How To Make Watercolors From Markers

Learning how to make watercolors from markers is one of those in-a-pinch-art-hacks every parent, teacher, and kid should know!

Today I am going to show you three different ways to make DIY watercolors from markers. These techniques will come in handy if you ever run out of watercolors OR helpful if you ever go on a trip and have limited art supplies handy.

This post contains affiliate links.

Materials

For each of these hacks you will need water based makers i.e. washable markers like Crayola.

• Water Based Markers
• Water
• Plastic Lid
• Cardstock or Paper
• Paintbrushes
• Jars

Marker Watercolor Hack #1

This is a simple way to turn dried out markers into liquid watercolors! Before you toss out dry markers, stick the tip into a small jar with about 1/4 cup of water. Let it sit overnight and the remaining ink from the marker will seep into the water creating liquid watercolors.

Repeat this for every color you wish to make. To use, dip a paintbrush in the watercolors and paint it on a sheet of paper. Store the extra paint in an airtight container when done and keep indefinitely.

Marker Watercolor Hack #2

This is my favorite DIY watercolor hack! It would work really well on a road trip when you have a limited amount of art materials handy but want to paint! To make your watercolors, color a small patch on a plastic lid for each color you want to make. You are making a marker “palette.”

Next dip a paintbrush in water and then dip it in one of the colors. Now brush the ink onto a paper to paint! Clean your brush between using different colors or use different brushes for each color. When you run out of “paint” simply add more ink to the plastic lid and start again.

Marker Watercolor Hack #3

This marker watercolor hack is super easy; you’ll be mixing the paint right on the paper itself!

Draw on a piece of paper or cardstock. Heavyweight paper works best because you will be getting the paper wet. On your paper draw either patches of color or the outline of a drawing. Next dip a paintbrush in water and then brush it over the water based ink. The ink will spread out like watercolor.

Please note that the area that you draw on will always be darker that the areas where you spread the color out.

More Ways to Make Paint

If you enjoyed these DIY paint hacks here are 3 more DIY paints you can make at home in a pinch:

If you enjoyed making your own DIY art supplies, be sure to check out 40 more art materials you can make at home from everyday materials: