Salt painting is fun art technique for kids (or adults) that uses white glue, salt, and watercolor paints. Try this heart art salt paint project for Valentine’s Day this year!
Creating a heart shaped salt painting is a fun and easy process art technique that can be done both at home and in the classroom.
Related: Rainbow Shamrock Salt Painting
Related: Best Heart Art Projects (and Cute Heart Crafts, Too!)
Salt Painting
Have you ever tried salt painting?
All you need to do is dribble white glue on paper, sprinkle salt on top, shake it off, and then paint the salt remaining in the glue with watercolors before the glue dries to create gorgeous raised salt art.
Yes, it’s really that easy!
It’s also really fun to watch the colors blend and mix as you create your heart salt painting masterpiece.
Salt painting is all about the process… it usually doesn’t last very long.
The only way to ‘keep’ your raised salt painting is to make a video or take pictures of the process because salt art is difficult if not impossible to preserve.
Related: Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
Salt Painting Art Supplies
- FREE Heart Art Printable Template
- Baking tray
- Cardstock
- White glue
- Salt
- Glass ramekins
- Liquid watercolors
or watercolor paint pallet
- Paintbrushes
or pipettes
- Art apron
or smock
- Paper towels
(optional)
Related: Hanging Heart Prism Suncatcher
Salt Painting Raised Salt Art Tips
If you are using liquid watercolors
I found working with pipettes helped my daughter develop her fine motor muscles and learn how to hold a paintbrush properly.
It is possible for children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, to use too much paint on their heart artwork with pipettes. Use a paintbrush if your child has a heavy hand.
If you choose to work with liquid watercolors, we found that 2 to 3 color choices create the best heart art. Liquid watercolors are concentrated so it is best to dilute them with 50% to 75% water before using them for salt painting projects like heart art. It also helps your liquid watercolor paints
Pipettes also make it easier to play with color mixing while painting because a lot of paint can be poured onto the raised salt and glue in a single squeeze. If your children have never used a pipette before, give them a pipette and a cup of water to play with before offering them as an art supply.
Teach children that a little squeeze of watercolor paint goes a long way before trying this heart art salt painting project with pipettes.
Related: Thumbprint Heart Crafts and Gift Ideas
Heart Art Salt Painting Project Step By Step Directions
Step 1 – Draw a Heart or Hearts with White Glue On Cardstock
Download and print our FREE printable heart template onto cardstock and place it on a baking tray. Cardstock is recommended over regular printer paper because salt painting requires thicker paper so it does not fall apart.
Alternatively, use white glue to draw your own heart art directly onto cardstock. Draw a heart vertically or horizontally, or create multiple hearts with white glue.
The cookie tray will make clean up easy and make it possible to recycle the salt you use for your next salt painting project.
Heart Art Salt Painting Design Ideas
Use white glue to create doodles and designs inside your heart art salt painting in any way that you wish.
Write the word love, or a name, or any other words you want to write inside your heart. Draw little hearts, draw X’s and O’s or whatever else you can think of!
My daughter liked to draw doodles, and asked me to draw hearts and doodles in her third salt paint heart because her hand got tired–lol!
Related: Heart Candle Holder Craft
Step 2 – Sprinkle Salt on Heart Art while the White Glue is Still Wet
Place cardstock with white glue heart art onto a cookie tray. Use a small dish to easily sprinkle salt to cover all of the white glue heart or hearts on the cardstock.
Recycle the salt on the cookie sheet to use again to make more salt art hearts, or save it for your next salt painting art project!
Related: Flower Art Projects for Kids
Step 3 – Shake off Excess Salt and Paint Heart Art
Paint the salt covering the glue with liquid watercolors or a watercolor pallet. Use complementary or contrasting watercolors to create gorgeous heart salt art.
Step 4 – Place Heart Painting on a Paper Towel to Dry (optional)
Place heart saint painting project on an old towel or a paper towel to dry so the colors don’t bleed too much into the cardstock.
Raised salt paintings don’t last that long. They crack and become a mess in a short time. Creating them is more about the process than the product.
Related: Best Flower Art Projects
Primary Color Mixing Heart Art Salt Painting
Another option is to use the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and allow your children to play with color mixing heart art. You can see a child painting with the primary colors in the video in the next section below.
Related: Fingerprint Love Bug
Raised Salt Paint Heart Step by Step Video Tutorial
Only the primary colors (blue, yellow, and red) are used in the video. Notice how the secondary colors (orange, green, and purple) magically appear… It’s mesmerizing!
We have found that pipettes make it easier for children to mix red, yellow and blue to blend the primary colors to make green, purple, and orange. Invite children to play and have fun with the magic of color. This art project is all about the process!
Related: How to Paint Rocks: Rock Painting Ideas for Kids
Heart Raised Salt Art Project
Heart art salt painting is a fun project for Valentine’s day or any time of year. For even more ideas have a look at this collection of heart art projects or these Valentine’s day art ideas.
You may also like to make a rainbow shamrock, or a harvest pumpkin using the same raised salt painting process.
For more art ideas be sure to check out this awesome collection of winter art ideas.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
If You Liked Heart Art, You May Also Like
- Watercolor Art STEAM Experiment
- Salt Dough Heart with Handprint and Footprint
- Thumbprint Heart Magnets
- Love Bug Craft for Valentine’s Day
The One Essential Tool You Need To Keep You and the Kids Happy!
Subscribe to the Rhythms of Play community newsletter to connect with your children, and find the FREEDOM to do the things you LOVE!
Nell has over 20 years of experience working with children and is the founder of Rhythms of Play. She believes in the wonder of childhood, the power of the imagination, learning through play, and getting outside in all seasons! Learn more…
Erin says
atI love this salt painting! I know kids of all ages would love this. Have you ever tried to save one? Maybe mod podge or some sort of adhesive spray? I may have to experiment!
nell says
atThanks, Erin! Raised salt paintings are really difficult to preserve because they immediately start to crack and crumble when they are dry. I don’t know if it would be possible to paint one with Mod Podge to preserve it because of the loose salt. Maybe a spray varnish world work, but you would have to apply a lot and hope it’s strong enough to hold the salt. If you try it let me know how it goes!
Anastasia says
atGreat idea!!! Thank you!!!
nell says
atThank you, Anastasia! I’m so glad you like it. Enjoy the process, it’s so much fun to play with color!
Becky says
atHave you found a way to keep the salt on the paper to where it is not falling off?
nell says
atNo Becky, I have not found an easy way to preserve salt paintings, sorry!