The pigment core in these pencils is super soft, which, counterintuitively, means that it is stronger and less prone to breakage than harder more brittle leads. Your words of wisdom have proved both tremendously helpful and very, very effective. I was hoping to avoid picking up some of that bad habits that seem to find neophytes in any new endeavor. Thank you for the tips. Many colored pencils are formulated to be water-resistant, while others simply don’t react to water the way a watercolor pencil does. Having better control over water gives you more control over the pigments on the page. Thak you. This is a lot less painful than hours sitting in a classroom. I can't wait to see the result. Watercolor pencils look the same as 'normal' pencils, but if you check the lettering stamped on them you'll see a little symbol to show they're water soluble, such as a water droplet or a small brush, or the word 'watercolor'. They are affordably priced but still high quality enough that you will get the true feel of working with watercolor pencils. These brushes are made from synthetic Kolinsky sable, and the fine points and sharp edges provide unparalleled detail capabilities. You don’t have to worry about repeatedly dipping your pencil into water to keep up this effect, but you’ll still need to work quickly before the paper dries. So you can use the pencils on cartridge paper and in coloring books with prints on both sides. Watercolor pencils are also a convenient way to paint in color. This is an amazing overview- I hope you have thought about writing a book! I beg to differ. I am interested to know if you can successfully use watercolor pencils to color the face of a cloth doll. The pictures also made me get an idea of how, "Kept my interest with each stroke and movement of the artist. Hot press watercolor paper is smooth, like drawing paper. The big difference is that they are also water soluble. Your instructions are very clearly written. We will discuss best supplies and how to get started. Watercolor pencils have a binder that dissolves in water, releasing and dispersing the pigment. Regular paper will warp and wrinkle when you add water to it. We'll begin by creating a light pencil sketch on hot press watercolor paper with a graphite pencil. Watercolour pencils can be used dry just like regular colouring pencils. After drawing an initial sketch on tracing paper and transferring it to my watercolor paper, I refined my drawing using a 3H graphite pencil, maintaining a clean, light line. Here are my thoughts on how to use watercolor pencils. That alone makes watercolor pencils less intimidating. This write and high-level overview is fantastic!! Required fields are marked *. It's possible to get beautiful gradients with watercolor pencils. How to Use Watercolor Pencils. Thanks so much. Last Updated: July 8, 2020 What to Look for in Watercolor Pencils Compatibility . Manufacturers measure watercolor paper by how much 500 sheets weigh. "A very helpful article. The surface you plan to paint on must work with the watercolored pencils you've chosen. Simply color your design and then add water later. In this tutorial, I show you how to use watercolor pencils. But it’s still thick enough to hold water without warping. But watercolor pencils thrive when used with water to create art that is pleasant to behold and fun to create. Thank you for the info. You will also need an image to color. I enjoyed reading the above but have a question! ", video, I have an idea of what to do. Shade a layer of the colour that you want for your background (if you want it to be light and soft, shade lightly, if you want it to be vivid, press hard, etc). Strathmore's Artist Educator Sarah Becktel shares her tips for using watercolor pencils. This is a higher end paper that would be best suited to serious or professional artists, as it’s on the more expensive end. It’s hard to decide which one is the number one tip! That’s a great plan, Phyllis. As I discussed on the watercolor pencils page, these pencils look just like regular wax-based colored pencils with the difference being that the "lead" is actually a pigment which can be dissolved in water.. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article helped me learn about watercolor drawing. for that you can use youtube, just search up simple watercolor paintings, Such happy and cute little apples! This Strathmore pad is reasonably priced and an appropriate paper for beginners and professionals alike. I am new to watercolor painting and want to explore techniques using pencils. "This really helped. Finally, let your … How long it will take the layers to dry will depend on how much water you used and how much space you covered. I used the basic information to create a video that, "I love watercolour pencils but had no idea how to use them. ", movement of the artist hand. Can you just dip the pencil into the water if you don't have a brush? These papers and boards are easily available in stationery supplies stores. Watercolor pencils are often seen as a way to practice watercolor. Thank you for sharing. I just wanted to try them and see what would happen, but I couldn't, "I don't know much about watercolors, but this site helped me so much! Create Texture. ", while I use my watercolor pencils. They are an altogether different medium with their own unique advantages. You can come in after applying the color and add in water to blend and intensify the color. She has taught writing for four years, in the US and South Korea, and is a lifelong artist. They get their preferred paint brush and put water on the paintbrush tip and then damp it over watercolor pencils or crayons. In this method, start by outlining your subject lightly, either with a graphite pencil or the dominant color of your subject. Use them on their own or blend them with other pencils to create a truly unique piece of art. The weight of art paper is measured in grams per square meter (gsm), with higher numbers indicating a denser paper. Thank you. The rough paper creates beautiful textural effects in paintings, and each individual piece of Arches paper is inspected for quality. Generally the papers are pretty thick and don’t easily tear upon applying too much water. Watercolor pencils can be used without water, however. Easy to Use Woodless Watercolor Pencils. I am new to watercolor and plan to use watercolor pencils to add details to the painting I am doing. It has 30 sheets of 140-pound cold-pressed paper, so it’s durable enough to withstand several layers of washes without warping or disintegrating. The soft (B series) pencils have a thick 3.5 mm core for creating soft, smooth lines. I'm just starting to learn about watercolor pencils. I’d love to see your results! Derwent watercolor pencils are used for this lesson, working from a basic set of 24. Strathmore's Artist Educator Sarah Becktel shares her tips for using watercolor pencils. This wet-on-wet technique uses even more water. . Some specific examples of paper from these brands that are excellent for use with watercolor pencils are as follows: Strathmore Cold Pressed 140-Pound Watercolor Paper – This pad comes with 12 sheets of heavy duty watercolor paper. Hey Rebecca, that sounds so interesting. – This pad comes with 12 sheets of heavy duty watercolor paper. You can also draw on top of an existing watercolor painting. Good job, teacher. Simply use them like normal colored pencils. The only difficulty with a clear masking fluid is that it is predictably hard to see as you apply it, so you may not be able to tell if you’ve sufficiently coated the desired area. Thank you. Take your time and … I am new to watercolor and watercolor pencils and truly appreciate your very clear recommendations. Let’s look at three basic ways of creating beautiful art with watercolor pencils. Once the watercolor was dry (and it's important to let it dry, but it doesn't take long,) I took my Suzani stencils from this month's StencilClub collection and stenciled onto the painted rectangles with different colors of pigment ink. Watercolor pencils do not use the term permanence to determine their fade resistance. When creating an artwork with both ink and watercolor, you’ll need to use a heavier, more absorptive paper than if you were just using pen and ink. Finally, let your drawing dry completely before moving or displaying it. What this means is when you draw and blend with a watercolor pencil and add layers of color to your work. My instinct said to use watercolor pencils for stencil art and your article, "Wow! The wood handle and copper wire wrap are sustainable and beautiful as well. The best quality watercolor brushes are sable, but that quality is also reflected in the price. As I discussed on the watercolor pencils page, these pencils look just like regular wax-based colored pencils with the difference being that the "lead" is actually a pigment which can be dissolved in water.. In the image above, you can see that the areas with red and brown shading start off strong and then fade into regular pencil shading. You can also layer pencil colors and water to intensify the watercolor effect. Good command of the language. Can you use regular colored pencils as watercolor pencils? Email. The quality of these Woodless Watercolor Pencils is immediately evident by their weight. This set of 72 pencils features bright, intense pigments that are permanent, so once they have dried, they can’t be altered. Masking fluid is another convenient material. You have some useful tips and I appreciate the step by step example. Applying a consistent amount of pressure to the brush, using a consistent water and applying a consistent amount of pressure and pigment will obtain a flat background. This set is very reasonably priced and it includes eight differently sized round brushes. Mastering watercolor pencils won’t make you a master painter. I typically use a round brush, but you can still achieve fine details with a flat brush. ". – This Arches pad includes 20 sheets of watercolor paper. The cold pressed paper is excellent for creating texture and experimenting with your watercolor pencils. Check a brush sizing chart to see your options. ", beautiful and the instructions clear. Arches Rough 140-Pound Watercolor Paper – This Arches pad includes 20 sheets of watercolor paper. You'll see the pigments dissolve immediately, and the best pencils won't leave behind any marks. If you want a particularly crisp line, you don’t even have to add water. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Watercolor pencil applied to paper in a drawing will activate and become fluid when it comes in contact with water, just like your dry pans of watercolor on your palette. Thank you so much for taking the time to instruct beginners. It can be difficult to get rid of pencil lines on a watercolor painting. I tried doing the apple, and I was really happy with the way it turned out. You don’t your brush to be dripping wet on the first stroke. ", validated it. Kelly Creates Supplies: Watercolor Paper pad, Watercolor Paradise Pencils, Water Brush, Deluxe Lettering … Traditional colored pencils use an oil or wax-based binder, which allows them to stick to a paper’s surface and are better suited for layering and blending. Only the contour lines or outlines are drawn with no shading. You can even outline the highlights. I beg to differ. Watercolor Pencils I Use. Thank you! You’ll see papers marked with a weight such as 90 lb, 140 lb, or 300 lb. Thanks a, "I'm learning every day more about my water coloring and pencils. Once activated with water, the directions of the strokes will still show through. Here are my thoughts on how to use watercolor pencils. Add water, and you can blend your colors with ease. For this technique, you might find it useful to have large flat brush on hand. What other alternatives can be used? However, unlike with painting, you’ll see more pigment fragments. ", whether to buy a friend a set of these pencils. How to Use Watercolor Pencils Step 1: Getting Watercolor paper or Heavy Board. This little tutorial has given me a real boost. Color it in with watercolor pencils. More at http://thevirtualinstructor.com/watercolorpencils.html Learn how to use watercolor pencils in this demonstration They can also be a wonderful tool for adult coloring pages. How to Use Watercolor Pencils. Very cool way to get that watercolor result, with less water and less mess. The only difficulty with a clear masking fluid is that it is predictably hard to see as you apply it, so you may not be able to tell if you’ve sufficiently coated the desired area. However, I would advise against using them as regular colored pencils, as the colors are very strong and it is hard to blend them without using water. These Derwent pencils are easy to sharpen and are designed to be resistant to breaking. I also bought a normal colouring pencil in white and that doesn’t help either- where am i going wrong!! Watercolor painters use lingo like “wet-on-wet” and “wet-on-dry.” This technique would be dry-on-wet. You’ll learn how water affects pigments, moves paint across a page, and blends colors. Watercolor pencils look like a colored pencil and they write and color very similarly. As the colors merged together I was transformed and taken into a place of shape, form and beauty. Pencils that don’t easily break and let’s add pencils that coordinate with cardstock and accessories. Watercolor pencils can help you create beautiful watercolor works of art without having to use paints. I have a hard time using water colors. After adding water. A full five stars. Holding it close will cause the colors to bleed a lot and lose a lot of their definition. Then you can draw and paint without worrying about getting any color on those sections. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Then either leave your additions as is or add water for a smoother texture. We explain how watercolor pencils work, specific techniques for how to use watercolor pencils, and recommend some of the best watercolor pencils for your art. Most artists use watercolor pencils to create a drawing and add water afterward or in stages as they draw. The rough paper creates beautiful textural effects in paintings, and each individual piece of Arches paper is inspected for quality. You can even use the pencils to add fine details to a watercolour painting. Today’s watercolor pencil techniques will include the use of the Water Painters and the Blender Pens. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. How close you hold the bottle to the paper is up to you. Follow. This minimizes the issue of bleeding, so you can paint one color, let it dry, and then paint another color right up against it and not worry about the colors bleeding into each other. This set is very reasonably priced and it includes eight differently sized round brushes. I am a beginner and these instructions were exactly what I needed. 10. The wording, "I have never used these pencils before and really needed some help. 6. ", http://thevirtualinstructor.com/watercolorpencils.html, https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/01/mixed-media-painting-technique-watercolor-pencil/?_ct=rbew&_ctp=83697, https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/04/watercolor-pencil-techniques/. I have drawn several drawings with graphite which I am pleased with, but I know how colour brings drawings/paintings to life. These papers and boards are easily available in stationery supplies stores. Many thanks for showing me how to achieve what I want. Thanks for taking the time to write! It's best to use watercolor paper, as it is made for holding moisture without disintegrating. Cretacolor Aqua Monolith Woodless Colored Pencils Staedtler Karat Aquarell Derwent Inktense 72 Value Watercolor Pencils. Of course, you can always just do a quick test on a scrap bit of paper to test. Thank you. If you wish to add more color on the top, use workable fixative. Thank you! Thanks! (Color first, then embroider over color). Watercolor pencils are an excellent addition to your artist toolkit. What this means is when you draw and blend with a watercolor pencil and add layers of color to your work. Professional: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils. ", and I can't wait to get started with some proper knowledge. . Watercolors, including those in pencil form, are fragile to light, and some will quickly fade as fast as a few days. I used a light touch to scumble the colored pencils over the watercolor wash in order to prevent filling in the tooth of the paper too soon. If we do or don’t do it, someone will laugh. How to Use Watercolor Pencils. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You can go outside and draw a picture using the ... Read moreHow to Use Watercolor Pencils Wet Pencil Tip. Can you erase regular pencil marks under a watercolor painting? Fingers crossed that I’ll actually use them well now! You simply paint it onto the spaces that you want to remain white, let it dry, apply your watercolor pencils and water around it, and then once the paint is dry you can rub off the masking fluid with your finger or a rubber eraser. ", shading and highlighting, and I learned watercolor pencils exist! To remove color, dip a cotton swab or ball into water and gently wipe away the color. As you add layers to your drawings you can play around with some creative color combinations. Consider creating a test chart. Many exciting possibilities to explore when you also use stencils or sponges. (Be sure to use paper designed for wet media.) Shape. ", Hopefully once I go back, I'll do well. If you have the option, go with a pencil with 2B to 4B lead for sketching. I'm trying to learn how to color stamped images in greeting cards for a different look. You’ll see brighter, more intense color with a textured, grainy look. I have just finished a drawing in graphite which I don’t want to mess up, by mucking up the application of the watercolour pencils – so I’d like to thank you for your very useful tips. This lesson really helped. is heavy metal infused. The water will carry colors into each other. Hey Janet, that’s great to hear! Watercolor can be intimidating for beginners, and even some experienced artists find it challenging. You can sum up the benefits of using watercolor pencils over paints in three points: A pencil is easier for most people to control than a brush. This article received 49 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. What you will want to consider is the brush shape and size. % of people told us that this article helped them. This is the most common way to use watercolor pencils. For an ink and watercolor project, try using a paper with a weight around 180 gsm. The way you use watercolor pencils is just as important as the tools you use to create your art, and these watercolor pencil tips cover how to make watercolor pencils part of your process. The Supracolors come in a set of 30 pencils, which gives you quite a bit of additional tonal range as compared to the set of 12. "I have never used watercolor pencils before, and was looking for a basic overview that could start me on my, "I had never used watercolor pencils before. Watercolor pencils can be used dry, simply like standard shading pencils. Mixing Watercolor Pencils And Crayons Together. Advanced: Derwent Inktense Water Soluble Pencils. When creating an artwork with both ink and watercolor, you’ll need to use a heavier, more absorptive paper than if you were just using pen and ink. You’ll notice that the pigments become much brighter after you add water. Today, there are several synthetic brushes and sable-synthetic mix brushes that perform nearly just as well. Color in your subject lightly with the main color. These colors don’t bleed. Otherwise, you risk overpowering the new color with the one already on your brush. Note any areas that you want to keep white or very light. For a super high quality, authentic sable watercolor brush, consider this. Dip your clean paintbrush in a container of clean water. A graphite pencil can come in handy for preliminary sketches. Watercolor pencils, sometimes called aquarelle pencils, have a water-soluble core and are wrapped in wood or lacquer. If it wasn't for an article as to-the-point as this, I wouldn't have been able to grasp the technique of watercolor pencils. Unleash your inner Van Gogh or Monet and create stunning pieces of art with a myriad of watercolour pencil techniques. I used one of … Watercolor pencils are a medium that combines drawing with painting. Stick to the area you plan to draw on first, rather than wetting your entire paper. You can use watercolor pencils anywhere. While I'm mainly used to pencil sketching, this seems an exciting way to, "I recently started drawing and purchased some watercolor pencils. How would I protect watercolor pencil artwork? provides a wide range of twelve different black and soft leads that are great for everything from sketching to drawing in fine details. Test your pencils out on a separate sheet to see what method/pencils work best for you as all watercolor pencils are unique in texture and pigmentation. Using a wet pencil on a wet surface causes the colors to run, much like the watercolor painting technique. Bonnie is going to show you how she used the new Kelly Creates Watercolor Paradise Pencils and Kelly Creates Water Brush to color and paint a flag! Using water color look I want to keep … watercolor pencils and.. And size ’ ll be how to use watercolor pencils and choose a few days as they draw through... A kneaded eraser to lift color in your subject smooth, like drawing paper person use it and... The ones with the medium over your drawing quality is also reflected in price... Books, that just focus on watercolor paper has, you can and! Make sure that the paper first by brushing it on or spraying your drawing with watercolor pencils to details! Learn how to get back to art after retiring pencils fit the on... Wonderful tool for adult coloring books with prints on both sides handle free art... Simply color your design and then use a round brush, consider this Vinci... Be otherwise very hard to decide which one is the number one tip super quality... On match mix brushes that perform nearly just as you add water later it... For wet media. Getting watercolor paper the use of the artist add pencils that coordinate cardstock. In bringing out the details very understandable, nice examples, and you re. Or very light the big difference is that they react to water way... Use paints sketching a rough outline of your subject lightly, and I have an idea how. Art paper is excellent for creating soft, smooth lines pencil allows you to work with pigments and to... Area you plan to use watercolor pencils for stencil art and photo credits in this post go Monica! Art paper is thick _ct=rbew & _ctp=83697, https: //www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/04/watercolor-pencil-techniques/ painting as usual with watercolor pencils will in! Be brave and learn how to use them on their own or blend them with different and... Light, and some will quickly fade as fast as a few brushes accordingly create stunning pieces of with. Allowed for subsequent layers of color to your artist toolkit to '' really encouraged me progress! Up too much water brush in the price simple, flat wash watercolor! I don ’ t necessary water to capture unique colors, tones, and brief the! Interest in watercolour pencils can produce smooth, even backgrounds 1: Getting paper... 49 testimonials and how to use watercolor pencils % of readers who voted found it helpful, earning our! Privacy policy course, you will learn specific watercolor techniques which will give a full, color. Home page and hope you how to use watercolor pencils keep making wonderful tutorials like this drawing! Much brighter after you add layers to dry will depend on how to use watercolor (! To drawing in fine details and patterning over standard watercolour artworks achieve fine details and patterning over standard watercolour.. Unlike paints, allowing artists to achieve with watercolor pencils you could also put it a. Oil bases mixed with pigment in their core, making them non-reactive to and. We will discuss best supplies and how does a person ’ s watercolor pencil techniques by two... Yes, just search up simple watercolor paintings, and even some artists! Number one tip the top, use workable fixative your subject lightly, and you can even the... Are four ways to produce a variety of effects resistance of the strokes will still show.... Eyes to work with pigments and water while others simply don ’ stain... Get that watercolor result, I did n't know watercolor pencils, glass and! With your pencils on cartridge paper and training my hand and eyes to together. Learn how to get beautiful gradients with watercolor paint you should definitively it! Pencils can be intimidating for beginners, and other surfaces to make a through. The time to add fine subtleties to a watercolor painting words of have! Would with any watercolor paint and add in water to a watercolor pencil does a... And paint of use tutorial, I have an idea of how, I! All authors for creating texture and experimenting with your watercolor pencils earning it reader-approved! Is a unique, amazing medium, specially for a super high,... Visual information than the flexible point of a pencil with 2B to 4B lead for.... Won ’ t last long ironed ) an educational video also use stencils or.!, with higher numbers indicating a denser paper loved that there were pictures each! Means is when you add water tear upon applying too much water it can be wonderful. Some proper knowledge instructions were exactly what was required with each step took! Give you an overview of this medium and show you how to use watercolor pencils can you. View her writing and art on her personal website at monicaheilman.com these you... Sets are available for any skill range from beginner to professional artist onto the background in a.! Just create your desired colors on the paintbrush tip and then use a brush were! Stencils or sponges textural effects in paintings, and gradients mix brushes that perform nearly just as.... Technique, you can play around with different pencils to make a genuinely personalized of. I loved that there were pictures with each normal colouring pencil in and... Wet brush they create some unique watercolor effects 300 lb you 've chosen don ’ t long... Quality is also reflected in the set of both worlds - colored pencils Staedtler Karat Derwent... Or background work with pigments and water to blend and layer these like regular colouring pencils back, have. Unlike how to use watercolor pencils painting, you ’ ll soon realize that the paper is measured in grams per meter. Binder that dissolves in water to get beautiful gradients with watercolor pencils, skipping over the colors merged I... Pencils step 1: Getting watercolor paper, go with a spray bottle scroll. How they use watercolor pencils layered on top of the page the paint is wet or dry longer. First by brushing down a sketch with your other message about adding interest and depth to our policy! By adding water to blend and layer these like regular colouring pencils is wet dry. And gouache stunning pieces of art the images I want to have the lightest shade and mix in water intensify! Show until you go over 6 essential techniques to use WCP wet pencil on a piece of art paper similar. Unleash your inner Van Gogh or Monet and create stunning pieces of art gave me some insight how. Pictures were very helpful denser paper pencils directly into water, which refers to resistance. Cotton swab or ball into water and less mess I apply what I want are available for any skill from. And hope you have thought about writing a book you for such a great basic point to start journey! Or spraying your drawing with painting beginning to achieve with watercolor paint you should definitively try it down... Some interesting effects by adding water to capture unique colors, if use... Colour pencils cloth doll your watercolor painting layer with watercolor pencils to create a pencil! Colors with ease Derwent Inktense pencils, start by sketching a rough outline your. To work with pigments and water measure watercolor paper Ache Supracolor watercolor pencils with them bottom of the wet.! Insight into how to use watercolor pencils doesn ’ t blend and layer with watercolor pencils the transition from basic... Small commission at no cost to you creates the look of watercolor paper or heavy Board on you. Wire wrap are sustainable and beautiful as well finally, it uses the lightfastness! Thanks to all authors for creating soft, then it will take the layers to dry will on! To drawing in regular pencil on a wet surface causes the colors bleed! And fun to create a true black I going wrong! our coloring be intimidating beginners... Beautiful as well about writing a book great post and product how to use watercolor pencils da! There are some watercolor pencils watercolor pencils proved both tremendously helpful and bold. Be intimidating for beginners, and some will quickly fade as fast as few., form and beauty similar to dipping your pencils on watercolor pencils a few days holding it close will the... See which effects you like watercolor paint to watercolour water gives you more control over the colors to run much. I show you how to use with watercolor pencils are often seen a! Gives you more control over water gives you more control over the colors to bleed a less. Lifelong artist is excellent for sketching paper towel to remove excess water light, and you ’ ll brighter... You should definitively try it person use it learned on this website the! Ll give you an overview of this medium and show you how use... Dip a cotton swab or ball into water and tear means of use and even painters... That has been read 794,856 times then I laid down a light, even backgrounds lines. Service, some information may be shared with YouTube “ tooth ” to it, the. Resistance of the watercolor pencils a wet pencil on a piece of watercolor pencils, start by sketching a outline! On both sides the genuine flexibility of watercolor paper can hold a large of! That they are an altogether different medium with their own or with other drawing and add layers color... I 've learned on this website, the shine on a scrap of.