Resistance Art

Approximately 10–15 minutes

Choose one water-based material:

• Watercolour

• Food colouring

• Eyeshadow mixed with water

• Ashes mixed with water

Choose one resistant material:

• Oil pastel

• Layered crayons

• Candle wax

Sometimes, materials—and parts of our lives—do not naturally work together.

This activity encourages you to explore resistance without immediately trying to fix it.

Through curiosity and play, notice how differences and misalignment can form new patterns and unexpected possibilities.

1. Create your foundation

Begin by drawing circles, lines, or other shapes using the crayons, oil pastel, or wax.

Layer the material and create a pattern in any way that feels natural to you.

2. Introduce resistance

Add the water-based material and observe how it interacts with the wax, pastel, or crayons.

3. Explore

Experiment with ways to bring the two materials together.

Can you create a new pattern from their interaction?

Reflect on your experience:

• How are you feeling in this moment?

• What did you notice while playing with the materials?

• How would you describe your creative process?

• Did you prefer one material over the other? Why?

• Does the finished pattern feel integrated, or do the materials feel like they are on two separate islands?

• If they feel integrated, what allowed them to work together?

• If they do not feel integrated, what might they need?

• How could you approach the activity differently?

• Are there other materials you would like to introduce?

• Is there an image coming to mind that this process could help you create?