Cyanotypes are blue prints made through a photographic printing process. Mimic these stunning prints with this easy, low-prep watercolor painting with your kids.
Cyanotypes – aka blueprints – are made through a photographic printing process.
Basically, a photosensitive solution is created by combining two chemicals and applying the mixture onto paper or cloth. The paper or cloth is then exposed to UV rays, changing the surface to a brilliant blue. The negative shape of whatever was set on the paper/cloth is left behind.
Here’s an easy, low-prep way to mimic these brilliant blue prints with your kids – without all the chemicals or special supplies.
Supplies:
- Sheet of heavy paper
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Blue food coloring or liquid watercolor paint
- Leaves and flowers
- Cookie tin or cake pan (optional, but highly recommended)
Directions:
- Set your sheet of paper inside the cookie tin or cake pan.
- Arrange your flowers or leaves onto your sheet of paper.
- Fill the spray bottle with water and add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor.
- Spray the blue mixture onto your sheet of paper, “painting” around the leaves and flowers.
- Allow the paper to dry entirely before removing the leaves and flowers.
Looking for another craft for kids that uses leaves and flowers? Check out this blog post on creating your very own Nature Wand.
Looking for another way to teach Negative Shape? Then you might be interested in this lesson plan for Dot Paintings.
