Raised salt art paintings are a fun way to add variety to your child’s art projects. They are easy to make, versatile, and so much fun for kids to create with. This hands-on activity allows children to explore texture and colors as they watch their designs come to life. Here is the step-by-step process of creating a raised salt art painting that will inspire your little artist to have so much fun!
Materials for Salt Art Painting
- Thick paper or canvas
- Salt (regular table salt or coarse salt)
- Watercolor paint
- Droppers or paintbrushes
- White glue or school glue
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are the step-by-step instructions for creating a raised salt art painting. Depending on how old your child is, you can do some of the first few steps yourself, or let your child do them. Atlas was only two years old when I took the photos for this activity, and he really loved Baby Shark. I found a nice coloring sheet online and traced it with glue, then covered it in salt. Once it was dry, I gave it to him to paint.
- Start by drawing a design. Or, you can find a picture online or in a coloring book. I’m not good at drawing, so I went with option two.
- Next, trace the design with glue. Apply a generous amount of glue to create a raised effect. It’s important to work on one section at a time to prevent the glue from drying before adding the salt.
- Sprinkle salt onto the wet glue immediately after applying it. You can use either regular table salt or coarse salt, depending on the texture that you want to achieve. Sprinkle the salt generously, covering the entire glued area.
- After allowing the salt to stick to the glue, gently shake the paper or canvas to remove any excess salt. Collect the excess salt for reuse for another salt art painting or throw it away.
- Using droppers or paintbrushes, children can add paint onto the raised salt areas. Encourage them to experiment with different techniques and color combinations to bring their design to life.
- Once the salt and colors are applied, set the artwork aside and allow it to dry completely. Depending on the thickness of the glue and the amount of salt used, drying times may vary. Patience is key!
Finishing the Salt Art Paintings
To add an extra pop once the salt art paintings are dry, your child can use fine-tip markers to outline their work and add more details to the picture. Once everything is complete, put their artwork on display! Encourage your child to proudly display their masterpiece on the fridge or in another prominent area of the house.
