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Water painting on slate

Brush plain water onto a dark slate and watch the picture appear, then fade, so there's no mess and nothing to get wrong.

Water painting on slate
LevelBeginner
Time15 minutes to set up
Cost$8 to $20
Low messRainy dayUnder $20

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

  • A soft, chunky paintbrushFind it →
  • Water brush pen, optional

How to make it

  1. Step 1: Set up the board
    1

    Set up the board

    Put the board on a table in good light. A dark board shows the water best.

  2. Step 2: Fill the cup
    2

    Fill the cup

    Pour about an inch of water. Less water means fewer spills.

  3. Step 3: Paint a line
    3

    Paint a line

    Paint the first stroke together. Show how it darkens.

  4. Step 4: Let them paint
    4

    Let them paint

    Hand over the brush. Swirls, words and flowers all work.

  5. Step 5: Watch it fade
    5

    Watch it fade

    Wait a few minutes as the picture dries and disappears. Start again on a fresh board.

Edie's tip

Because every picture vanishes, there's no pressure to make something good. That's what makes it so calming.

Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake

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