Sugared chalk is irresistibly fun to draw with!
The chalk colors become much more brilliant and they also smudge less because of the sugar crystals. Creating sugared chalk is a technique that sidewalk chalk artists use to enhance the performance of the chalk.
Here's how to make your own sugared chalk.
What You Will Need:
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- Sticks of Colored Chalk
- Black Paper (or a driveway or sidewalk)
What You Do:
- In a large bowl, mix the sugar and water until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Place the chalk sticks into the solution and allow them to soak for several hours or overnight. This allows the chalk to absorb the sugar water.
- Remove the chalk sticks from the solution - they are now ready to use. There is no need to wait for them to dry before using them to draw on paper.
Variations:
- Drawing on black paper with sugared chalk is wonderful, but try drawing on a variety of other papers as well.
- Use your sugared chalk to draw outside on your driveway or sidewalk.
The Science:
As the chalk absorbs the sugar water, the sugar creates a sticky residue on the surface of the chalk. When the chalk is used, this sticky layer helps the chalk particles adhere better to the drawing surface. This results in more vibrant and longer-lasting marks.
The sugar water also helps concentrate the pigments in the chalk, makin the colors appear more vivid and intense.
The presence of water slightly softens the chalk, making it easier to apply smoothly on the surface. This reduces the amount of chalk dust and allows for more controlled and precise lines.
