Watercolours can be a fascinating medium for children to explore when they use it for painting. The best way to introduce any child to a new medium is with plenty of free exploration. Prior to starting this watercolour art experience with K, I gave him time to explore and experiment with the medium but at the same time provided him with some guidelines on how to best use the medium :

• Always keep his palette clean. Never leave paint on his brush and then move on to another colour without rinsing it in the jar of water
• Use enough water, however, too much water can make paint uncontrollable
• Use paint generously from the palette
• Watercolour is transparent, when yellow is painted over blue it will appear green where the two colors overlap.

Once your child has explored enough of the medium you can get him/her started on this Salty Watercolour art experience.

Materials needed :

White glue in a squeeze bottle

Watercolour paint

Paintbrush (with soft bristles)

Jar of water

Cardboard (I used 2 pieces of drawing block paper)

Bowl of table salt

Process :

1. Draw a design with white glue on paper, use lots of glue.

2. Collect some salt from the bowl and use hands to pour salt over the drawings. Lift and tilt the paper to allow excess salt to fall back into the bowl.

3. Make sure the white glue on paper is all cover with salt.

4. Fill a paintbrush with lots of water and paint.

5. Gently touch the tip of the soaking brush to the salt on the paper and let the paint absorb into the salt and travel into the design. Try not to "paint" the paintbrush into the glue and salt.

6. Rinse the brush in clear water, use another colour and continue painting.

7. Dry the design completely.

Here are more tips for this activity :

• Make sure the child uses lots of water and paint and use a gentle touch with the brush.
• You can create Salty Watercolour on a block of wood, rock, styrofoam trays.
• Or brush glue with a paintbrush on paper for a variety of line widths and thickness. Then add the salt and watercolour paints.
• As the salt tends to fall off the artwork after time, wrap the design with clear plastic to protect it.

Salty watercolour is a fun and fascinating art experience, so why not give it a try this week with your child?

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