Today’s post is a guest tutorial from Cristin April Frey. Check out her resources at www.cristinapril.com 

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There’s a little saying around my house that goes, “This is why we can’t have nice things”.

I’m sure anyone who’s ever had a young child in their home can relate. So after I found my watercolor set that had been in my nephew’s hands, I mumbled that saying under my breath.

use Crayola markers as a cheap alternative to messy watercolor paints

Of course it’s not his fault. He’s 3 years old and I’d never want to stifle his creative experimentations. But when I found the watercolors completely unusable, I had to get my own creative thinking going and figure out what to use instead.

I began going through my limited art supplies and almost gave up when I saw my Tombow markers.  They’re waterbased. I’ve seen YouTube videos on how people use them with watercolors.

But I hit another wall when I didn’t have the colors I needed in my Tombow set. ‘What else is waterbased?’ I thought.

Crayolas! And I had a set of the 50 colors SuperTips. Plus I borrowed back the set of 10 regular Crayola markers I had given my nephew.  Jackpot! Now to test it and pray it works.

Learn how to create watercolor art with Crayola markers
Learn how to create watercolor art with Crayola markers

At first, I tried just coloring normally with them and then using water to blend it but that didn’t work. I kept experimenting until I found a way to make it look like watercolor.  I used my ‘Shine’ coloring page (available on my Patreon page) and printed it onto smooth cardstock.  If you have actual watercolor paper available, I would recommend this in its place as the cardstock tends to buckle and warp if it gets too wet.

I’ve created step-by-step instructions below on how I created my watercolor effects with the Crayolas. Scroll down further to watch the full video tutorial.

How to Use Crayola Markers as Watercolors

Use your cheap Crayola markers as a watercolor paint alternative – step 1

Step 1 – ​Using a clean paintbrush and clean water, paint the area you wish to color.

Work in small sections at a time and try not to saturate your paper too much. 

​Just add a light layer of water so when you add the colors, it acts as a watercolor paint and will bleed and move like watercolors do.

Use your cheap Crayola markers as a watercolor paint alternative – step 2

Step 2 – Use a Crayola marker and color onto a palette.

My paint palette was dirtied with dried paint, so instead I grabbed a shallow glass dish for this step.  You can use any plastic or glass surface as long as it’s nonporous.

Use your cheap Crayola markers as a watercolor paint alternative – step 3

Step 3 – Use a clean paintbrush (I used a #5 round brush by Xuangcheng) and load it with clean water. 

Mix the water into the color on your palette.  The more water you use, the lighter the color will be on the paper.

Use your cheap Crayola markers as a watercolor paint alternative – step 4

Step 4 – Paint the area you want to color, keeping in mind that watercolors bleed and move.

Use your cheap Crayola markers as a watercolor paint alternative – step 5

Step 5 – You can add extra layers to get a darker color or mix and blend different colors together.   To pick up some of the color you can add clean water to it and use a tissue to dab the area you want to lighten.  Or to darken an area, you can add small puddles of the color just by dotting your brush onto the paper.

Can you believe this watercolor art was done with Crayola markers?

Step 6 – Continue this process until your page is complete.  You can have fun and experiment with various shading and colors.  I even added some splatter drops to my finished page by loading my brush with the color and tapping it with my finger while holding it over the page.

Easy, right? 

Watch the video tutorial below to see the whole process in action.  Post a note in the comments when you’ve given it a go, and be sure to let me know if you try it and share your finished art with me on any of my social media channels.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please share with your friends using the social links below! 

What a clever Crayola hack! Use your Crayola markers as watercolor paints. Check out the step-by-step photos and video tutorial, plus other adult coloring hacks at www.sarahrenaeclark.com | How to use Crayola markers as watercolors

In this coloring tutorial, Cristin will show you how to create beautiful watercolor effects using cheap Crayola markers and water. Check out the step-by-step photos and video tutorial, plus other adult coloring hacks at www.sarahrenaeclark.com | How to use Crayola markers as watercolors

What a clever Crayola hack! Use your Crayola markers as watercolor paints. Check out the step-by-step photos and video tutorial, plus other adult coloring hacks at www.sarahrenaeclark.com | How to use Crayola markers as watercolors

In this coloring tutorial, Cristin will show you how to create beautiful watercolor effects using cheap Crayola markers and water. Check out the step-by-step photos and video tutorial, plus other adult coloring hacks at www.sarahrenaeclark.com | How to use Crayola markers as watercolors
 

About the Author

Cristin April Frey

Cristin is an artist that resides in upstate New York with two rescue dogs, a rescue husband, and a teenage daughter. She lives on coffee, wine, and sarcasm and when she’s not doodling, you can find her doing something creative and being sassy because Cristin loves to combine the two.

Visit Cristin’s website: cristinapril.com

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