Life's a Stitch

As promised in my last post, here is the recipe for M's wonderful outside art activity that kept both kids and grown-ups occupied.

Soap resist painting:

Supplies (all obtained at a rural Dollar General):

1. Foam board, the surface for your painting: The instructions called for watercolour paper, but as this was primarily a children's activity we opted for a lower cost base. C experimented using a rock. As I remember from our camping years, there's always someone in the group who wants to do it differently. That's what creativity is all about.
2. A plastic drop sheet
3. Acrylic paints (matte) and brushes
4. Thick dish washing liquid in squirt bottles, not the cheaper thin kind
5. Black spray paint
6. Water hose with spray nozzle

Instructions:

1. Paint the board completely with random colours and let dry.

2. Place painting on drop sheet and using the squirt bottles stream the soap onto the painting in whatever pattern you choose, making sure you don't cover it completely with soap. The soap acts as a resist and wherever you apply it will remain colourful, everything else will be covered with black spray paint.

3. Spray completely with black spray paint. Let dry completely.

4. Using hose with the nozzle, spray off the entire painting.

Voila!

Look at our happy campers and their clever crafts instructor: