Use Watercolor to Make Abstract Art

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.