Happy National Crayon Day! National Crayon Day is March 31, and believe it or not, the mighty little crayon forever changed the art world. The crayon has been around much longer than you may think, and certainly not as we know crayons as they are today.
History of the Crayon
The concept of a crayon can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Given the term ‘encaustic painting’, they would use hot beeswax mixed with natural pigments and ‘burn’ that onto wood or stone to create colorful artwork.
It wasn’t until the late 1400s that the first hand-held cylinder-shaped crayons were used. Made of charcoal and oil, they are considered the forerunners of the modern-day crayon.
By the early 1800s, oils were replaced with wax, and in 1903, Edwin Binney and Harold Smith turned the crayon into a household item by combining paraffin wax with safe, non-toxic pigments. Alice Binney, a schoolteacher and Edwin’s wife, named them ‘Crayola’, by combining two French words: craie (chalk) and ola (oily). Their original box of crayons was made up of 8 colors – black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green.
How Crayons Changed the Art World
It was then that crayons immediately changed the art world, as painting supplies were typically expensive and even unsafe to use, and certainly not meant for children. They were now made affordable, safe, and available to all. Crayons opened up a vibrant world for children, while providing aid in developing motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and color recognition.
And today, we see a resurgence of coloring and drawing for older adults. Anna Pekrul, Dexter Senior Center Director, observes, “Coloring has been a favorite activity among Dexter Senior Center members for years. Even as we’ve added more specialized art classes like canvas painting, watercolor, and more. The coloring group remains one of the more consistently attended.”
Pekrul adds, “The coloring itself is sometimes secondary to the social connection people get from sitting together and chatting while they color. It’s a relaxed way to stay creative, keep your mind engaged, and spend time with others.”
Crayons and Your Imagination
So, thanks to the mighty crayon, coloring is now a favorite pastime for children and adults alike. And it’s easy to see why – all you need is a box of crayons, a sheet of paper, and your imagination.
And now, for the question everyone is asking: what is the most favorite crayon color? Well, the sky is the limit – blue!
Sources
The History of Crayons: https://discover.hubpages.com/art/The-History-of-Crayons
The History of Crayons: From Wax to Wow: www.crayonu.com/the-history-of-crayons-who-invented-the-first-crayon/
Most Popular Crayola Crayon color: www.crayola.com/faqs/what-is-the-most-popular-crayola-crayon-color-faq
Featured photo: What began with simple crayons has grown into a world of markers and colored pencils, and studies suggest these creative activities can boost memory, focus, and overall cognitive well-being in older adults. STN stock photo.
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