You can add visual interest and depth to watercolor paintings by incorporating texture using various techniques, such as applying salt to wet paint.
Adding texture in watercolor painting creates unique visual effects that enhance the surface of your artwork, moving beyond flat washes. One popular and accessible method involves using salt.
Using Salt for Watercolor Texture
Salt creates beautiful texture by interacting with the wet watercolor paint. As the salt sits on the moist surface, it absorbs some of the water and pigment, pushing the color away and creating distinct patterns when dried and removed.
Here's how to use salt to create texture based on the reference:
- Apply Paint: First, paint an area on your paper with watercolor, ensuring the area remains wet.
- Sprinkle Salt: Sprinkle your salt onto the wet areas of your painting. The amount and density will affect the outcome.
- Allow to Dry: allow to dry naturally, before brushing it off. It is crucial not to disturb the salt or painting while it is drying to get the best effect.
- Brush Off: Once the paint is completely dry, gently brush or wipe the salt off the paper. You will reveal the textured pattern left behind.
Effects of Different Salt Grains
The size of the salt grains significantly impacts the resulting texture:
- Larger grains of salt cause a more pronounced, star-like pattern.
- Fine grains look like sparkles or fine speckles.
Experimenting with different types of salt (like table salt, sea salt, or rock salt) and varying degrees of wetness in the paint will yield diverse textural results. The speckled effect from salt adds a unique, organic feel to areas like skies, water, or abstract backgrounds.
