Watercolor Whale Shark Tutorial
Hello Kid Lab community! My name is Emily and I am excited to be here at Kid Lab to share an art project you and your kids can do at home. I am a former science teacher and mom to two kids in Raleigh, NC. You can usually find me sharing kids crafts projects on my Instagram page, @makingwithmommy, or hanging out with my little ones at home. I have recently joined the Kid Lab team and can’t wait to see where this journey takes us!
Today we are sharing a tutorial to create a watercolor whale shark. This month Kid Lab has been all about the ocean deep and this is one of the coolest animals you’ll find down there, in our opinion. Animal crafts are my son, O, and my favorite crafts to make together. This one uses an art process that we also love - wax resist painting. Read below for how you can create your own whale shark at home!
Materials Needed:
White card stock or watercolor paper
Water colors
1 white crayon
Paint brushes
How To:
Step 1: Draw the outline of your whale shark on your white paper with the white crayon. I do this under a light so that I can tilt the paper and check on my picture as I go! Add some dots to your whale shark with the crayon as well.
Step 2: Using a dark color of watercolor paint, paint over the whale shark drawing. You want to paint slowly and be careful not to flood the paper with too much paint - go over the drawing one section at a time. As you paint, the areas where crayon is on the paper will resist the paint and remain white!
Step 3: Once your image has been revealed, add some other colors of paint to the water surrounding the shark or the shark itself! Let your watercolors dry for a minute and then add any details you like to make them pop!
*Tip: When O painted his shark, he was a little heavy handed with the paint and some of the crayon lines disappeared. I traced back over the white lines with a blue crayon once the paint had dried and the image came back to life!
If you create a whale shark we would love to see it! Share it on Instagram and tag @kidlabraleigh!
I’ll be back each month to share an art idea you can do at home based on our monthly lab themes! Please let me know if you have ideas for types of art projects you’d love to learn to do with your kids. Leave us a comment below!
Thanks,
Emily