Watercolor painting is a fun and expressive art form that has captivated artists for centuries. The translucent washes and flowing pigments create gorgeous effects. However, controlling the paint and preventing unwanted mixing of colors can be frustrating at times. This is where salt comes in handy. Salt creates beautiful textured effects by absorbing and repelling the watercolors. But what if you sprinkle salt on your painting and nothing happens? Let’s explore some reasons why salt may not be working on your watercolor paintings and what you can do to fix it.
Using the Wrong Type of Salt
Not all salts are created equal when it comes to watercolor painting. Fine grained salts like table salt or kosher salt work best. The small granules allow the salt to absorb the pigments and create crisper edges. Coarse sea salt tends to make blobby indistinct textures.
Here are some good salt types to use:
- Table salt
- Kosher salt
- Rock salt
- Canning salt
Avoid these kinds of salt:
- Coarse sea salt
- Himalayan pink salt
- Flaked salt
- Epsom salt
Test out various salt grains on scrap paper to find the best match for your painting style and the effects you want to achieve.
Applying Salt Too Early
Timing is crucial when adding salt to wet watercolor. If you sprinkle it on too soon, the salt won’t produce any effects. The paper needs to have enough wet pigment pooled on the surface for the salt to interact with. But if you wait too long and the paint starts drying, the salt also won’t work.
The ideal time is when you’ve completed an area of wet wash and it still looks shiny and fluid. The moisture allows the salt to dissolve and create blossom textures.
As a guideline, add salt:
- Within a few seconds of applying a wash
- When you can still see movement and moisture
- Before the paint starts drying and losing its shine
Experiment on your own paintings to get a feel for the perfect salt timing. It can vary based on your paper, paint viscosity, and environmental conditions.
Not Using Enough Salt
A common mistake beginners make is being too timid with the salt. You need to use a fair amount to get bold, defined textures. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon sprinkled over a 5″ x 7″ wet painted area. Adjust as needed based on your paper and wash thickness.
Consider these tips for getting great salt effects:
- Sprinkle salt evenly over the entire wet area
- Pour the salt from high above the paper for random distribution
- Add more salt than you think necessary
- Let the salt sit undisturbed as the paint dries
Be bold and generous with the salt as you experiment. You can always brush off the excess once the paint dries.
Paint Too Thick or Dry
Salt works best with thin, juicy washes of watercolor. If your paint is too thick or diluted with minimal water, the salt won’t adequately absorb and interact.
Here are some tips for getting the right paint consistency:
- Use lots of water and aim for very fluid, wet washes
- Add extra water if the paint seems thick, gloppy, or sticky
- Try liquid glycerin to keep thick paints wet and flowing
- Use a large brush to apply broad washes
Your aim is to have a shiny, loose, wet wash for the salt to blend with. Thick paint is harder for the salt to absorb and move around.
Too Much Water Diluting the Paint
On the other hand, you can overdo the water and end up with washes too weak for the salt to interact with. If your paint is extremely diluted and you can barely see any pigment, the salts won’t have much to grasp onto.
Try to find the right balance with:
- Enough water for fluidity but not so much that the color disappears
- Aim for the look of juice, milk or thin cream
- Use a damp brush to prevent over-diluting as you work
Test different water to paint ratios on practice sheets until you find the sweet spot. Pigmented and glossy but still loose and wet is ideal.
Salt Bitterness Affecting Paint
Even with the right salt type and technique, you may sometimes get lackluster results. One possible reason is that all salts contain slight impurities that can interfere with the paint.
Table salt and other refined salts are bitter due to chemical compounds. These bitterns can make the pigments runny and prevent the characteristic textures.
Options to avoid the influence of salt bitterness include:
- Rinsing the salt briefly before use
- Sprinkling into very wet juicy washes
- Blotting excess salt off once dry
- Using salt-free texture mediums instead
With extra moisture and rinsing, you can still get great results from common refined salts. Sea salt or salt substitutes also avoid the bitterness issue.
Low-Quality Paper
For gorgeous salt effects, you need paper that can handle generous washes without buckling or tearing. Cheap paper lacks the sizing and texture to work well.
Choose high-quality papers such as:
- 140 lb or 300 gsm cold press
- Rough watercolor paper
- Textured or deckled edge sheets
- 100% cotton rag content
Avoid student grade or thin papers, which tend to warp and over-absorb the paint. Heavy papers can hold juicy washes and bold salt textures.
Too Much Paint Layering
It’s tempting to layer heavy mixed washes when watercoloring. But excess paint layers can prevent the salt from sinking in and interacting properly.
For the best salt effects:
- Work wet-on-dry, allowing layers to fully dry
- Add salt soon after the first fresh wash
- Avoid thick impasto mixing and overworking
- Let the thinner you paint, the better for salting
Remember, it’s the wetness you want for salting, not thickness. Allowing individual washes to dry in between keeps the paper pristine.
Insufficient Brush Rinsing
When painting watercolors, it’s crucial to rinse your brushes thoroughly between color changes. Leftover pigments on the bristles can inadvertently mix into your next wash and cause dull, muddy colors.
For clean, bright washes, be diligent about:
- Swishing brushes vigorously in water between strokes
- Spinning to remove excess moisture before the next dip in paint
- Keeping multiple rinsed brushes at hand as you work
A bit of staining left in the brush is normal, but avoid paint buildup. Thorough rinsing preserves the purity of your washes for better salt blooming.
Overworking the Salt Effects
It’s tempting to poke, spray, or disrupt the salt crystals before they fully dry. But patience pays off for the best results. Allow the salt time to absorb the pigments undisturbed.
Follow these guidelines:
- Resist sprinkling more salt once it adheres
- Don’t swish paint into the salt or touch the grains
- Let the paint and salt dry thoroughly before removal
- Wait at least 8-12 hours before brushing salt off
Give the salt plenty of time to work its magic. Rushing the process risks muddying the painting and losing those amazing blooms and edges.
Environmental Conditions Too Dry
Since watercolor relies on moisture, environmental conditions can affect your results. In hot, dry, or drafty conditions, your paint may dry out faster than the salt can absorb and dissolve.
Try these tips for maintaining ideal conditions:
- Paint in a room around 60-70°F
- Avoid direct heat sources that accelerate drying
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry air
- Close windows to prevent drafts on your work
You want sufficient humidity and stillness so your paper and paint don’t dry out prematurely before the salt fully activates.
Conclusion
When used properly, salt can create beautiful blooming effects in watercolor paintings. But if the salt sits inert and unresponsive on your paper, don’t despair. With a few adjustments to your materials, techniques and environment, you can still achieve those amazing blossom shapes.
Be patient, experiment on practice sheets, and observe what works best for your style. Mastering the salt technique just takes awareness and practice. The reward of glowing textures and defined edges makes it well worth the effort.
Let the granular magic of salt unlock new dimensions in your watercolor journeys. It’s an exciting way to add interest, contrast and spontaneity. With the right approach, you’ll be captivated by the dramatic results salt can bring to your paintings.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Using the wrong type of salt | Use fine-grained table salt or kosher salt, not coarse sea salt |
| Applying salt too early | Wait until the wash is still shiny and wet before sprinkling on salt |
| Not using enough salt | Be generous with the salt, 1/2 teaspoon over a 5″ x 7″ area |
| Paint too thick or dry | Dilute paints with lots of water for fluid, juicy washes |
| Too much water diluting the paint | Find the balance between enough water for flow but pigment still visible |
| Salt bitterness affecting paint | Rinse salt before use, apply to very wet paint, blot excess salt when dry |
| Low quality paper | Use 140 lb or 300 gsm cold press paper |
| Too much paint layering | Work wet-on-dry, allowing washes to fully dry between layers |
| Insufficient brush rinsing | Thoroughly rinse brushes between color changes |
| Overworking the salt effects | Allow salt to dry undisturbed for best results |
| Environmental conditions too dry | Maintain room temperature around 60-70°F, use a humidifier |
With the right troubleshooting, salt can give your watercolors gorgeous mottled textures. Don’t let unsuccessful attempts discourage you. Experiment with these solutions and you’ll be on your way to mastering the magical salt techniques.