top of page
Blog: Blog2

DIY Paint: Overcoming Creative Barriers

Writer's picture: Lora McNeil Lora McNeil

Sometimes a barrier to our creativity is the materials we use. Have you ever looked at an expensive bottle of paint or special paper and felt stuck? Overwhelmed by the preciousness of it that you can't create at all? Let me help with a recipe for homemade paint. It costs pennies to make, non toxic and the ingredients live in your kitchen cupboard.


Recipe

1 cup flour or cornstarch*

1/4 cup salt

1 cup warm water

Food colouring or wax crayons

Muffin tin or small containers

Whisk or spoon


*cornstarch will provide smoother coverage

Method

  • Combine flour or cornstarch with salt in a bowl.

  • Slowly add warm water to the bowl while stirring until a thin paste forms. Stir or whisk until mixture is smooth.You may need to add a bit more or less water to get the right consistency for paint. Add a little at a time until you get it just right.

  • Pour paint base into muffin tin or separate containers

  • The fun part! Add food colouring and see what amazing colours you can create. My kids had so much fun mixing that I had to make another batch so they could create more unique colours.

*If you don't have food colouring you can take wax crayons, chop them small and add to container with a little bit of hot water. Once melted add your flour base and mix. FYI this mixture may stain due to wax in crayon.



Ways to use this paint


Get outside and paint the sidewalk: it's non toxic and the rain or hose will wash it away


Grab some old sheets or pillowcases to use as a canvas: when done just throw it in laundry


Finger paint. It's not just for kids! Get messy and have fun


Explore mark making with found objects: Leaves, sticks, pinecones, garden tools, your feet etc...


Hang a sheet outside and splatter paint it: Release some tension and splatter, dribble, explore.


Hint: Make sure to hang sheet or this quickly becomes a splatter war Dress for a mess!


This paint is NOT intended to create your next work of art but rather to have fun being creative with zero expectations of the end product. You will not keep the end product so practice getting over those barriers. Remember what it felt like to create free from fear. Take up some space and have fun. Be well everyone!


61 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page