Expert: MaryAnn F. Kohl - 7/23/2011

Question
I was recently given some powder tempera paints to use with my boys aged 10 and 4. Can you suggest projects that we can do together using this paint?

Thanks

Answer
Powdered tempera has been around for ages, but most schools don't use it anymore because liquid is so easy, even if far more costly. I personally love some of the possibilities with powdered paint... I'll share several of my easy favorites:


1. Powder Painting (from my book, Preschool Art)
This is an easy one!!
Pour a puddle of liquid starch on drawing paper. (Don't use thing copier or printer paper.)
* Liquid starch is in a container like bleach and found in the laundry section of the grocery store.  It's a great art material. If you can't find it, just use water, but believe me, the starch is much better. Some people use thinned white glue instead of liquid starch, and it works too, but starch is the best!!!
Spread the starch over the paper with a paintbrush
With a slightly damp clean paintbrush, dip the tip into powdered paint, and dab it onto the starch paper.
The paint will dissolve and become thicker, creating an unusual texture.

2. Salty Paint Shake
Mix some powdered paint with regular salt in a small bowl, and then pour into in a shaker. The measurements don't matter, just so it looks mixed. If you don't have a shaker, mix it in a bowl and put a spoon in the bowl for the next step, but a shaker works best. Even an old spice bottle.
Make as many colors and shakers as you wish.
Next, paint a design on the paper with a paintbrush dipped in white glue. (Squeeze some into a little dish. You can mix a little water with it to thin it if you wish.)
Shake the colored salt paint over the design, or the part of the design you want to color. Shake excess off the paper onto a tray. It will likely not be used again but might be if you have enough.
The salt and paint dries to a shiny crystal effect.

3. Rain Drops
Sprinkle some powdered paint thinly on a sheet of paper that is on a cookie sheet or tray.
Take the tray outside on a rainy day, and let the drops hit the powdered paint making splash designs. (Don't go out in the lightening of course.)  This doesn't work well if it's really pouring, just normal nice rain works best.

Really, you can use powdered paint in place of liquid paint -- just mix with water or liquid starch. But it's fun to use the actual powder. I should mention to be careful of breathing in powder, but your kids should handle it just fine as long as they are not throwing it!!  :)

Have fun! Write back if you need more ideas, though I'll be out of town for a week on business... so I might not answer quickly.

Enjoy creating with your boys! They'll love the fun you'll have.
MaryAnn Kohl
www.brightring.com
maryannfkohl.typepad.com/blog/