In the modern world, it’s very easy for us to buy or make clothing, jewelry, makeup, or other decorations in almost any color we want, but we often don’t think about how those colors are made. Typically, items are painted or dyed with artificial or natural colorants—especially clothing or other textiles. But how did our ancestors create beautiful works of art or colorful garments and accessories? Believe it or not, applying color to objects with natural ingredients has been in practice for thousands of years, and is something archaeologists are still learning more about from different cultures at different points in human history.
There are two different types of methods to applying color on an object—either using a pigment, a natural material that is insoluble, orimpossible to dissolve completely, or a dye, a natural material that is soluble and easily dissolves when added to a mixture
Make-Your-Own Watercolor Paints
Natural dyes can also be used to make paint, specifically watercolor paints. The intensity of the color can be affected by adding more of the natural dye than water; adding more water will diminish the color. With the help of a grownup, you can make your own paints from natural ingredients you may have at home! *This activity requires a grown-up! (Although these paints are using natural ingredients, they are not intended for consumption)
*TIP: frozen fruits and veggies give off a lot of color when they’re thawed and mashed!
What You’ll Need
- 4 Tbsp. white vinegar
- 5 Tbsp. Corn starch
- 5 Tbsp. Baking soda
- Watercolor paper
- Paintbrushes
- Water
- Natural ingredients to make paints (examples down below)
- Small mesh strainer
- Mixing bowel
- Whisk
- Container(s) to hold watercolor paints (old ice cube trays work great!)
- Towels/cleaning supplies
- *OPTIONAL* blender or juicer
- *OPTIONAL* cheese grater for root vegetables
- *OPTIONAL* Markers or crayons to decorate
- *OPTIONAL* Table salt to make unique designs
Directions
*Ingredients can vary depending on what you have or what colors you’d like to use
- Combine the vinegar, baking soda, corn starch, and corn syrup in your mixing bowel
- Stir or whisk until completely dissolved
- Pour mixture into your container(s) to hold watercolor paints until about half-full
- Find natural ingredients around your house that are different colors. These can include fruit like raspberries to make red; blueberries to make blue paint, paprika or other spices to make dusty reds and browns; carrots or beets; or even coffee grounds and tea bags! *Make sure to ask a grownup for help*
- Place your mesh strainer over your mixing container. Begin placing ingredients into your mesh strainer and either using a whisk or potato masher to smash down your ingredients one at a time
- OPTIONAL: if you have a juicer or blender, use this to condense your ingredients instead
- Once the liquid has been extracted and is in your mixing bowl, pour the liquid into one of the containers that has the vinegar, baking soda, etc. mixture. Use as little or as much to vary the color
- Mix colors into the corn starch mixture well
- Clean out mixing bowl to ensure no color contamination
- Repeat steps 1-8 for other colors
- If you’re using leaves or root vegetables like beets or carrots, you can grate the roots down and use a muslin cloth to squeeze out juice
- Once you have your colors, you’re ready to paint on your watercolor paper
- OPTIONAL: use markers or colored pencils to enhance your art
- OPTIONAL: if you have table salt, try putting down some paint on your paper and adding a sprinkle of salt. What happens to the painted area?
- Because our combined mixture has corn starch, these paints will dry out quickly, but can be reused by adding a little water, just like artificial watercolors. Keep refrigerated when not in use. Paints will last (refrigerated) for 5-7 days
