How to Pick Paints For Kid Art Projects, art teacher Spramani Elaun Safe non-toxic

Parents and teachers often come to me confused about which paints work best for kids’ art projects.

They usually want to know which paints are safer, and how to choose the right ones.

There’s many paints to choose from with different purposes on the market.

Listed below are the best paints I recommend, and use in my own art classes.

I’m going to share tips you need to know before you head to the kids paint store.  You can learn more in my paperback book Kids Painting book all about setting-up painting and so much more!

OK, let’s get to it…

 

Pick Safe Paints For Kids

I recommend children under 12 years use student-grade paints only.

Always look somewhere on the bottle if there’s the conforms to ASTM D-4236 printed on the label.

Conforms to ASTM D-4236 means the paints are not hazardous and safe for kids to handle.

Adult-grade paints may contain hazard pigments like cadmium, lead, formaldehyde, solvents or have special saftey instructions for handling.

Some adult-grade paints include additives or mildew resistant chemicals.

These chemicals can be harmful to a young child’s immune system.

If you have paint containers that appear old, and you cannot identify the conforms to ASTM D-4236, I recommend you discard paint.

 

Decide what type of

surface you’re painting

Determining the surface usually helps you better select the right paints for your kids project. Some paints have ingredients that help stick to a canvas like acrylic paint. Acrylic paint has the sticking power it needs to adhere on a canvas surface long-term.

Finger paint, tempera and watercolor paints do not need strong sticking  power, but may need specific paper types.

Watercolor painting needs special absorbent paper.

Determine which type of surface you will be painting:

• paper
• watercolor paper
• poster board
• wood surfaces
• cardboard
• stone
• styrofoam
• fabric
• canvas

 What type of painting activity?

Is your child exploring painting for fun?

Are you studying a specific visual art medium, or painting curriculum long-term?

I recommend buying a basic rainbow spectrum of colors if your child wants to paint something simple and for fun.

Choosing these colors does not require understanding color theory mixing techniques.

They also don’t require any mixing preparation.

Colors:

• red
• yellow
• orange
• green
• blue
• violet
• black
• white

 

Studying Painting

Learning color theory,  I then recommend primary colors. Kids can mix and achieve secondary colors like: orange, green and violet.

• red
• yellow
• blue

 

Opaque or transparent paint for kids art projects?

Do you need paint to be solid and opaque when dry?

Opaque is solid and does not allow light to pass through.

Do you need see-thru transparent paint?

Transparent paint when dry can appear luminous and show the surface underneath.

The word pigment and color have the same meaning.

Pigments are usually mixed with a binder.

Paints come in a huge variety of colors or pigments.

Recommend Paints For Kids Art Projects:

Finger Paints – usually slippery, tacky feeling and transparent. Best for paper products.

Tempera Paints– comes with an opaque and thick feeling. Best for paper products. Dries with a matt finish. Comes in liquid and powder form. *Caution: I don’t recommend powders mixed around young children.

Watercolor Paints– translucent, mixed with water, very watery. Best used on thick watercolor paper that absorbs lots of water.

Acrylic Paints – thick and opaque, can be thinned with just water. Best used on paper, wood and canvases. Dries glossy to semi-glossy.

If you would like to learn more about teaching kids, order my complete guide to teaching kids to paint, full color book –

Kids Painting Book Digital Book

Kids Painting  Book Paperback

Kids Painting Curriculum

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