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9.14.2010

Dustless chalk painting

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In anticipation of the coming snow, I've started to put away some of our outdoor summer activities.  Coming across the obligatory bucket-o-chalk and looking at their sad, tired condition from an entire summer's worth of duty, I debated whether I should bother to store them or just toss them.  While considering either option, I started to get a bit sentimental about all the temporary art for both the children and I they have facilitated.  Certainly they can still be used in some capacity?  I began looking for a way to neatly incorporate our chalk with our indoor art projects.

While leaving through A Handbook of Arts and Crafts by Wankelman and Wigg I came across a method to make a residue free chalk.  (I adore this book, being filled with techniques rather than projects.  I've borrowed it three separate times from the library, it may be necessary to look for a second hand copy from our local college book store.)  Check it out:


Dustless Chalk Painting

Select your chalk and place in a shallow container.

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Scoop 6 to 8 Tbsps of sugar in a glass.

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Add water and dissolve sugar.

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Pour sugar water into shallow container with chalk.

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Soak chalk for 15 minutes.

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Gather up artists and paper.  The best paper to use is a heavier weight with a bit of texture.  A rough all purpose or watercolour paper works well.

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Let 'er rip.

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The chalk can be used still soaking from the container or allowed to dry to damp.  The chalk goes on sort of like a hard oil pastel.

Warning: the sugar does make this activity quite sticky.  My kids are particular about messy hands and had to stop to rinse them off periodically.

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The finished pictures turned quite pale, consistent with the original colour of the chalk.  For bolder hued drawings, a brilliantly coloured chalk will be necessary.

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An interesting effect of using the chalk still soaping wet from the sugar water is the sugar residue left on the painting.  Smootch was quite pleased with her shimmery flower.

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Chalk dried to merely damp was more textured and painted like.

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And no chalk dust on the finished pieces! Good stuff :)

4 comments:

  1. I hope you'll share some more art projects from that amazing sounding book!

    Good luck with your upcoming move!

    Jade
    mymessymermaid.blogspot.com

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  2. Love it. Now I just have to buy some new chalks. The kids like to grind ours into dust in the garden, rather than actually drawing with them!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  3. What a brilliant idea! Great blog by the way! x

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