HOME | DD
KarinZeller — salt effects exercise
Published: 2007-12-17 22:17:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 2354; Favourites: 37; Downloads: 101
Redirect to original
Description
This is my second time doing this exercise, so I could demonstrate to my students the salt technique. This one is bigger than the first one I sumitted. Slightly different, but I ended up painting more layers over this, so this only exists on my computer. I am a bit sorry I didn't stop here... sometimes I don't know when to leave well enough alone.Related content
Comments: 40
I really love this and I have been dying to get the salt technique right but its just never comes out like that.
I have tried so many times but I end up having the salt grain's actual imprint(in the color of the paint it took in) within the light patches. I really dont know what I am doing wrong. I have tried wetting the paper,applying the paint then the salt or even just applying wet paint but I always get those nasty looking salt grain imprints
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hi! Thank you for your comment. All I can say is that this is not really that difficult to do.
I recommend you practice and experiment with this technique. Be sure you have good quality, 300gsm watercolour paper. I used Arches for this. I also use quality Artist quality watercolours from Winsor and Newton. I used only three colours for this. Winsor blue, burnt Sienna and yellow ochre.
I also used plain table salt. The trick with salt effects is to get the right amount of moisture happening. The paint can't be too thick or too dry. Also, if the paper dries too quickly after you've painted and sprinkled the salt, then there is no time for the salt to react. Anyway, don't give up right away. It's a really cool technique when you get the hang of it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Wow very helpful comment. I have the same problem as *axrai and I have tried many times but no success... Does it work with acrylics?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you for the feedback.(it's the teacher in me coming out,ha,ha) I am surprised that people would have problems with it. I always thought it would be easy to pick up.
I'm pretty sure it can be equally effective with acrylics, if they are thinned enough, and if you use them in the same way as watercolour.
The thing to keep in mind with salt effects is that once you sprinkle on the salt, you have to leave it alone, and let the salt take effect.
Try using thicker paper, like 300gsm watercolour paper.
Do some practice exercises first.
Draw some circles or other shapes on your paper with a pencil. Dampen the area inside the shape with clear water. It should have a slight sheen but not a puddle. Mix some paints about the consistency of milk or cream, and apply a layer of paint onto the dampened shape. Then lightly sprinkle the salt right away. The extra moisture in the paper should allow enough time for the salt to react. Do this for each individual shape. Practice, and don't give up.
Let me know how you went.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
wow, you're a good teacher! Thanks for all the tips, these step-to-step instructions were exactly what I needed
I tried it, some shapes went perfectly well, others didn't.. but I'll keep practicing until each will be a success
Thank you so very much
and thank you for watching me, too! I'll soon post some Christmas greeting cards painted using this technique.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you, and you are welcome. Glad I could help. Looking forward to your Christmas cards.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
thank you so so much for the reply!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm sure you can also find some instruction online. Just type in watercolour salt effects or watercolour techniques. There may even be a you tube video which demonstrates. Best of luck!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! You are welcome.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hi Jen, so glad you like it. Why don't you try it yourself. It's not that hard. A lot of it is accidental, however.
I used three colours (phthalo blud, burnt sienna and yellow ochre) My students loved doing this. It's really lots of fun. Try experimenting first on some scrap of watercolour paper, to get the paint consistency right. Let me know if you want to try this. I can give you more detailed instruction. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
perhaps after all this stress with the expo and work, when I have more time and the desire to fiddle around with watercolours again. Thanks for the offer. If I should want to give it a go, I'll be sure to ask you for advice.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Beautiful! I'd love to see a close up of the salt crystals.
I know how you feel about going too far with a piece. Sometimes its difficult to stop yourself. But its good you took a photo of this. Perhaps you can try another similar one and stop before you take it too far.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hi Amy, I guess you must be back from your holidays. Thanks for your comment. If you want to have a closer look at this painting, just click on download. First you will see the image, screen size, click on it again, and you will get a very large image, which should give you enough of a close-up view of the salt effects. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I could look at this one for hours. It reminds me of the dappled light in a forest. A snow gum forest, with those huge white trunks.
Stunning as usual.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you, Sue! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm onto it Karin.
Its taken me 4 solid days to tidy up and sort my studio! I'm over it, and ready to make the next mess. Yay.
Thanks for the inspiration. I'm going to tackle the Jacaranda and Flame trees. This should be a fun exercise. I've been trying to decide what to tackle next with my paints. You've solved that one, although I hope you don't think I am trying to copy you. Promise to make it my own!
Thanks for the great instructions, much the same for silk painting. I've got the smooth paper, so that will have to do. I might try some rock salt too.
I should be answering my messages and emails! They will have to wait, I'm itching to paint again.
I'll keep you posted!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
No way, I wasn't implying you like to copy, but rather just the opposite. I had my students more or less copy this exercise. I know you. You are a total original. Smooth paper is good, and rock salt probably works as well. Only one way to find out...try it. With silk painting I used special salt beads, I still have them. They are really cool on silk.
Maybe I should clean my studio...it's too daunting....I just keep procrastinating about it.
Maybe I'll feel more inspired when my studio is nice and clean.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Just did a little practice on some cheap sketching paper. Purple and red! Its still drying. Rock salt on the red and kitchen salt on the purple, for the Jacaranda flowers. Might do something with the branches too. Paint them grey, or something.
Salt beads? not heard of that. Will check that out. I've used sugar before on silk, a lot more subtle than salt.
I've got Holst 'The Planets' playing nice and loud on my stereo, in my clean and tidy studio. Inspiring music.
I wouldn't recommend cleaning the studio, its too hard to make a mess again. I like it when its messy, I don't think twice about dragging out any old thing to play with! And the other bad thing is during the clean up you find things that you want to finish or start! As if there isn't enough to create already. LOL
Have a great weekend Karin and hope Christmas is good to you and Karl.
I might catch up on some emails and return comments!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, cool, Sue! Looking forward to seeing your experiments with salt. Never tried suger with silk painting...sounds interesting. I forgot you also do silk painting. I really should take it up again next year. I really loved it, although a lot can go wrong and it's a bit of a hassle to have to steam it.
Glad you aren't anal when it comes to mess. I don't really like a messy studio, but somehow it always ends up that way. When I have no clean surface to work on, I know it's time to do something about it. It's always a good feeling to have a tidy studio, even though it's shortlived.
Anyway, I hope you have a good holiday as well.
I'll see you around !
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is really neat!!! I've heard about a similar technique with the salt, only it is done with fabrics instead of paper. I'd like to try it sometime.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes, this is a really cool effect. I think I first used salt effects with silk painting. It creates a really gorgeous effect on silk, because the colours are so vibrant, and the silk is just gorgeous to paint on.
I recommend you try it. Why not?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh I'll bet that would be beautiful!!! I'll have to try that in the New Year.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Well I think it's creative, unique and incredibly interesting!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks for the nice compliment.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well, I say, you never know 'till you try. When I first saw a silk painting long time ago, I was so amazed by the colour, I told myself I just had to try it one day. It took a few years, but I finally tried it, and fell in love with the process and result. Watercolour is the next best thing to silk painting. Hope you'll try it. It's fun!
Thanks for the nice comment, by the way.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks! I appreciate you letting me know when you like something.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0