Sprinkling Salt

Siena is waiting to see what happens when she sprinkles salt onto her damp watercolor painting.

WHAT HAPPENS? Salt creates unusual textural effects. Siena also experimented with sprinkling droplets of water onto her painting. 

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? Each crystal of salt chases away the pigment to make a lighter area beneath it.  Salt doesn't always work the way you wanted it to... so here are a few tips:

1. Wet a piece of watercolor paper with clear water.

2. Place the paper on a flat surface and paint the area where you want to use the salt.

3. Wait for the magic time when the paint is damp and shiny. If the paint is dry, this technique won't work. If the paper has puddles, pour them off or absorb the excess water with the corner of a paper towel.

4. Add the salt. Less is more. Take a pinch of salt in your fingers and sprinkle a few grains.

5. Let the painting dry without disturbing the salt.

6. Brush away the salt after the paint dries.