Liquid watercolours are hands-down my favourite art material in the whole world. They’re bright, bold, and endlessly versatile. Perfect for everything from splashy paintings to delicate drip experiments.
At Smudge, we use them all the time because they offer kids such a rich sensory experience. They’re easy to dilute, mix, and layer, and the colours stay vibrant even after drying. Unlike food dye (which can stain skin, clothes, and literally anything it touches), liquid watercolours wash out surprisingly well and hold their colour beautifully.
Here are just a few of my favourite ways to use them:
Spray bottles for giant bursts of colour
We’ve explored this in so many ways at Smudge, and I can honestly say it always ends up incredible (but more importantly, it’s so much fun in the process)! Try spraying onto an old sheet or curtain (the IKEA white curtains are fabulous if you need a fresh one). Choose colours that mix well together for a rainbow effect, and check that the spray bottle nozzle isn’t set to a hard stream. Kids love experimenting to find their own perfect spray.
We often layer up colour day after day throughout the week. If you’re worried about the mess, lay a plastic-backed painter’s drop sheet underneath so you don’t stress about how wet the curtain gets. Depending on the fabric thickness, it might spray through to the wall. I never worry about this because it wipes off easily, but you could always hang the curtain outside for a beautiful en plein air art session.
Wet-on-wet paintings
This is a classic that never gets old. Wet your paper, then add your liquid watercolours and watch them blend in gorgeous, surprising ways. You can even sprinkle a little salt on top for magical textures, or layer them over oil pastels for a resist effect.
Water play or potion making
Add a few very diluted drops to water play tubs or sensory stations. Kids love mixing their own colours with pipettes or droppers; it’s a simple way to bring a bit of colour magic to water play. You truly don’t need more than a few drops to transform a whole tub.
Marbling
One of my favourite easy marbling tricks is to use liquid watercolours with either shaving foam or baby oil. It’s a perfect kid-friendly alternative to alcohol inks. Simply swirl the colours through your foam or oil, lay your paper on top, and lift it off to reveal stunning, swirled patterns. It’s a beautiful, safe way for kids to explore marbled effects without harsh solvents.
Collaborative murals
Big sheets of butchers paper, plenty of watercolours, and a free-for-all approach! Perfect for birthday parties or group projects, and a lovely way to see kids’ ideas overlap and blend together.
A tip: store your liquid watercolours in little squeezy bottles or jars, with labels on the lids. It keeps things tidy and makes setup super quick.
If you haven’t played with them yet, I can’t recommend them enough! They’re like magic in a bottle.
Have fun!
Emma x
