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Friends Art Lab / Blog / Black Glue Art

Black Glue Art

By Kristian Klebofski   Published: November 2, 2022    Updated: November 2, 2022

Black glue art is easy to make, from beginning to end. Learn how to make black glue (it’s super easy!) and unleash your creativity.

Arial shot of two black glue art projects (two apple designs) with watercolors, tube of black glue, and small jar of black paint visible.
Table of Contents:
  1. Black glue art is easier to make than you think!
  2. Homemade coloring pages with black glue art
  3. Materials
  4. How to make black glue
  5. I made black glue. Now what?
  6. How long does it take black glue to dry?
  7. Once dry, add in your color!
  8. Do NOT try to make black glue with this
  9. What black glue art are you going to make?

Black glue art is easier to make than you think!

When I was a kid, I would fly through homemade black glue because there’s something really cool about drawing with glue.

The best thing about black glue art is that it comes together in minutes!

Homemade coloring pages with black glue art

If you’re here, you’ve probably seen our giant art banners and figured out that I have a thing for big, bold, black lines. (I think this could be why I own 700 million Sharpies).

I love black line coloring banners.

I love black line coloring pages.

And I also love black line glue art.

Other glue activities:

  • Square Collage – Mess for Less
  • Glue and Sand – Tinker Lab
  • Match and Glue – Busy Toddler
Black glue art supplies: a bottle of Elmer's school glue and a small jar of black paint.

Materials

The materials are super simple for this!

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Gather:

  • School glue
  • Black paint (we have used BioColor and acrylic, but we have also heard that tempera works well, too!)
  • Paper (the thicker the better)

Optional materials if you want to add color to your art:

  • Watercolors
  • Cup of water
  • Paintbrush
A bottle of Elmer's school glue that is turning black because paint is mixed in.

How to make black glue

It almost seems silly to write directions because it’s so simple!

Directly into the bottle of glue, add some black paint. There are no exact measurements to worry about, so add in a generous amount of black paint (about 1-2 tablespoons to start) and if you want it darker, add more.

If your glue bottle is full and there isn’t room for the black paint, pour some glue out first.

Once you have some paint in your bottle, shake, shake, shake!

Sometimes the paint doesn’t mix into the bottom of the bottle (as seen above), and that’s fine! Use the black glue up to that point, and add more paint once you’re closer to the bottom.

An outline of a black glue art apple with different types of lines

I made black glue. Now what?

Ooh, now it’s time to CREATE! We loved making apples and pumpkins here, but the sky is the limit.

Maybe you might want to write your name in glue.

Or maybe you might want to make a self-portrait in glue.

Or maybe you might want to make Fall Directed Draw with glue!  

You can also sketch out your design first in pencil and then trace over it with glue.

How long does it take black glue to dry?

Whatever you choose, we know it will be lovely like you. Let it dry completely (we recommend overnight), especially in cooler months.

We never try to rush this part, especially if going over with paint, because sometimes the top feels dry but underneath it’s still wet. It can be frustrating to create a beautiful piece of art all to have to mush and smudge when you paint if you don’t want long enough.

Three side-by-side photos of the same black glue art apple, progressing from left to right with more paint.

Once dry, add in your color!

Watercolors just make everything better.

It is so cool watching how the black lines “pop” against splashes of color. Of course, this step is optional, but oh, is it pretty or what?!

Alternatively, you could also use different supplies for colors, such as crayons, markers, bingo daubers, or colored pencils.

A black glue apple with large, expressive eyes and a big smile, painted in with watercolors.

Do NOT try to make black glue with this

I have tried making black glue over the years with all kinds of black dyes, but one absolutely does not work: ink.

What happens when you add ink to glue, you ask? It turns into what I can only describe as a sticky, clumpy, globby slime, and it won’t squirt out of the bottle.

Stick to paint, friends!

A zoomed in shot of a bottle of school glue that is black as it has been mixed with paint.

What black glue art are you going to make?

Whether you’re new to making black glue or you’re a black glue expert, getting to create with it is a joy.

Please share what you make with it!

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Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

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