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| Creation watercolour with salt resist by Teresa Newham |
Enthused by the colour palette of October I & II, I recently made an experimental salt painting with many of the same colours: Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Violet, Venetian Red, Gold Ochre and Raw Sienna, with some Cerulean Blue thrown in for good measure.
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| the blank paper awaits © Teresa Newham |
It took all my self-control not to interfere as the initial washes marched across the paper, pooling at the edges. I crushed some rock salt in a pestle and mortar to give some variety to the resist, and scattered it only where the paint had dried to a sheen.
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| the bottom layer emerges . . . © Teresa Newham |
For the top layer I used mostly Ultramarine, with a lot of water sprayed from a perfume atomiser my Mum used to spray onto her watercolours. Again, I only added salt in the areas which I judged could take it - to avoid the risk of the salt dissolving.
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| . . . as does the top layer © Teresa Newham |
I was really pleased with the effects once the paint had dried, but not for the first time I had no idea what to call the finished piece. My husband suggested the title 'Creation', so Creation it is. Highly appropriate, as this painting has virtually created itself!
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| the finished painting reveals itself © Teresa Newham |
