How to use salt with watercolour

[@claireshand]

More great tips thanks Liz! I’ve always found salt very temperamental, works like a dream in my practice colour wash and then try the same affect on a real painting and get a damp heap of nothing. I’m resolved to do some more experimenting following your tips, cheers!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

It is temperamental, but the more you experiment the more reliable it will get.

[@delphinewood7519]

I loved the idea you suggested at the end about switching your favorite colors and adding salt and keeping it as a reference. It seems kind of obvious now that you say it LOL. Thanks for posting.🙏🌵

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Most of what I say is obvious once it's said!! 🙃

[@oljastevanovic]

Hi , you are my favorite yt tutor for watercolor :) Last night I have used salt on a second layer of the paint in dark blue underwater scene ,and nothing happened .. and I was disappointed... ( how original.. ) So , I took an clear wet brush , and went over the salted area , and the marks APEARED ! I was ready to throw that painting away .. but it tur out beautifully ... not as white marks as they should be, but nicely enough . Thanks for your tips and tricks ... I love the best - your advice about sampling techniques so we do not forget about them ...knowing a few days and then do not use them ... :)

[@LizChadertonStudio]

that sounds excellent! as an artist you are a problem solver. so glad you saved it.

[@bjgoels]

I love the techniques you share. Some I have never seen; others I have used but you sometimes provide an extra tip on how to better use it. Thank you so much. FYI: Pickling salt also creates an interesting effect...bigger than that of table salt, of course.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Great tip!

[@irmacruz7771]

Thank you for the great tips!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@katef8700]

Really interesting experiment - I'd never have thought about using dishwasher salt!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Necessity is the mother of invention! I didn't have any rock salt....

[@terrafirma9548]

@@LizChadertonStudio What is dishwasher salt please, never heard of it here in Canada. Is it borax?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@terrafirma9548 hi, it’s ordinary salt but very course and you put it in your dishwasher to soften the water. A bit like rock salt to look at.

[@terrafirma9548]

@@LizChadertonStudio I collect the road salt off the icy winter roads here :big chunks for big effects.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@terrafirma9548 That’s good recycling! Do you get sued if a car skids?🙃

[@irenehynes7536]

Very helpful and inspiring

[@LizChadertonStudio]

So glad!

[@irenehynes7536]

Thank you!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You're welcome!

[@valeriegehling4358]

Super! Am spending 4th day trying out the salt effect! Various videos & papers, all achievements are null & void, with a salty workplace! So, tomorrow I‘ll re-try using the paper you suggest & a variety of my colours instead of just one colour comparisons! As you mentioned salt is fickle perhaps mine is more fickle than most or I‘m not a salt artist. Thanks. Also, as I watched your video on various plastics & tissue on watercolour have sorted my kitchen papers preparing next trials, really liked the effects you got, hoping for something similar. Thanks

[@LizChadertonStudio]

diox purple, phthalo blue, alizarin, viridian are all usually well behaved!

[@valeriegehling4358]

@@LizChadertonStudio Thanks for replying & I‘ll definitely try the colours you suggested when I‘ve time, I usually as it’s hot at the mo. let them dry for approximately 5hrs, you say Salt will attract air moisture so how do you expell it totally?? I‘veused my fingers then a credit card ( outdated ). Any more suggestions? Thanks again.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@valeriegehling4358 I just scrape off with my thumb nail. If you leave big crystals you can get into problems, but you can’t get rid of it totally.

[@valeriegehling4358]

@@LizChadertonStudio Dies salt have a detrimental effect on our brushes? ( That you’re aware of & how to keep it off them & paintings? If any?! ) Thanks

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@valeriegehling4358 no it shouldn’t. If you left them standing in salt water the ferrule would corrode, but you wouldn’t do that….

[@coastalart7894]

Thank you for these wonderful tips ❤️ all of your work is so beautiful!!! Kathy

[@LizChadertonStudio]

My pleasure. I’m glad you found them useful.

[@ranjanachand9306]

Very informative and inspiring 😀

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad you think so! I think the effect is so pretty.

[@rachelsingleton6838]

Really informative - thank you ❤

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you, Liz!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@barbaracranford527]

I really like to use salt on my tea dyed paper, it also gives an interesting yet unpredictable finish.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes! the unpredictability can be frustrating on occasions 😂

[@hilarywhite2953]

Another good one I'm going to try. (But I've no idea what dishwasher salt is)

[@LizChadertonStudio]

it is just coarse salt like rock salt 😊

[@rowenawhiteford1928]

Thank you again for these great tips! It' s really useful to know which ones you might have a better chance of getting a nice effect. I' d noticed that some granulating colours didn'' t play well, but didn' t think about the quin ones...going to test mine all now👍

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I watched a few films ahead of this one and I was really surprised when one (well known) artist said only the granulating colours worked well, and rock salt on a really wet wash. That is the opposite of everything I have ever found! The inorganic phthalos, quins etc tend to work best, into a drying wash, with table salt or crushed salt. Have fun with the experiments.

[@rowenawhiteford1928]

@@LizChadertonStudio I think I saw that! The only granulating colour that I' ve had a nice effect from is undersea green DS..and it' s not heavily granulating. Thanks again for your really helpful tips

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Let me know any surprises!

[@bjgoels]

The "uncooperative" colors aren't really. They just provide a different texture which I can see being useful in certain circumstances. The alizarin texture, for instance, would be good as a leather texture.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

There is never a guarantee, just one has a higher likelihood of success