What Type of Water, tap salt, and lemon juice, has the greatest effect on
watercolors?
8-5288
8th grade
Nativity Catholic School
2024 San Mateo County Office of Education STEM Fair
Abstract
The purpose of my research is to discover how different types of water (tap, salt, and lemon juice) affect the vibrancy of watercolors on paper. In my research, I looked at various articles and found that salt is considered an absorbent which soaks up liquid and lemon juice is acidic which causes watercolors to fade/change color. In conducting this experiment, I hope to uncover how these varying types of liquids will affect the appearance of watercolors.
My hypothesis is different types of water will affect the vibrancy of watercolors on paper. In my experiment there were many variables. The independent variable was the types of water (tap,salt, and lemon) used for the experiment. One cup of each type of water was prepared, measured, and poured into a glass. I labeled each cup and let the water sit until it was room temperature before conducting this experiment. I placed a new brush in each type of water, added the watercolors from their consecutive pan numbers to it, and then stroked the paint from left to right twenty times on separate watercolor papers. I let each painting sit until it dried before making my observations. My observation was the vibrancy of the watercolor also known as the dependent variable in this experiment. The control variables are the types of watercolors, type of paint brush, type of paper, amount of water and salt mixed together, amount of water and lemon juice mixed together, and brush strokes on paper.
After conducting the experiment, it was discovered that tap water and lemon juice water had similar results. There was a smoothness of color along the watercolor paper with no obvious changes to the vibrancy of the watercolors. In contrast, salt water created the most unique effect on the watercolors. After it dried, little dots of vibrancy formed where salt residue remained on the paper.
In conclusion, I believe that the different types of water uniquely affect the vibrancy of watercolors. Though salt had the most unique effect, I also believe that other factors may play a role in the results of this experiment such as the type of paper, lemon juice, salt used, and ingredients that are used to make the watercolors. With further research, we may discover that these additional factors can a different outcome.
Purpose Statement
Do you like watercolors? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you used different types of water with it? My curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to pursue an experiment with watercolors. My research is about how different types of water (tap, salt, and lemon juice) will affect the vibrancy of watercolors on paper. This experiment will help me find out if different types of water can be used with watercolors, specifically watercolor pans, and if it adds or subtracts to the vibrancy. So far in my research I’ve found that salt is considered an absorbent which soaks up liquid and lemon juice is acidic which causes watercolors to fade/change color. The results from this experiment will help artists understand how different types of of water can affect their artwork and how they can use this to their advantage to make their artwork more unique.
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is different types of water will affect the vibrancy of watercolors on paper. After doing my research, I believe that the different types of water will uniquely affect the vibrancy of watercolors. For example, the salt in the water may create bursts of color on the paper after it dries. In addition, the lemon juice in the water may cause the watercolors to appear lighter or faded on the paper.
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Materials-
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Experimental Procedures-
Step 1: First, I will measure one cup of tap water and pour it in a glass. Before conducting the experiment, I will let water sit until it is room temperature, I will place the brush in the tap water, add the watercolor from pan number 1 to it, and then stroke the paint from left to right twenty times on the watercolor paper. I will let it sit until it dries before making my observations.
Step 2: Secondly, I will measure one cup of hot water and pour it into a new glass. I will add a quarter cup of salt to the hot water and stir until it dissolves. I will let the water cool until it is room temperature. Once it is at room temperature, I will place a new brush in the salt water, add watercolors from pan number 2 to it, and then stroke the paint from right to left twenty times on another piece of watercolor paper. I will let it sit until it dries before making my observations.
Step 3: Third, I will measure half a cup of tap water and pour it into a new glass. I will add a half a cup lemon juice to the glass and mix it together. The lemon juice water will now measure at a cup. Before conducting this experiment, I will let the lemon juice water sit until it is room temperature. Once it is room temperature, I will place a new brush in the lemon juice water, add the watercolors from pan number 3 to it and then stroke the paint from right to left twenty times on another piece of watercolor paper. I will let it sit until it dries before making my observations
Step 4: Lastly, I will compare and record the results of each picture.
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Lemon Juice Water Materials
Tap Water Materials
Salt Water Materials
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Lemon Juice Water Materials
Tap Water Materials
Salt Water Materials
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Tap Water Procedure
Lemon Juice Water Procedure
Salt Water Procedure
Experimental Results
My experiment is about how different types of water (tap, salt, lemon juice) affect the vibrancy of watercolors. To begin my experiment, I used room temperature tap water and watercolor on paper. I placed the brush in the cup of water, added the watercolor from pan number 1 to it, and then stroked the paint from left to right twenty times on the watercolor paper. I let it sit until it dried. Because watercolors are designed for use with tap water, this sample was a basis to compare to the other types of water. Secondly, I used room temperature salt water and watercolor on paper. I placed a new brush in the salt water, added watercolors from pan number 2 to it, and then stroked the paint from right to left twenty times on another piece of watercolor paper. I let it sit until it dried. The results were interesting; there were dots of vibrancy where there were remnants of salt. Third, I used room temperature lemon juice water and watercolors on paper. I placed a new brush in the lemon juice water, added the watercolors from pan number 3 to it and then stroked the paint from right to left twenty times on another piece of watercolor paper. I let it sit until it dried. The results were the same as the tap water which wasn’t as expected.
Experimental Results
Tap Water Results
Salt Water Results
Lemon Juice Water Results
Analysis of Experimental
Results
After examining the results of the three watercolor samples, I found that the tap water and lemon juice water had similar results. There was a smoothness of color along the watercolor paper. Because lemon juice is acidic, I expected it to show a different result than the tap water. Adding lemon juice to water diluted it which may have lessened the effect on watercolors. In contrast, the salt water was the one that created a unique effect on the vibrancy of the watercolor. After it dried, little dots of vibrancy formed where salt residue remained on the paper. Because salt an absorbent it caused the watercolor to be soaked in which created little dots of color. You could also feel the texture of the salt on the watercolor paper. Other factors that could have played a part in the results of this experiment are the type of paper, lemon juice, salt used, and the ingredients of the watercolors. For example, the type of paper used can add to the vibrancy of the watercolor and whether if it stands the test of time.
Conclusions
My hypothesis is different types of water will affect the vibrancy of watercolors on paper. After doing my research, I believe that the different types of water will uniquely affect the vibrancy of watercolors. Through careful examination of the sample watercolors, I discovered that salt had the most unique effect on the vibrancy of watercolors. While, the lemon juice water had the same effect as the normal tap water. Other factors that may of played a part in the results of this experiment are the type of paper, lemon juice, salt used, and ingredients that are used to make the watercolors. First, the quality of the paper can affect the vibrancy of the watercolors. For example, if I was to use printer paper, the result would look so much different because it isn’t meant to absorb the watercolors like watercolor paper. Second, the type of salt used could also affect the vibrancy of the watercolors. For example if I used sea salt rather than table salt, it could have created bigger dots of vibrancy on the watercolor paper. In addition, the type of lemon juice used could affect the vibrancy of the watercolors. For example, if I were to use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than processed lemon juice, it could have had a different effect on the watercolor paper. If this experiment were to be conducted again, we could’ve done it with different types of salt, lemon juice, and paper to see the effects of the vibrancy of watercolors.
Acknowledgements
The person who i would like to thank would be my mom, she helped and supported me throughout my experiment with taking photos, and helping me find the materials to carry out the experiment. Thank you so much, Mom!
Bibliography and
Sources
Atlenew. “A Quick Guide to Different Types of Watercolor Paints.” altenew.com, 2023.
https://altenew.com/pages/types-of-watercolor-paints
Balogh, Miranda. “Do Watercolors Paintings Fade Over Time (Here’s The Truth).” mirandabalogh.com, 2022.
https://mirandabalogh.com//do-watercolour-paintings-fade/
Blue Canva. “Mastering the Art of Watercolors: Exploring Types of Paints and Techniques.” bluecanva.com, Jun 1.
https://www.bluecanva.com/art-lessons/watercolor-types-and-techniques
Greenleaf, Jess. “How To Use Salt With Watercolors.” greenleafblueberry.com, 2023.
https://www.greenleafblueberry.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-salt-with-watercolors
Bibliography and
Sources
Harris, Kelsey. “The Dangers Of Lemon Juice On Watercolor Paintings.” huckleberryfineart.com, 2022.
https://huckleberryfineart.com/the-dangers-of-lemon-juice-on-watercolor-paintings/