How to do Batik Watercolor

Batik watercolor is a fun craft for any age and when it's done you have a piece of art that can be hung as is or used in a variety of other craft projects. For example, batik watercolor makes great bookmarks or greeting cards.

Things You'll Need

• White poster board or heavy construction paper
• Crayons
• Dark poster paint, watercolor paint or ink
• Water
• Small sponge brush
• Newspapers

Instructions

1. Draw a design on the white paper with very thick crayon. Don't use crayons with a sharp point. Dull, broken crayons or crayons stubs with the paper removed work very well. Make the drawing large and bold without a lot of small details.

2. Fill a large bowl with water, and dip the drawing carefully into the water, immersing it completely. Remove the paper from the water carefully and crumple it loosely into a ball. Squeeze it and shake it gently to remove the excess water.

3. Uncrumple the wet ball of paper and lay it flat on a thick layer of newspapers.

4. Paint over the top of the entire drawing with the dark poster paint, watercolor or ink, and you have created a batik watercolor.

5. Leave the batik watercolor on the newspaper until it dries thoroughly.

6. Hang the batik watercolor to display it, or use it in other craft projects.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use poster paints, thin them with a small amount of water so that they're watercolor consistency.

• If the batik watercolor happens to tear while you are working on it, put some invisible tape on the back after it dries.