Painting on Salt and Glue

 

We love activities where we can use science to make something pretty, even if it’s sometimes just temporary. Recently, we made Paper Towel Art and learned a little about absorption, and we’ve done several colorful activities with baking soda and vinegar, like this one with baking soda letters.

Today, we tried watercolor painting on salt and glue {or raised salt painting}. It’s a pretty impressive art technique that had E squealing with delight.

 

(E was 4 years and 2 months old.)

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Materials for Painting on Salt and Glue:

• Salt.
• Glue.
• Watercolor paper.
• Liquid watercolors.
• Paintbrush.
• Small cups for the watercolors.
• Eye dropper (optional).

E started by putting four different liquid watercolors into applesauce cups. There was a little accident with the turquoise color but thanks to a shower liner on the table and paper towels in the area where the cups were, it wasn’t a big deal.

 

 

She made her own pattern with white glue on watercolor paper, then covered the wet glue with salt. {We saved the salt that didn’t stick to the glue – while I wouldn’t use it for cooking, it’ll work just fine for play dough, or for our next raised salt painting 😉 }

 

 

Afterward, she immediately dipped her paintbrush in the liquid watercolors and touched it to the raised salt. She was delighted to see the colors travel along her pattern. {Please note that it’s important to gently touch the paintbrush to the salt. You don’t want to drag the paintbrush across. E didn’t have trouble with the concept but younger kids might have a harder time understanding.}

 

 

This worked great where the lines were nice and wide but the thinner lines didn’t work quite so well.

E got a bit frustrated with that and decided to try an eye dropper. She had some success with it

 

 

but it was easy to flood the salt whenever she pushed just a little too hard.

But she still enjoyed it, and we got to explore absorption a little more 😉

 

 

 

E’s finished raised salt painting, with most of the extra liquid removed:

 

 

She wanted to make another one but only got as far as adding the glue {I helped her to reinforce the thinner sections} and salt before she didn’t feel like continuing anymore.

 

 

I made my own painting, pretty boring by comparison 😉

 

 

When the watercolors had dried, we were happy to find that the crystallized salt had added a beautiful sparkle. {The photo doesn’t do it justice, you have to try this yourself!}

 

 

Note: This is basically process art, much of the salt will come off sooner or later.

 

 

 

Have you tried painting with watercolors on glue and salt? What’s your favorite way to combine art and science? Leave a comment!

 

 

 

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