Watercolor painting is a fun and versatile type of art that allows young artists to explore their imagination. Whether creating art at home or in the classroom, watercolor techniques offer many possibilities for self-expression and personal development. With just a few simple supplies, children can begin experimenting with one of the most popular and accessible art forms that there is. Here are three of our favorite watercolor painting techniques for kids to try.
Top 3 Simple Watercolor Techniques for Young Artists
To become a proficient watercolor painter, you need to master some common techniques. The following approaches are perfect for children in the early stages of their artistic development.
1. Splatter Painting
Splatter painting is a fun (and sometimes messy) technique that involves flicking paint onto paper for dynamic and spontaneous results.
Materials Needed for Splatter Painting
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrush or toothbrush
- Watercolor paper
As mentioned in our tips for teaching young kids to paint article, it’s a good idea to let children experiment with artistic techniques. Splatter painting is an excellent example, as they will initially lack control over the paintbrush. However, through hands-on experimentation, they will gradually develop more command over the technique, leading to increased confidence.
Encourage kids to dip a paintbrush or toothbrush in paint and gently flick it to spray the paint over the paper. Repeat this process with different colors for a layered effect.
2. Wet-on-Wet Technique
By applying wet paint to a damp paper surface, the wet-on-wet watercolor technique creates a soft, blended result.
Materials Needed for Wet-on-Wet Technique
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrushes
- Watercolor paper
- Bowl of water
To begin, lightly dampen the paper with a wet paintbrush. Next, mix your watercolor paints on a palette, diluting them with water. You can then apply different colors to the paper and see how they blend and bleed into each other on the wet surface. Also, encourage kids to try wet on dry painting by letting a base layer of paint dry, then applying wet paint on top.
3. Salt Watercolor Technique
Salt watercolor painting involves sprinkling salt on wet watercolor paint. This art lesson brings together art and science, as the students will see the results of salt interacting with wet paint and gain a deeper understanding of the materials they use.
Materials Needed for Salt Watercolor Technique
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrushes
- Watercolor paper
- Salt
- Bowl of water
The salt watercolor technique is simple. Start by applying watercolor paint onto the paper, then sprinkle the salt before the paint dries. After letting the paint dry completely, brush off the salt to reveal the diverse patterns and textures created by the salt absorbing the pigment.
Browse Our Watercolor Painting Lessons for Children
Golden Road Arts creates free art lessons for elementary and middle school children. To access fun and engaging guides on watercolor painting, printmaking, sculpture and other popular techniques, watch our free art lessons today.
