Salt
Salt
In the Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketcher’s Pocket Set, the most granulating color is Ultramarine. Granulation occurs when pigment particles settle into the valleys of the paper, creating a speckled or textured effect.
In watercolor, salt acts like a tiny "water magnet." It draws moisture toward itself, pulling the pigment along with it to create those beautiful starburst or snowflake patterns.
Using salt in watercolor is all about timing and moisture control. To get the most dramatic texture, you should apply it when the paint is in its "sweet spot"—damp, but no longer dripping wet.
Here is where the characteristics of the colors also play a major role in how the salt reacts:
Non-Staining Colors: These produce the most dramatic "starbursts" because the salt can easily lift the pigment off the paper fibers.
Finer Particle Hues: Colors like Cerulean Blue Hue or Viridian Hue are highly mobile and create more intense textures.
Granulating Colors: Heavier pigments like your Ultramarine or Yellow Ochre have larger particles that settle into the paper's valleys, making them more "sluggish" and less reactive to salt.
Timing is the most critical factor. If you drop it too early, the salt dissolves; too late, and nothing happens.
The "Satin" Phase: You must wait until the paper has lost its "mirror shine" but is still damp to the touch. It should look like satin or a dull eggshell.
The Touch Test: If you tilt the paper and the water doesn't run, but the surface still feels cool and moist, that is your window.
The Wait Time: Depending on your humidity, this is usually 30 to 90 seconds after applying the wash.
Salt needs a specific "pantry" of paint to work with:
Medium to Dark Values: Salt is a "lifting" technique. If the wash is too pale (too much water, too little pigment), there isn't enough color for the salt to move, and the effect will be invisible.
Juicy but not Puddled: You need a "Milk" or "Cream" consistency of paint. If there is a standing puddle of water, the salt will simply melt into a salty soup without creating a pattern.
Tips
The No-Touch Rule: Once the salt is down, do not use a hairdryer. Forced air moves the water too fast and ruins the capillary action the salt is trying to perform. Let it air dry completely.
The Removal: Wait until the paper is bone dry before brushing the salt off. If the paper is even slightly damp, you will smear the beautiful texture you just created.