What Salt Can Teach Us About Creativity - using with Watercolors

A simple watercolor trick with surprising lessons

This week in the studio, I played with one of my all-time favorite watercolor techniques—salt. Yep, good old salt.

Whether it’s sea salt, table salt, or something in between, adding it to wet watercolor can create the most amazing organic textures. And beyond the pretty patterns, this little experiment reminded me of something bigger: creativity doesn’t always need a plan.

In my new Patreon video tutorial, I tested a few types of salt to see how they react with different paint consistencies and paper types. The results were all over the place—and that was the fun of it. Each one had its own unexpected magic.

This is one of those go-to exercises I love for:

• Loosening up when I’m feeling stuck

• Getting back into a playful mindset

• Letting go of the need to control every outcome

For anyone who teaches art, licenses their work, or just needs a reset creatively, this kind of practice is gold. It’s simple, affordable, and totally beginner-friendly—plus, it’s great for demos, workshops, or just getting re-inspired when the creative tank feels low.

🎥 Curious? You can catch a sneak peek here!

And if you want the full, extended video, including my notes on materials and what worked best, you’ll find it over on my Patreon page.

Here’s to more experiments, more messes, and more letting go in the studio.

💛
Kellie