What is the correct way to use salt in watercolor paintings?
A. For the past twenty or so years sprinkling salt on a damp watercolor wash has been a popular means of adding interesting texture to a painting. The paint is drawn to the salt as it dries and leaves crystal shapes dotted throughout the wash. I used to use this technique occasionally myself, until I noticed what salt water dripping on my garage floor did to concrete after a bad winter! After talking to several technical people in paint manufacturing, I’ve come to the conclusion it isn’t a wise practice if you want your paintings to last. If you’re painting for reproduction or other commercial, short-term use, by all means use it to get the effect you want. But to be sure you’re using a pigment that will react properly to salt and give the maximum effect, test the color with salt on the same type surface you’ll be working on. Otherwise, for a similar effect simply spatter water on a partially dried wash. See Exploring Color p. 44.
