Brush up on your art skills with this salt & watercolor painting project
Think (or paint) outside the box wiht this unique painting technique! One-part experiment, one-part art experience, this salt & watercolor painting project will give you a wall-worthy finished project, while you learn some STEM skills along the way.
Materials you will need:
- Paper (Watercolor paper works best, but cardstock or sketchbook paper can also work)
- Paintbrush
- Watercolor paints
- Salt
- Water to rinse your painbrush
Directions:
Step 1
Set up your workspace and start painting! Keep in mind, your painting will change when you add the salt, so don’t worry too much about the details!
Step 2
While your painting is still wet to the touch, sprinkle it with salt. Watch closely as the salt absorbs the water on your paper, and some of the color along with it!
Step 3
When you’re finished, let your salt and watercolor painting project is completely dry, and gently rub the salt off the paper.
Expand on the Activity:
Try different kinds of salt! Table salt, sea salt, and rock salt are all great to try. How does the size of the salt grain impact what you see happen on your painting?
The amount of water on your paper will have a big impact on how it looks when you add the salt. Experiment with adding the salt at different points as your painting dries to see which effect is your favorite.
- For another colorful activity with water, try this colorful coffee filter experiment!
Be sure to share your salt watercolor painting project with us by submitting a photo or video to our Science Showcase here or tag Orlando Science Center and use #OSCatHome on social media! You might be featured on our channels.
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