How to Color Sand for Sand Art Using Tempera Paints
Sand conjures thoughts of the sun and a day at the shore, but sand is also an artistic medium used in the creation of sand paintings and brightly patterned sand sculptures in jars and bottles. Although colored sand is commercially available, it can be expensive. Instead, you can save money and make sure your art is non-toxic by making colored sand at home with powdered tempera paints. Let your imagination run wild with only a few jars of tempera and a bucket of sand.
Things You'll Need
- Colander
- Sand
- Water-resistant paper bowls
- Powdered tempera paints
- Spoons
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Spray bottle of water
- Water-resistant paper plates
- Plastic sandwich bags
Instructions
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Fill a bucket with beach sand. Pour it through the colander to remove pebbles, twigs and any other debris. Measure 1/2 cup of sand into a bowl.
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Stir 1 teaspoon of powdered tempera paint into the bowl of sand. Mix until thoroughly blended. Spray the mixture with water, while continuing to stir, until the sand is damp and the color is activated.
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Add more paint if the color is not dark enough — remember that the color will get lighter as the sand dries. Repeat the process for each color of sand. Try mixing colors in the bowl of sand for different shades.
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4
Spread the contents of each bowl on paper plates to allow the sand to dry. After it has dried, use the back of a spoon to crumble any clusters or clumps. Store the sand in resealable plastic bags.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy the primary colors, red, yellow and blue, and combine them to make other colors such as green, orange and purple.
After the sand has dried, try adding table salt to red sand to make it pink. Mix blue and green sand and add enough salt to get an aqua or a teal shade.
Add crushed charcoal to get darker tones.
Be sure the tempera paints have safety labels that indicate they are made of non-toxic materials.
Wash your hands after working with paints.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
