Gunslinging Housewife

	Crayons:Not Just For Kids By Jenny Teague A long time ago, when I was in elementary school, actually, I had heard of a technique of painting with crayons. The idea seemed intersting to me: you could draw directly with the crayon and then brush over it with turpentine to create a watercolor looking effect, or you could dip the crayon directly into the turpentine to create a wet looking drawing. As a kid I never did get to try this because it involved turpentine and I wasn't allowed to use chemicals of the sort, but in art school, I had all the turpentine my little heart desired and I must say I find it to be one of the greatest inventions ever. I mean, when else will you find something that will break down particles without completely destroying something?
	Turpentine was one of my favorite things. I used it for everything from pre-cleaning and rinishing brushes, to drastically thinning out oil paints to look like watercolors. But back to crayons. If you are a kid at heart, like myself, then you will be running down to your nearest store and picking up the creme-de-la-creme 64 count box of Crayolas, some turpentine and cheapie brushes to play around with techniques to create an interesting "painting" with crayons that will look more age appropriate for your house, office, or whatever. I figure if it works with turpentine, it probably would work just as well with acetone, another art school tool box favorite! So here's what you need: A heavy paper (I was using watercolor paper) Crayons Acetone or Turpentine Paintbrush (a somewhat hard brush works well and really breaks down the wax.)
	1. Draw/color a picture. 2. Dip brush in turpentine/acetone (I was using acetone.) 3. Paint over your drawing. 4. Let dry. I probably should mention to do this in a well ventilated place. Fumes can get pretty bad (I have no sense of smell and don't know, but I get yelled at all the time by my husband for not cracking windows because, when you can't smell, you have no idea just how bad it really is till you stand up, and by then it's too late!) In the end, you'll be left with a washed out looking piece reminiscent of a watercolor. Try this with other mediums too like oil pastels.
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Crayons:Not Just For Kids
By Jenny Teague

A long time ago, when I was in elementary school, actually, I had heard of a technique of painting with crayons. The idea seemed intersting to me: you could draw directly with the crayon and then brush over it with turpentine to create a watercolor looking effect, or you could dip the crayon directly into the turpentine to create a wet looking drawing. As a kid I never did get to try this because it involved turpentine and I wasn't allowed to use chemicals of the sort, but in art school, I had all the turpentine my little heart desired and I must say I find it to be one of the greatest inventions ever. I mean, when else will you find something that will break down particles without completely destroying something?

Turpentine was one of my favorite things. I used it for everything from pre-cleaning and rinishing brushes, to drastically thinning out oil paints to look like watercolors. But back to crayons. If you are a kid at heart, like myself, then you will be running down to your nearest store and picking up the creme-de-la-creme 64 count box of Crayolas, some turpentine and cheapie brushes to play around with techniques to create an interesting "painting" with crayons that will look more age appropriate for your house, office, or whatever. I figure if it works with turpentine, it probably would work just as well with acetone, another art school tool box favorite!

So here's what you need:

A heavy paper (I was using watercolor paper)
Crayons
Acetone or Turpentine
Paintbrush (a somewhat hard brush works well and really breaks down the wax.)

1. Draw/color a picture.
2. Dip brush in turpentine/acetone (I was using acetone.)
3. Paint over your drawing.
4. Let dry.

I probably should mention to do this in a well ventilated place. Fumes can get pretty bad (I have no sense of smell and don't know, but I get yelled at all the time by my husband for not cracking windows because, when you can't smell, you have no idea just how bad it really is till you stand up, and by then it's too late!)

In the end, you'll be left with a washed out looking piece reminiscent of a watercolor. Try this with other mediums too like oil pastels.