Use Watercolor to Make Abstract Art
Create colorful abstract watercolor paintings by experimenting with washes, splatters, salt textures, and layered colors while learning mixing and brush techniques.
About this activity
Create colorful abstract watercolor paintings by experimenting with washes, splatters, salt textures, and layered colors while learning mixing and brush techniques.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all your materials and bring them to a clear workspace.
- 2
Step 2
Cover your table with newspaper or a towel to protect it.
- 3
Step 3
Tape the edges of your watercolor paper to the table so it stays flat.
- 4
Step 4
Put a cup of clean water and a paper towel within arm’s reach.
- 5
Step 5
Put a few colors on your palette or wet a few paint pans so they are ready to use.
- 6
Step 6
Dip a large brush in clean water and brush a light layer of water across one area of the paper to make a wash base.
- 7
Step 7
Load your brush with a diluted color and paint a soft wash onto the wet area.
- 8
Step 8
Tilt the paper gently to let the wet colors run and blend into fun shapes.
- 9
Step 9
Flick a smaller brush over the paper to make colorful splatters.
- 10
Step 10
Sprinkle salt onto still-wet paint spots to make cool textures.
- 11
Step 11
When the paper is completely dry, gently brush off the salt crystals and sign your painting.
- 12
Step 12
Share a photo of your finished abstract watercolor on DIY.org so everyone can see your art.
Fun facts
How do I use watercolor to make abstract art with washes, splatters, and salt textures?
To create colorful abstract watercolor paintings, set up heavy watercolor paper, paints, brushes, and water. Start with wet-on-wet washes: wet the paper, drop diluted color, and watch it flow. Add splatters by flicking a loaded brush, sprinkle salt on wet areas for texture, and layer colors after each layer dries. Experiment with brush sizes, lift color with a dry brush or paper towel, and let children play freely to discover mixing and effects.
What materials do I need to make colorful abstract watercolor paintings with salt and splatter effects?
For abstract watercolor you need good paper and basic supplies: heavyweight watercolor paper (140 lb/300 gsm), a pan or tube watercolor set, a selection of round and flat brushes, a mixing palette, clean water jars, paper towels, masking tape to secure paper, table cover, and optional texture items like coarse salt, a spray bottle, straws for blowing, and masking fluid. Non-toxic paints and an apron help keep kids safe and the workspace tidy.
What ages is making abstract watercolor art suitable for?
This watercolor abstract activity suits preschoolers through tweens with supervision and adapted expectations. Ages 3–5 enjoy wet-on-wet experiments and splatter play with adult help. Ages 6–8 can try layering, salt textures, and basic mixing with some guidance. Ages 9+ can explore controlled washes, resist techniques, and more detailed color mixing. Always supervise younger children, protect surfaces, and adapt tools for small hands (larger brushes, taped paper edges).
What are the benefits and safety tips for kids doing watercolor abstract painting, and what variations can we try?
Benefits include creativity, color theory exploration, fine motor development, and emotional expression through nonrepresentational play. Safety tips: use non-toxic paints, supervise splattering and small accessories like masks or salt, cover furniture and floors, and keep water and paint containers stable to avoid spills. Encourage wearing an apron and washing hands after. Variations: try salt textures, alcohol drops for blooms, masking fluid resist, collage with torn paper, or combining waterc
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I substitute if I don't have watercolor paper, a palette, special brushes, or salt?
Tape heavyweight mixed-media or thick cardstock to the table as a stand-in for watercolor paper, use a paper plate or lid for a palette, any large soft brush or foam brush for the wash and a smaller craft brush for splatters, and use table salt or sugar (or omit and try crumpled plastic wrap for texture) when the instructions say to sprinkle salt onto wet paint.
My paper keeps buckling, the colors mix into brown, or the salt doesn't make textures—what should I try?
Retape the edges firmly to keep the paper flat, blot excess water with a paper towel after making the wash base and rinse your brush between colors to prevent muddy mixes, and sprinkle the salt while the paint is still visibly wet so it can absorb pigment and leave texture as described in the salt step.
How can I adapt this watercolor activity for different ages?
For younger kids have an adult tape the paper and pre-wet areas, offer large brushes and pre-diluted colors and skip risky flicking, while older children can practice controlled tilting, use finer brushes for splatters, layer washes, experiment with salt textures, and sign their painting when dry as in the final step.
How can we extend or personalize the finished abstract watercolor?
Try drawing with a white crayon for resist before wetting the paper, add ink or marker details after the painting dries, glue on small collage pieces for mixed-media, or frame the signed artwork and share a photo on DIY.org as suggested in the instructions.