How to use Salt with Watercolour

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How to use salt with watercolour. It is a pretty cool thing to use to obtain some interesting textures and marks on the page. In this abstract landscape demonstration I use salt from the grinder from out of our kitchen. I also show briefly how to use a spray bottle to create the effect of snow as well.
This was painted on Rives BFK etching paper
Colours: mix of winsor blue (red shade) and light red, mix of cobalt blue and light red, cerulean blue, paynes grey
Brushes: 2 inch holbein hake brush, pure kolinsky round sable and old fan brush
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Paints
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Tubes:
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/WinsorNewtonCobaltBlue
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/YellowOchreTube
Light Red amazon: geni.us/LightRedTube
Winsor and Newton Cotman Tubes (student quality):
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/cotmancobaltblue
Light Red amazon: geni.us/cotmanlightred
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/cotmanyellowochre
Tape
3M Scotch Magic Tape amazon: geni.us/ScotchMagicTape19mm
3M Scotch Removable Tape amazon: geni.us/ScotchRemovableTape
Brushes
Round Sable - Size 12 round kolinsky sable from amazon: geni.us/SAAKolinskySable
Imitation sable - amazon: geni.us/EscodaRoundSable
Holbein Hake Brushes: geni.us/HolbeinHakeBrushes
Equivalent Hake Brushe 2” amazon: geni.us/WinsorNewtonHake
Nylon Flat Brush amazon: geni.us/NylonFlatBrush
Travel Brush set with covers amazon: geni.us/travelbrushset
Mixing Brushes and other effect brushes amazon: geni.us/HogBristleBrushes
If you just want two hogs bristle brushes then the best thing to do is to head to your local art supplies store and buy them there.
Watercolour Paper
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed pad amazon: geni.us/ArchesPad
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed block which is glued on the outside so you don’t have to stick it down on a board amazon: geni.us/ArchesWatercolourPaper
Rives BFK etching paper. Probably best to source this from your local store so you can look after the paper and not have it posted unless you are buying a large amount of paper and it will be looked after. There is nothing worse than getting hundreds of sheets all with a indent in them. Having said that you can actually source this paper from amazon:
geni.us/RivesBFK
Some people have been extremely happy with the state of the paper when it arrived (and some not!)
I love this paper it is soft and lights are lifted easily from it.
Equipment Used to Film Each Episode
Camera - Canon 6d mark II with 24-105 lens amazon: geni.us/Canon6dMarkII
Iphone 11: geni.us/iphone11pro256gb
Rode Video Mic Pro amazon: geni.us/RodeVidMicPro
I also use: Rode Wireless Go Mic: geni.us/rodewirelessmic
Aputure LED Lights from amazon: geni.us/apurtureH198light
Aputure LED Lights with stand from amazon: geni.us/aputureledlight
Mac Book Pro for editing: www.apple.com/
Friction arms
Manfrotto friction arm short one amazon: geni.us/ManfrottoMicroFriction
Manfrotto magic arm longer one so my camera can be closer to the page from my overhead rig amazon: geni.us/manfrottofrictionarm
Neewer Friction arms cheaper than manfrotto and good for lighter things like lights from amazon: geni.us/neewerfrictionarm
Hard Drive for storage WD 4TB amazon: geni.us/WDHardDrive
Hard Drive for projects Samsung T5 500GB SSD amazon: geni.us/SamsungT5SSD
Manfrotto Tripod and Video Head amazon: geni.us/ManfrottoTripodHybrid
Photo Editing - Affinity Photo: geni.us/AffinityPhoto
I use this for any photo editing that I might need to do such as stitching multiple scanned images of my original artwork together. It is a one off expense ($70 at time of writing this) rather than the monthly fee you have to pay with photoshop.
KZbin Thumbnails - Canva - free and easy to use! geni.us/CanvaImageEditing
Video Editing - Final Cut Pro X - geni.us/FinalCutProApple
Reflector 3 software so I can see what is on my iphone screen - geni.us/Reflector3
Galvanised Steel for the overhead rig from bunnings - geni.us/Bunnings

[@moniquelebel-ducharme6894]

I have always been attracted to winter type scenes. This is stunning!

[@suel4269]

Hi Scott! I miss your videos. Revisiting this one because I’m determined to get the salt technique figured out.

[@thistlesandpoppies]

I like the texture that the salt made in your clouds. For me that touch of turquoise in the district mountain really allowed the layers of colors on the other side to open up, perfection. In a watercolor class I took, in addition to salt we also used granulated instant coffee. It absorbs the paint the same way, but leaves a more earthy texture instead of white. Instant coffee granules are great for autumn scenes, large tree trunks, or dirt. I immensely enjoy and learn so much from your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent.

[@jaynedough130]

oh, i will be trying that! thanks

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Pamela, I’ll have to try those things! Interesting! Thanks!! 👍🙏

[@su3449]

Ground coffee sound interesting in lieu of salt. I like to paint landscapes so very curious to see the earthy texture on trees. Thanks.

[@thistlesandpoppies]

Su Make sure to use instant coffee, not regular coffee grounds. Have fun trying it out.

[@su3449]

Pamela E Thank you for that. I assumed it was ground coffee. So glad you clarified it for me. Thanks again.

[@markdonovan1540]

Stunning effects produced by just the right amount of everything. I should pay heed more often to the concept of "less is more". I tend to use too much pigment and not enough water. I like how some areas of the painting are intense with pigment and others aren't. The little swipes with the tissue and extra light spraying seem to join it up and create more atmosphere and depth. A beautifully demonstrated example of the salt technique too. Thank you Scott.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mark! It is amazing how minimalist art can be so evocative! I’m really pleased you found it helpful! 👍🙏

[@karolfrench5816]

As always. Watching something very beautiful. THANKYOU

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Karol! Yes I do love this style of painting, very minimalist but with lots of mood.

[@andy_warhola]

I was just sitting experimenting with salt with KZbin on in the background and this film came up, just like magic. Nice job, turned out great.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Paul! Thanks mate! Glad you liked it! 👍

[@andrecardon2141]

Beautiful sky with salt on the direction of clouds

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Andre! It’s a pretty cool process! 👍

[@tinaharrison9354]

Great. Texture something we call here a mackerel sky thanks one again Scott

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tina! I like that name! I imagine it is because it is like scales in the sky?

[@mreinstein48]

Beautiful sky!

[@luannrichardson1436]

Beautiful!!!

[@jaynedough130]

i really like the effect of the salt on the mixed color paints! thanks again for your process and expertise.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jayne, thanks! I don't use it very often but it is cool! Thanks for watching! 👍🙏

[@stephenlaw1978]

Magical!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! 👍🙏

[@owens711]

Brilliant techniques , Scott , cheers mate

[@ScottSwinson]

No worries Gaz! 👍👍

[@vlslatha]

Quite stunning indeed!! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Latha! 🙏

[@stonecreek7764]

epicness!! thanks for sharing these tips!!

[@ScottSwinson]

No worries stone! 👍👍

[@joegriffin5851]

Great video and lovely result.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Joe!

[@yvonnegeelen6571]

Just love your videos amazingly simply beautiful

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Yvonne, thanks! 🙏

[@begonalusarretaarrizabalag8445]

Hello Scott Swinson... Very nice... I really like effect of the salt... Thank you so much.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Bengona, thanks! Happy painting!

[@avaliveradio]

Nice job. Great techniques.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! 👍👍👍

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Really lovely! I only recently discovered salt, so much fun to use!

[@ScottSwinson]

yes it's pretty cool the way it will soak up the pigment.

[@ingridjonsson9458]

Beautiful ! 💫💫💫

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Ingrid! I do love the marks that salt leave behind!

[@rebeccawong1]

Best salt effect ❤️

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Rebecca! 🙏

[@brianfisher1314]

Very Nice! I love it. I use salt usually for rock or ground texture but hadn't thought about in sky for snow. I'll definitely try this one. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Brian, yes I don’t use salt often these days but I used to a lot! 👍🙏

[@barbararivera2380]

Beautiful

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Barbara! It is pretty simple but lovely effects!

[@patsymccown2766]

Very cool!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Patsy! Got to love a bit of salt!

[@andrewfrost8866]

I love the effect (as others have also said), and its amazing how such a simple, relatively random application can create so many unique and various visual textures. I would also imaging that the results would also vary with the pigment being used, different pigments come with different separation's and textures.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Andrew. It is pretty amazing! There are are lot of variables. Amount of water on the page, size and shape of the crystals, pigment being used, the bet thing to do is experiment with the colours you use and work out the type of marks/patterns you want for your type of painting. Thanks for watching! 👍

[@andrewfrost8866]

Scott Swinson Cheers Scott!

[@marinagambarelli7649]

Bello bello bello👏👏👏

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Marina! 🙏

[@connieostroha8423]

Fun! 💕

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes! Salt is fun! 👍

[@elizabethgray2386]

I have tried this several times with absolutely no luck.

[@Nuarach]

Nice, interesting painting technique. Do you have a video: how to paint mountains with watercolor paints? For example, with fog...?

[@wendy-leefilipe1974]

Beautiful! Thanks for showing us, which music did you use while drying the paint? It fit so well.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Wendy-lee! Thanks glad you liked the video. The music was from artlist.io it was "Dusk to Dawn" by Josh Leake. Thanks for watching!

[@jenfleming9412]

Gosh that’s a beautiful painting Scott. I love the way you put that dark blue in the bottom. I’m gonna have a go at one like this tomorrow. How did you get to study with Tony Smibert Scott? Did you live near him in Tasmania? Do you teach in Sydney or somewhere else?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jennifer! I was lucky that my dad and tony Smibert became business partners when I was about 10 I think. I started painting in watercolours about 12 years old and tony would give me a lesson when he came to stay. I then spent a year living in Deloraine watching home paint and painting myself in 2006. At the moment I don’t do any teaching. I did do some here in Engadine, Sydney last year. Will have to figure something out! 👍

[@jenfleming9412]

@@ScottSwinson So interesting Scott! Thank you for sharing. You are a great teacher on Utube so I’m sure you would be in real time too. Although it must take a lot of patience to deal with people’s questions all the time. At least on Utube it is not immediate and you have time to ponder replies.

[@marymary5494]

👌💕

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Mary Mary!

[@MiraTulic]

❤

[@DoubleRainbows-fp6ih]

Lovely. I Also really love The Chinese looking loose style of dark shape & its colour as it bleeds into a purpley-violent tone I'm wondering if it's Prussian blue?

[@suel4269]

Beautiful! What was the funky brush you used for the land?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi S Liberto! It was an old fan brush with bits cut out of it and with bristles that have fallen out! You can make one by cutting some out or owning one for 20 years! lol

[@lizziemorrison884]

is your paper stretched and what kind is it?

[@Mr.S65]

Very nice! I’m 15 hours behind Sidney. Is winsor blue phthalo blue? Thanks for the tutorial 😀

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mr S. Yes it is the same I think. Meant to be made with the same stuff. 👍

[@dw7939]

1st time I used salt I tried table salt on a too dry painting. I couldn't get it off and the painting has a bit of glitter sparkle to it. Looks awful on a landscape! Course salt is the way to go, unless you want that sweet glitter look.

[@ScottSwinson]

Good point DW! I know what you mean! It can turn into a solid mass on the page with fine crystals. You don’t like glitter sparkles in your landscapes? Most of the time I don’t either. 👍

[@dw7939]

@@ScottSwinson only on my unicorn 🦄 landscape paintings. 😉

[@ScottSwinson]

Ha yes! Me too!

[@christineravenscroft1453]

Your poor brushes!

[@ScottSwinson]

Ha lol! I’ve just ordered a new set of Ron ranson hake brushes! 👍👍👍

[@christineravenscroft1453]

@@ScottSwinson why those in particular please. I checked them on amazon.

[@ScottSwinson]

@@christineravenscroft1453 because I know they are not too bulky, come to a good chiseled end and don’t drop hairs like my old favourite! 👍

[@lynnrussell467]

Can only see a smidge of paper, none of what u r doing, Misplaced camera aim

[@ScottSwinson]

Sorry about that Lynn! 🙏

[@edvardaskartanovic3732]

❤