Soil Crayons
Soils are crucial natural resources with their vibrant colors adding beauty to landscapes. Soil crayons, a blend of soil and wax, provide a unique opportunity to observe colorful soils, making them a valuable tool for art students and those seeking a natural look in their artwork.
Soil crayons Preparation Material
- Dry soil
- Hammer/mallet
- Sharp knife/razor blade
- Plastic ziplock bag
- Mortar and pestle
- Paper cups
- Knee-high nylon hose
- Paraffin wax
- Hot plate
- Medium saucepan
- 15-ml centrifuge tube
- Small beaker/rack
- Glass funnel
- Wood stir sticks
- Teaspoon
- Ice bath
- Metal spatula/scraper
Procedure:
Soil Preparation:
- Crush dried soil on brown paper using a hammer or mallet.
- Crush crushed soil into a fine powder using a rubber-tipped pestle and repeat the process to crush all soil.
- Place a powdered soil cup in a paper cup and wrap a knee-high nylon hose over it three times.
- Shake a cup upside down over paper, then sprinkle the finest soil powder onto the paper to create soil crayons.
- The soils should be prepared in the following manner.
Wax Preparation:
Cut wax into small pieces using a knife or razor blade, or crush a block in a ziplock bag with a mallet.
Making Crayons
- Heat 2 inches of water on a hotplate, place a rack or small beaker in the pan, and boil until simmered.
- Place small wax pieces into a 15-ml centrifuge tube, packing slightly, to approximately 12 ml while the water is heating.
- Place the centrifuge tube with wax in a pan and wait for wax to melt.
- Melt wax in a centrifuge tube, add soil, and stir with a wooden stir stick.
- Transfer mixture to ice bath, stir, and stir wax and soil. After 15 minutes, remove the centrifuge tube and scrape inside to remove excess soil or wax.
- To release the crayon, gently tap on the counter while turning the centrifuge tube upside down.