Fun Watercolor Resist Art Idea Using Crayons

This Kids Crayon Resist Art using watercolor paints is so cool, and works great for kids of all ages, even toddlers and preschoolers. This traditional resist art project is something many of us remember doing as kids. Kids will start with their own white crayon drawings and then add watercolor paint to make cool water color drawing art at home or in the classroom.

Crayon Watercolor Resist Art Project for Kids

Crayon resist art has been around a very long time. It’s a timeless art & craft project for kids that they’ll have fun doing over and over again!  It’s amazing how a child’s creativity is expressed through the use of white crayons.

Related: Easy handprint art ideas

It’s a really simple process, but the kids are amazed time after time when they see their hidden white crayon drawings magically appear when painted over with watercolors! Follow this step by step tutorial for crayon resist watercolor designs.

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Supplies Needed For This Watercolor Resist Art Project

Direction For This Watercolor Resist Art Project

Step 1 – Make a Crayon Drawing

Our first step is to decide if you want to let your kids use their creativity and draw their own designs.

Use a white crayon and draw on the white paper, pressing firmly down so you get enough wax on the paper.

Tip: If you are doing this with really young kids, you can draw something on the paper for to be revealed later.

Step 2 – Add Water Color Paints to Kids Crayons Art

Next, have your child brush watercolor paint over their crayon drawing.

The watercolor will stick the paper, but will “resist” the white crayon. This is when their designs will magically appear!

Finished Crayon Resist ARt Project

The possibilities are endless!

Here’s some ideas for learning activities that I had fun doing with my kids.

Resist Art Spelling

Draw a picture of an object and write what is underneath the image. We did “A is for apple.”

You can direct your child to brush watercolor over the image first, and then brush watercolor over each letter individually as you spell out the word together.

Resist Art Math

On one side of the paper, draw objects, and next to it, on the other side, write the number for how many there are. For instance, I drew three stars on the left side of the paper, and then wrote the number 3 next to them.

• Have your child brush watercolor over the objects first, and then brush watercolor over the number. 
• Next, count each object to reinforce this concept!

Secret Messages in Your Crayon + Watercolor Resist Art

• Write your child a secret message and have them reveal the message by brushing watercolor over the message.
• For young kids, your message can be as simple as “I Love You.”
• I wrote my older child a note letting him know that I wanted to have a picnic with him outside.

Colorful Name Art

Write your child’s name with the white crayon. Alternatively, your child can write their own name.

• Try to take up most of the white paper.
• Now, have your kid brush watercolor over their name.
• You can use one color or multiple colors. I chose to use the colors of the rainbow.

This would be a fun reinforcement of a science lesson on prisms and light!

Tip: Don’t throw out any of your extra Easter egg dye because it works really well for this activity!

Why We Love These Watercolor Resist Idea

This is a great way to make watercolor art. Not only that, but it’s a good way to not only practice fine motor skills, but work on colors, math, words. Plus these easy water color ideas not only teach different techniques, or I should say watercolor techniques, but it’s overall educational.

The best way to learn is by doing something fun. Plus your child can learn about different words like color gradient. This can be good practice to learn how to mix colors and what different brush strokes look like.

Also, a great way to use up white crayons. My kids always have leftover white crayons.

But this watercolor resist craft is not only an easy project that will get the creative juices going.

Happy Painting!

More Kids Art Activities From Kids Activities Blog

Have you ever made your own Rainbow Scratch Art with crayons? This was my favorite crayon activity as a kid! It’ll keep your kids busy for hours. You can see all the vibrant colors under the dark colors. It is so much fun.

What kind of designs do you think your child will make with their crayon resist art project?  Have they ever made secret art before?  For more cool kids activities like this, please take a look at these:

It doesn’t matter what level of painting skills you have, all of these practice ideas are a fun way to get into painting and practicing new techniques and basic techniques.

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Leave a comment: What fun designs do your kids plan to make on their crayon resistant art projects?