Your child and you will be captivated by the magical effect being generated. This technique is not only designed for painting, but may also serve as a real toy. It will inspire your child’s imagination and pique their interest in experimenting with painting implements.

You need: paper, grip pencils, a

dark coloured pencil (non-water-soluble), a paintbrush, water, paper towels

Water will unveil the secret

1. First draw a picture with water-soluble coloured pencils.

2. Then paint over the picture with a non-water-soluble coloured pencil, i.e. cover the picture with a layer of dark colour until you can no longer identify what lies underneath. 

The water-soluble colour pigments separate the black pigments from the paper while generating a layer of colour that may be removed by applying a wash.

3. Now the picture is passed on to another player who is allowed to take the paintbrush and lots of water to apply a decent wash to the picture.

4. As if by magic, the secret picture will slowly emerge from the dark. The wet, black colour may be dabbed off with a paper towel or even be rinsed off under running water.

The drawn picture is concealed under a layer of black ...

You need a white water-soluble pencil for creating white areas in the picture. Use this pencil for painting over all areas which are to be preserved. If you want to display coloured patterns in a white area, you have to draw them first or otherwise they will not be retained. Once you rinse the picture under running water after having applied a layer of black colour, the picture will become completely clean, as the washed-out black pigments do not firmly attach to the paper.

The face of the tiger and the flowers were drawn and then painted over

with a white pencil.

These are the areas that remain unaffected by the black colour.

The secret message is painted over with dark colour and will remain a secret ...

... until the recipient applies some water to make it visible again.

Only showing its silhouette, a disguised animal is waiting to be identified. Will another player be able to uncover its secret by using a brush and applying some water?

This variant of the game is suitable for any number of players and pencils.

Which animal is hidden underneath

this picture? Is it an elephant – or maybe even a mouse?

Water will help you to find out.