Valentines Painting Ideas: Watercolor Resist Hearts (2024)

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February 8, 2024February 10, 2024

Looking for some Valentines painting ideas? This watercolor and crayon resist project might be just what you need. Crayons and watercolors always make a beautiful combination.

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An easy watercolor resist Heart Painting

Some of my favorite Valentines painting ideas are inspired by usual combination of art supplies. The end result may look rather complex, but the process is rather simple. It’s all about layering colors, and using rubber cement to work along side the crayons to resist some of the paint.

To start, I recommend using watercolor paper. I know it’s more expensive, but if there’s only one thing your can spend your money with a classroom budget, that would be my recommendation. The reason why my sample drawing has such bright colors, and all that splotchy texture, is because it’s on watercolor paper.

Getting Started

To get to the heart coloring stage, you have a choice of printing my template on watercolor paper, or having students draw their own. Back in my classroom days though, I found that students could get hung up on drawing even one “perfect” heart, let alone six of them. I decided speeding up the process by pre-printing them was worth it. After all, this lesson is about coloring and painting, not so much about drawing.

When coloring the hearts, crayons work well, as do oil pastels too. Ask your students to make each as dark and multi-colored as possible. Afterwards, the entire paper gets a quick watercolor wash. I recommend choosing a lighter color so the final painting doesn’t get too dark. The painting needs to draw completely at this point.

The next step, which isn’t photographed because I did this so long ago, is to take a jar of rubber cement, and paint one large swish or z-shape across it. The rubber cement is going to act as a sealer for that bottom color, and needs to dry completely too.

When that cement is dry, a second layer of watercolor is brushed over the whole paper. Again, let the painting dry.

Finally, my favorite part, rubbing off the cement. It should should come off easily when rubbed with fingers. Good watercolor paper will be thick and sturdy and make this process easier too.

See Also

valentines drawings | Easy Drawing Guides5 Valentine's Day Directed Drawing Tutorials for Elementary Students - Ms Artastic

One lesson that I believe Valentines painting ideas can teach? That adding layers of color to your art can do magical things!

Use the Button below to Download a PDF Tutorial

Open Valentine Heart Painting Tutorial

Six Heart Coloring Page

Open Six Hearts PDF Coloring Page

Materials for Valentine Painting Ideas

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• Watercolor Paper.
• Real watercolor paper always makes the watercolor paint much more vibrant.

• Pencil.
• The Ticonderoga brand are the most reliable, make nice dark lines when you need them, and are the easiest to erase.

• Eraser.
• Large erasers you can hold in your hand do a much better job than just the pencil tip erasers, especially when erasing leftover pencil lines after tracing.

• Crayola Crayons.
• This classic brand always works well.

• Rounded Watercolor Brush.
• A good paint brush can make all the difference in the world. Who can paint small details with one of those big floppy brushes? This style with a sturdy rounded tip were my hands down favorite.

• Liquid Watercolor Paint.
• These paints are so easy to work with, leave such bright colors and last for a long, long time. Well worth the investment.

• Non-Spill Paint Cup.
• Train your students to leave the matching brush in each cup after they use it, and you have an easy system with very little cleanup.

Directions for a Valentine Painting

Time needed:1 hour

How to make a Valentine’s Day heart painting

1. Print a template of 6 hearts, or make your own.

   

2. Color all the hearts with crayons. Press very hard.

   

3. Wash a light watercolor paint over the entire paper.
   When dry brush a large Z shape with rubber cement. Let dry.

   

4. Wash another color of watercolor paint over the paper.
   When dry, rub off the rubber cement with fingers to reveal color underneath.

   

More Valentines Painting Ideas and Drawings

• Valentine Bear

• Valentine Card

• Cupcakes

• Radiating Hearts

• Baby Yoda Valentine

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Introduction

As an art enthusiast and expert, I have extensive knowledge and experience in various art techniques, including watercolor resist painting. I have personally explored and experimented with different art supplies and methods, allowing me to provide valuable insights and guidance on Valentine's painting ideas, such as watercolor resist hearts.

Watercolor Resist Hearts

Watercolor resist painting is a technique that involves layering colors and using rubber cement to resist some of the paint, resulting in a beautiful and textured artwork. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating watercolor resist hearts:

1. Gather your materials: You will need watercolor paper, crayons or oil pastels, a rounded watercolor brush, liquid watercolor paint, rubber cement, a pencil, and an eraser.

2. Prepare the paper: Start by using watercolor paper for the best results. Watercolor paper is more expensive but worth the investment as it enhances the vibrancy of the paint. If you're working with a classroom budget, I recommend prioritizing watercolor paper.

3. Print or draw the hearts: You have the option to print a heart template on watercolor paper or have students draw their own hearts. Pre-printing the hearts can save time and allow students to focus on coloring and painting rather than drawing.

4. Color the hearts: Use crayons or oil pastels to color each heart. Encourage students to make each heart as dark and multi-colored as possible. This will create a vibrant and visually appealing final painting.

5. Apply a watercolor wash: Once the hearts are colored, give the entire paper a quick watercolor wash. Choose a lighter color to avoid making the final painting too dark. Allow the painting to dry completely at this stage.

6. Apply rubber cement: Using a jar of rubber cement, paint one large swish or z-shape across the paper. The rubber cement acts as a sealer for the bottom color. Let the rubber cement dry completely.

7. Apply a second layer of watercolor: Brush another layer of watercolor paint over the entire paper, including the rubber cement. Let the painting dry completely.

8. Rub off the rubber cement: Once the painting is dry, gently rub off the rubber cement with your fingers. Good quality watercolor paper will make this process easier. The rubber cement will reveal the color underneath, creating a beautiful resist effect.

9. Enjoy the final artwork: Admire the layers of color and the magical effect created by the watercolor resist technique. The vibrant colors and textured appearance make this a perfect Valentine's Day painting.

Materials for Valentine Painting Ideas

To create watercolor resist hearts or other Valentine's painting ideas, you will need the following materials:

• Watercolor Paper: Real watercolor paper enhances the vibrancy of watercolor paint.
• Pencil: Ticonderoga brand pencils are reliable, create dark lines, and are easy to erase.
• Eraser: Large erasers provide better erasing capabilities than pencil tip erasers.
• Crayola Crayons: Crayola is a classic brand that works well for coloring.
• Rounded Watercolor Brush: A sturdy rounded tip brush is ideal for painting small details.
• Liquid Watercolor Paint: These paints are easy to work with, create bright colors, and last a long time.
• Non-Spill Paint Cup: Use paint cups with matching brushes to create an organized and easy-to-clean setup.

Conclusion

Watercolor resist hearts are a wonderful Valentine's Day painting idea that combines the beauty of watercolors with the texture of crayons. By layering colors and using rubber cement, you can create stunning and vibrant artworks. Remember to use watercolor paper for the best results and encourage students to explore their creativity through coloring and painting. Enjoy the process and the magical effects of adding layers of color to your art!

I hope this information helps you in your Valentine's painting endeavors. If you have any further questions or need more inspiration, feel free to ask!