I played around a bit more with mixing black from the three primary colours using only finger paints. I was quite confident it could be done, and here is proof. While it is not pure black, it is definitely closer to black than any other color. I will be using this technique for making “custom” black colours for my future acrylic paintings.
The last time I tried making black finger paint, I didn’t keep track of the ratios for the colors. This time I did.
In keeping with my usual “share everything“ philosophy, here are the ratios of the three primary colors: pretty much one to one to one for red, yellow, and blue LOL. That was actually pretty easy. I’m looking forward to trying this again with acrylics and the true primary colors.
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Here’s instructions for creating art using fingerpaint.I find fingerpaints to be a great way to show colour theory to kids. Adults have fun with it also!
Fingerpainting on a Budget
As I explain in my bio, I spent years doing art-volunteering at The DI. Partly because of that, I always seek out the most accessible and affordable ways to create art. That is true even for fingerpaints. As always, I’ll share what I’ve learned so others can try it too.
Ingredients for Affordable Fingerpainting
- food colouring
- cornstarch
- distilled water, but plain water works
- fingerpainting paper, but any paper will do in a pinch
- small paper cups (4oz) – be kind to the planet, avoid plastic
- wooden stir sticks – be kind to the planet, avoid plastic
Where To Buy Ingredients
- fingerpaint paper
- In October 2018, Amazon sells 50 sheets of glossy 12×18″ fingerpaint paper for $14.
- food color
- You will need the three primary colours: blue, red, and yellow. While grocery stores often stock some food color, the availability can be quite unreliable. The most cost-effective way to buy food color is from Amazon. As of late 2018, they are selling 12 bottles for $18. That’s quite a bit cheaper than you get it bottle-at-a-time in the grocery store.
- corn starch, salt, canola oil, cups, stir sticks
- grocery store
I am currently using Martha Stewart’s fingerpaint recipe. I have some ideas for improvements, so I will update this page with my results when I get them.
Mix it very well.