Here’s a melted crayons art project that even the youngest kid can do (unlike drawing on a hot cookie sheet, as we did recently)!
Wax Resist Painting with Watercolors
MATERIALS
- Wax crayons
- Candle (optional)
- Cheese grater
- Watercolor paper
- Wax paper
- Iron
- Watercolor paint
INSTRUCTIONS
First, I had Maia select three crayon colors, which I then grated on a cheese grater. Pink and red are shown together above. The white one is actually a grated wax candle. She then arranged the crayon shavings on a piece of watercolor paper (kind of like when we make melted crayon stained glass).
Then, I set a piece of wax paper over the paper and the crayon shavings and used the iron (on a low setting) to melt the crayon.
Here’s the melted crayons design. Next time I think I’d use just the crayon and no wax candle, since the melted candle looks a little too much like grease stains to me.
Finally, as soon as paper cooled down, Maia painted over the crayon and paper with watercolors.
I love this!
To adapt this idea for realism, a child could draw a picture—a house for example—then add crayon shavings of one color within the lines of the roof, and crayon shavings of another color for the door, etc.
This is a project that even a two year old could do, but I think it’s one that an older child would enjoy as well. Or an adult. I’d personally like to make a rainbow out of different colored crayon shavings! Or flowers.
I think I need to start doing more art alongside Maia rather than just putting together projects for her!
For more wax resist painting ideas, see this post on 6 watercolor resist techniques.
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