When I first started teaching watercolor, I had a lot of request for workshops that were watercolor for kids. I hesitated to go below a certain age because watercolors were frustrating for them and they didn’t yet have the patience or ability to comprehend the complex nature of watercolors. Maybe it was my ignorance or procrastination or maybe kids are much smarter these days – but my friends’ kids proved me wrong when they were showing me their artwork and they’re only 6 years old!
I’ll be honest, though, I was contemplating a watercolor for kids series for a while since I revamped my YouTube channel in late 2022. So when my friends’ kids were so excited about watercolor, it reignited that curiosity.
So now I’m working on a video series on my YouTube channel called, Paint & Play, where kids (ages 5+) are encouraged to be creative and have fun with watercolor!
What to expect from Paint & Play
I’m working on the first ten episodes of Paint & Play so far. And I want this to feel sort of like a kids show… but different.
The first episode will be a bit longer as I explain a bit more about what to expect and why I include certain things.
From there, each episode will start with the mindset mottos (more on this below) and a breathing exercise (to help us calm down and relax). This might feel different than other tv shows where it’s all about the flair, bells & whistles, and excitement to get the kids riled up. Believe me, I am definitely more animated than I usually am for these videos. But at the same time, I want kids to experience the relaxing nature of watercolors, too. And perhaps that will help them take their focus off of trying to make their art look “perfect”.
And that’s why I also start with the mindset mottos. I have two:
- We are all creative
- We will be kind to ourselves and others
I think these are so important to keep in mind as we paint. My creativity may look different from yours. But we will not feel bad about it if we don’t like it or make others feel bad. Instead, we will be kind.
The bulk of each episode will cover a painting technique and a project. Techniques (or demonstration of art terms) may include: value, layering, lifting, texture, masking, mixed media, etc.
Kid friendly watercolor supplies
There are so many watercolor supplies for kids! I’ve already done a review of the Mondo Llama set from Target.
And you can find other options through my Amazon Storefront.
Keep in mind that kids watercolors are usually dye-based (so they will not stand the test of time, they have a staining quality). And they may also have a chalky finish when the paint is dried. This is normal and to be expected.
Sneak peek of first two episodes
As I mentioned earlier, the first episode will be a bit slower paced because there’s a lot of ground to cover! And the project is simple – to create a swatch chart of your paint palette.
The second episode will discuss values and we’ll create a birthday card!
Future projects will include mountains, clouds, jellyfish, donuts, unicorn, etc.
Would you try watercolor for kids?
I think watercolors is a great medium for kids especially who love a challenge. Watercolor can do unexpected things and that can be hard for some kids. But this creates opportunities for conversation and growth.
If your child is more advanced, you can check out my other watercolor tutorials here.
Thanks for reading, and check out my YouTube channel for when Paint & Play episodes go live!
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