Kids can transform watercolor painting by sprinking salt on top for a textured look.
Keeping kids busy and active can be done through an assortment of activities and projects. Painting, especially with non-toxic watercolor paint, is one way to allow kids to be creative. You can change the look and feel of a watercolor painting project by simply adding some table, rock or kosher salt to the top of the paint. Using this method can turn a flat landscape painting in to a rippling, wavy work of art.
Homemade Paper
Kids can use the watercolor and salt technique to make their own paper, which can then be used for other craft projects. Using a heavier weight paper, such as colored construction paper, have kids paint the paper. Use watercolor paints and have kids draw lines, shapes or squiggles of circles. While the paint is still wet, lay the paper flat and sprinkle salt all over the paper. Use a spray bottle filled with water and spray the entire piece of paper. Kids can watch the colors bleed and spread. Allow the paper to dry and remove the leftover salt by tapping the paper on a table. The paper can then be used for other projects.
Ocean Waves
Using watercolor paints with salt create ripple effects on the paper as the salt changes the texture of the paper itself. One project to incorporate this wavy texture is to work on a painting project about the beach. Have kids use larger pieces of thin white paper, or computer paper will work just as well. Have the kids draw a beach and ocean. Have the kids stop painting after just the sand and sea portion is complete. Sprinkle salt directly on to wet paint where you want the paper to have a ripple look. Allow the paper to dry and continue having kids draw or paint the beach scene.
Rainforest Follies
Using the watercolor and salt technique to create texture to a painting or project can also be useful when making a diorama or scene about the rainforest. Use plain white paper to have kids paint a rainforest scene consisting of lush trees and a sky. While the watercolor paint is still wet, sprinkle salt all over the picture to create a ripple effect that will resemble rain. Allow the paper to dry and tape the paper to the inside of a shoe box along the back to create a backdrop for a rainforest diorama. Have the children finish the project by adding cut out flowers and animals to the rest of the box to finish the scene.
Rainy Day
Create a wall art project to celebrate spring and the rainy season by using the watercolor and salt technique as a way to accent the project. Have children create a paper umbrella to hang on a wall. Using white paper, have the kids paint large circles with blue watercolor. Salt the top of the paint to make the blue painted areas wavy. Cut out raindrops from the paper and attach the wall under the umbrella to create a scene to resemble raindrops falling. You can also make a rippling, hot sun by painting white paper yellow, salting the paint and then cutting out the sun to hang on the wall as well.
