<p>Yes, you can use salt water with water colours. But remember, table salt (or salt water) is highly hydrophilic. Salt attracts water. Anywhere salt is present on your paper it will attract water from the area. The water colour pigments floating in your solution will concentrate around the salt particles. As the water is drawn closer by the salt you will get concentrated areas of pigments in those areas where salt particles are present. So if you are looking to achieve a spotted texture on the surface of your water colour painting salt is a good choice.</p>
<p>As an experiment try sprinkling some table salt on the surface of your water colour painting, the sprinkled salt will create a more pronounced effect as the larger salt crystals in the table salt will attract a larger amount of water.</p>
<p>When done painting clean your brush with regular tap water. This will keep a layer of salt from precipitating out on the hairs of your brush as the salt water dries.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-08-27T19:54:54.003Z
2021-08-20T04:38:21.523Z
2021-08-20T04:38:21.523Z
John Vukelic
<p>I'm going to the seaside at the weekend, and I plan on using my watercolours while I'm there as a way to relax. I have <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentel-Aquash-Water-Brush-Assorted/dp/B002JIN2Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503854666&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=pentel+watercolour+brushes" rel="noreferrer">these</a> brushes that can store water in the end of them so I don't need to bring a water pot. However, if the water runs out, I want to know if it's okay to refill them with water from the sea. That way, I don't have to worry about bringing extra water with me. I'd like to know if using the sea water would have an effect on the quality of both the paint and if it'll damage the brushes.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-28T22:49:38.997Z
Certainly it is possible to paint using watercolors with salt water. However, I would be a little concerned that dissolved organics in seawater may ultimately result in a non-neutral pH on your paper. So, although you can do it, the archival quality of the paper could potentially be affected. If you're a hobbyist, this is probably no big deal. If you intend to sell your work, archival issues are really important. Personally, I wouldn't risk it unless I could find historical evidence that painters of yesteryear used seawater and their work survived the test of time.
Matt
<watercolor><paint-brushes>
Can I use salt water with watercolours?
Gladiator Kittens
# Can I use salt water with watercolours?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-27)

I'm going to the seaside at the weekend, and I plan on using my watercolours while I'm there as a way to relax. I have [these](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentel-Aquash-Water-Brush-Assorted/dp/B002JIN2Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503854666&sr=8-1&keywords=pentel+watercolour+brushes) brushes that can store water in the end of them so I don't need to bring a water pot. However, if the water runs out, I want to know if it's okay to refill them with water from the sea. That way, I don't have to worry about bringing extra water with me. I'd like to know if using the sea water would have an effect on the quality of both the paint and if it'll damage the brushes.

**Tags:** watercolor, paint-brushes

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Certainly it is possible to paint using watercolors with salt water. However, I would be a little concerned that dissolved organics in seawater may ultimately result in a non-neutral pH on your paper. So, although you can do it, the archival quality of the paper could potentially be affected. If you're a hobbyist, this is probably no big deal. If you intend to sell your work, archival issues are really important. Personally, I wouldn't risk it unless I could find historical evidence that painters of yesteryear used seawater and their work survived the test of time.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-27. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Yes, you can use salt water with water colours. But remember, table salt (or salt water) is highly hydrophilic. Salt attracts water. Anywhere salt is present on your paper it will attract water from the area. The water colour pigments floating in your solution will concentrate around the salt particles. As the water is drawn closer by the salt you will get concentrated areas of pigments in those areas where salt particles are present. So if you are looking to achieve a spotted texture on the surface of your water colour painting salt is a good choice.

As an experiment try sprinkling some table salt on the surface of your water colour painting, the sprinkled salt will create a more pronounced effect as the larger salt crystals in the table salt will attract a larger amount of water.

When done painting clean your brush with regular tap water. This will keep a layer of salt from precipitating out on the hairs of your brush as the salt water dries.


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