy paint. Experiment and adjust until you get the consistency you want.