Adding food coloring to watercolors
by D.R.
(CA)
Can you add food coloring to watercolors, or would it somehow mess up the paint? Would the food coloring bleed through the paper or stay in one spot?
Yes, it is possible to add food coloring to watercolor paints or directly onto your watercolor paintings. The thing to remember is that food coloring will not be archival, so if you want your artwork to last a long time (100 or more years), then you shouldn't add food coloring to your paint or your painting. However, if you would like to experiment and see what kind of effects you can achieve by adding food coloring to watercolors, then go for it!
As for whether or not the food coloring will bleed through the paper - this will depend on the type of paper that you use, as well as how much food coloring you add. Try to use thick paper so that neither the paint nor the food coloring will bleed through. If the food coloring is too watery, it might run on your paper, so try to apply a small amount at a time.
Making watercolors from food coloring can be a fun project for kids. All you need to do is mix an equal amount of baking soda and corn starch (around 3 tablespoons each) in a small bowl. After it stops fizzing, add about 3 tablespoons of corn starch and half that amount (1.5 Tbs) of glycerin or light corn syrup. After the concoction is thoroughly mixed, add your desired amount of food coloring. The more you add, the more vibrant your "paint" will be. You can even combine colors to make new colors. While the mixture is still wet, you can spoon it into smaller containers, such as bottlecaps, so that the cakes can dry and be saved for future use - or you can use them right away.
Enjoy!
