Cosmic Aquarellum Review from Timberdoodle

Time for a Timberdoodle review! Actually I’m months behind for a new Timberdoodle review, so I’ve got like 5 or 6 in the upcoming weeks.

Timberdoodle, aside from being a fun word to say, is a hands-on homeschooling curriculum that we’ve enjoyed supplementing (mainly our doctor appointments and car rides) with on our homeschooling journey. We love them so much, we sometimes get their products free or cheap to review.

In the recent months we’ve reviewed the following products:

Crazy Aarons
I Can Doodle Rhymes
Engino Inventer Set
Draw and Learn Faces
Haba Palette of Pegs

Today, in honor of Earth Day this week, we broke out the Cosmos art set from Aquarellum.

My first thought was, Hmm 7 plus? Why?

My next thought was, I wonder if this is washable.

Through careful research and product testing, for you, I have concluded that no, this paint is not washable. It is highly pigmented, vibrant and beautiful to work with. Also I am currently typing with blue fingers.

But seeing as I dyed my hands purple for our shaving cream cursive writing recently, you should know I am not adverse to dying myself different colors to entertain and educate my children. Life calls for a little color after all. Just be wary.

In 100% full disclosure, my initial reaction after opening was that I was a little frustrated with this set. The caps on the paints are incredibly hard to twist off. There are just two art pieces to complete. The instructions included are in many languages, and it took me a minute to find what scarce English there was which left me still a little confused (If you read my Engino review, you will see it doesn’t take much).

But how hard could it be though, I shrugged. It’s liquid color, two droppers and white board to paint on with, uh, some kind of raised image underneath. Let’s throw caution to the wind and paint the Cosmos!

AND seeing how I have told you that I’ve dyed my hands colors, you can be sure that is exactly what we did.

My sidekick, main conspirator and favorite seven-year-old in this story did the bulk of the painting while I helped a bit with mixing colors but mostly played with my phone camera trying to capture the essence of this product.

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The trick to this is the paper underneath absorbs the water-based paint while the raised wax edges keep the colors from muddling the picture. Pretty genius.

Ultimately my kiddo thought this was the most fun art we’ve done in a long time (which was straight-up water colors last week, so understandable). My 9-year-old is on board for testing out the other art piece tomorrow.

I do really recommend this activity. If you are doing Montessori first great lesson work, this would be a fun invitation. The child will practice lots of dropper skills and using a paint brush — both excellent for fine motor. Children can work diligently at filling in the tiny details; or if you have a crazed wild child like I do, feel free to let them drop and spreading colors wherever desired. Turns out lovely I think.