Watercolor Watermelon

I don't have watercolor paper or a fine-tip black marker—what can I use instead?

Use heavy mixed-media paper or thick cardstock instead of watercolor paper and substitute the fine-tip black marker for a sharpened black colored pencil or thin waterproof pen to draw the seeds after the paint is dry.

My darker pink didn't blend into the lighter pink and the salt didn't make speckles—how can I fix that?

Be sure to drop the darker pink or red while the pink wash is still wet as the instructions say and sprinkle the table salt immediately on the wet paint so the crystals pull pigment, then let the painting dry completely before brushing off the salt.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For toddlers pre-draw the semicircle and let them dab color with a sponge or big brush, for preschoolers let them paint the rind and flesh washes with help, and for older kids challenge them to add the thin wavy green stripes, carefully erase pencil lines, and draw detailed teardrop seeds with the fine-tip marker.

How can we enhance or personalize the watercolor watermelon?

Try adding a light blue background wash before painting the slice, experiment with coarse versus table salt for different speckled textures, use masking fluid to preserve white highlights on the rind, or mount several finished slices into a card to share on DIY.org as in the final step.