Create stunning black glue art with this fun and easy technique! A perfect way for kids to explore contrast, texture, and creativity while making bold, eye-catching designs.
- Black glue art is easier to make than you think!
- Homemade coloring pages with black glue art
- Materials
- How to make black glue
- I made black glue. Now what?
- How long does it take black glue to dry?
- Once dry, add in your color!
- Do NOT try to make black glue art with this
- What black glue art are you going to make?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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!
🍎 Related: Have a peek at our “apple-solutely” fantastic collection of 25+ preschool apple activities.
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.
With black glue, kids can make their own coloring pages (something I know I have loved doing for nearly 30 years).
🍎 Don’t miss these other (fabulous) apple activities:
Materials
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- School glue
- Black paint
- White paper
- Watercolors
- Paintbrush
How to make black glue
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 tablespoon to start). If you want it darker, add more black paint.
Tip: 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 black paint once you’re closer to the bottom.
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.
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.
Do NOT try to make black glue art 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!
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Black glue art is a creative technique that combines black-tinted glue with watercolor or paint to create bold, outlined designs that add depth and contrast to artwork.
Simply mix regular white school glue with black acrylic paint. Shake the bottle well to ensure the color is evenly distributed.
The thicker the paper, the less it will warp when it dries. We used a relatively thin copy paper here and you can see some warping, but it still looks great.
Once the black paint is added to the glue bottle, how long is that bottle good for? Does the shelf life change?
Thanks!