Easy Glue Resist Watercolor Painting Idea For Kids
Kids will love this glue-resist painting technique and process art idea. It is always so fun to use art materials in unexpected ways. Get all our tips on how to make this easy watercolor painting today!
From Erin: This project was originally written in 2022 and was updated in January 2025 with clearer instructions and new photos. Happy Creating!
Why Kids Love This Painting Process
What is a resist painting?
Resist panting is when you put something down first that does not allow the paint to stick to the surface. Glue, oil pastels, crayons or rubber cement can all be used to stop the watercolor paint from sticking to the paper’s surface.
Other Ways To Draw With Glue
Some of our favorite kid art projects involve drawing with glue first! You can see how bottled glue was used to create warm and cool chalk drawing, a fun heart tin foil art lesson or even this Fall pumpkin chalk drawing.
ART TEACHER TIP – No matter what materials you plan to use in your glue resist, you must let the glue dry before adding color.
Supplies you’ll need
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*You can use liquid watercolors for even more vibrant colors.
Easy Watercolor Resist Painting Tutorial
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
- Decide on your design.
- You can practice in a sketchbook or lightly sketch on your project.
- Just note that if you push too hard with the pencil you will see it under the glue. Sometimes, it is best to draw only with glue.
Step 1: Draw With Glue
Use a glue bottle to draw your design on heavy drawing paper or watercolor paper.
Step 2: Let The Glue Completely Dry
This technique is best done over two days. Allow the glue drawings to dry completely before painting.
Step 3: Begin To Paint
Use watercolor paints to add to your painting. Colors next to each other on the color wheel will mix well.
Step 4: Let Dry
You could use a fine tip black marker or other drawing materials to add extra details and designs to the project.
Tips
- Beginners and children may have more luck lightly touching the paper with the glue bottle tip as they draw.
- Encourage children to draw pretty quickly to avoid getting a globby mess.
- Make sure that the glue bottle is not clogged and works well.
- Fuller glue bottles will help your artists get more of a continuous line.
RELATED PROJECT – Fun Valentine’s Watercolor Painting Card Idea
Technique FAQs
We are always fans of Glue-All. Washable glue may become tacky if you rewet it after it dries.
You can always find ways to cover the Elements of Art. This is a great kid’s project for them to understand texture and color mixing.
Oil pastels, crayons, glue, rubber cement, masking fluid and even tape can stop watercolor paint from sticking to your paper or surface.
Follow us on Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook & Flipboard for more free art and craft ideas!
More Heart Art Projects
- FUN TEXTURE CRAFT: Easy Tissue Paper Heart Craft
- DRAWING IDEA: Zentangle Drawing Heart Art Project
- QUICK PAINTING: Tape Resist Watercolor Painting Idea
You will love all the artwork your kids and students can create with this simple watercolor and glue-resist technique.
Do you like this art project? Please give us 5 stars below 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 and have fun being creative with your family.
Easy Glue Resist Watercolor Paint Technique
Equipment
- Watercolor Paint
- Optional: Pencil
Supplies
- Bottled Glue
- Heavy Paper Tagboard or Canvas Board
Instructions
- Come up with a design and sketch it out if necessary. Use a glue bottle to draw the image.
- Let the glue completely dry.
- Once the glue is dry, use watercolor paints to add to your painting. Colors next to each other on the color wheel will mix well.
- Let painting dry and enjoy.
Notes
-
- Beginners and children may have more luck lightly touching the paper with the glue bottle tip as they draw.
- Encourage children to draw pretty quickly to avoid getting a globby mess.
- Make sure that the glue bottle is not clogged and works well.
- Fuller glue bottles will help your artists get more of a continuous line.
- You could use an extra fine-tip black marker to add details and designs to the project.