How to Make Your Own Watercolor Paints

Here is an excellent recipe for making your own watercolor paints - a true masterpiece! Kids love creating their own colors.

What You Will Need:

• 1 tablespoon White Vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Baking Soda
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon Glycerin (can be found at grocery stores or at pharmacies)
• Food Coloring
• Measuring Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Mixing Spoon
• Small Plastic Containers

What You Do:

1. Mix the vinegar and baking soda together in a bowl - pretty cool effect, huh?!
2. When the mixture stops foaming, add the cornstarch and the glycerin and stir gently. 
3. Pour the mixture into a small plastic container (pudding or fruit cups work well).
4. Stir in a drop or two of food coloring until you get the color you want.
5. Repeat these steps for as many colors as you'd like to make.
6. Let your mixture sit overnight to harden (uncovered).
7. When your watercolors are hard, dip a paintbrush in water, then use the colors to paint your own masterpiece.

The Science:

The initial reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) is a classic acid-base reaction. This reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate. The fizzing and bubbling you observe are due to the release of carbon dioxide gas. This reaction helps to break down the baking soda and create a smooth base for the paint.

Cornstarch is a common thickening agent. When mixed with water, the starch molecules in cornstarch swell and create a gel-like consistency. This helps to thicken the paint and give it the proper texture for painting.

Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. In watercolor paint, glycerin helps to keep the paint from drying out too quickly and ensures that it spreads smooth on paper. It also contributes to the paint's transparency and sheen.

Food coloring provides the pigment for your homemade watercolor paints. When added to the base mixture, it disperses evenly, creating vibrant and consistent colors. By mixing different food colorings, you can experiment and create a wide range of hues.

Once the paint mixture dries, it forms a solid cake of color. This solid state allows for easy storage and use. When you add water to the dried paint, it rehydrates and releases the pigment, allowing you to use it just like traditional watercolor paint.