How to Paint With Kool-Aid

Use Kool-Aid as an art material.

Children enjoy painting pictures, even at a young age. However, young children can often make a giant mess when they use tempera or acrylic paint. One solution is to use grocery store products as paints, such as Kool-Aid packages. Kool-Aid packages can be diluted to resemble watercolor paint, but unlike real watercolor paint they will be washable. When you make Kool-Aid paints they will also be naturally scented like fruit. This can add to the enjoyment of the painting experience.

Things You'll Need

• 6 bowls
• Spoon
• Watercolor paper
• Watercolor paintbrush
• Glass jar

Instructions

1. Place six bowls onto a tabletop, and pour one package of Kool-Aid into each bowl. Select a different color for each bowl.

2. Pour 1 cup of water into each bowl, and stir each bowl with a spoon to combine the solutions completely.

3. Lay a sheet of watercolor paper onto a flat surface, such as a tabletop or desk. Since the diluted Kool-Aid mixture resembles watercolor paint, it will react in a similar way on watercolor paper.

4. Dip a watercolor paintbrush into one of the bowls, and paint onto the watercolor paper.

5. Fill a glass jar with water, and set it next to the watercolor paper. Rinse off your paintbrush in-between color selections.

References

• Paint Cut Paste: Scratch-N-Sniff Painting
• Perfectly Preschool: Scratch and Sniff Watercolor Paintings