Crayon Etching
[20 Minutes]
The use of crayons dates as far back as the cave drawings of the Stone Age. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first famous artists to use black and red crayon together. Modern day crayons were produced in Europe. They were made of charcoal and oil. It wasn't until 1903, when Edwin Smith and Joseph Binney created a non-toxic crayon, that crayons were safe for children to use. The first box of crayons consisted of eight colors and cost 5 cents. Today there are over 120 colors to choose from. Choose favorite crayon colors and create this etched work of art.
You'll need:
• crayons • heavy drawing paper • scrap cloth or toilet or facial tissue • a blunt nail or opened paper clip or craft stick
What to do:
- If possible, print out these directions. Read them through with your child before you begin.
- With your child, gather everything you'll need.
- Let your child cover the drawing paper with one color of crayon.
- Help him rub the waxiness of the color with the cloth or tissue.
- Using another crayon, invite your child to cover the first color entirely with a second color.
- With the nail, paper clip or craft stick, challenge him to carefully scratch or etch a picture into the top color so that the bottom color comes through.
- He may wish to use the nail, the paper clip, and the craft stick to compare the different types of etched results.
Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.
- Which tools work best to etch?
- What kind of lines does each make?
- What title will you give your art work?
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