Liquid Starch and Powder Paint Fun

It is important to mix up your art materials for your kids because it takes the repetition out of painting.
By providing them with different materials(different types of paints, different types of brushes, new textures, new shapes and sizes of paper) you make each art activity something new and fun.

D has always loved using Powder Paint and any activity we do that uses them is a sure hit with D.

Materials needed:

• Thick paper. (Card stock.)
• Paint brushes.
• Powder tempera paint.
• Liquid starch. (Add a 1/4 cup of liquid starch to a paint cup for easy dipping)
• Shakers to put some powder paint in would be fun too! (Optional)
• Art Aprons. (To keep their clothes from getting dirty)
• A sink or bowl of water for easy hand clean up. (Optional but highly recommended.)

Always set up your table and materials before your children join in on the fun. This prevents chaos and having to run around while your kids have their hands full of paint.

Lately, it seems that after I place the green table where it should be for our art I have maybe 5 seconds to get everything ready before A runs to the table to experiment with the materials we are using today. I love that excitement from her and am proud to announce that she no longer fears getting her hands messy! Yay! She digs right in!

This activity can be done in two ways:

1.) You can add your liquid starch to the page first and then your powder paints.

OR

2.) You can add powder paints to your paper and then add your liquid starch in afterwards.

D did Option 1 and A did Option 2.

Option 1:

Add some liquid starch on to the paper and have your child paint it all over the page.

Dip your paint brush in the liquid starch paint cup then dip into your powder paints and paint on to your page.

Watch as the powder turns into a colorful liquid like paint. The paint can be as thick or as thin as the child makes it.

Allow them to experiment with that. If they add more liquid starch the paint becomes thinner.

Option 2:

Paint with your powder directly on to the paper. A was fascinated by the different texture of this paint. She felt it with her hands to see why it is dry and yep it went to her lips. (Thankfully this is non toxic powder paint).

Paint on some liquid starch on top of the powder paint to see it appear more paint like.

Put some powder paint in some shakers and have your child shake the paint on to their paper for a different painting experience. We will do this next week and post up some pictures. I’m sure both kids would really enjoy that.

Clean up is half the fun!