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Today we will learn how to use watercolor pencils for beginners.
If you do not know yet what exactly are the watercolor pencils and how do you paint with them?
And wait, do you actually paint or do you draw?
We will discuss best supplies and how to get started.
To understand how to use watercolor pencils effectively, it’s important to grasp their versatile nature.
Watercolor pencils are artistic tools that combine the ease of colored pencils with the transformative power of water, enabling artists to create beautiful watercolor effects with precision and control.
Watercolor pencils offer a distinctive artistic approach, blending elements of drawing and painting in a way unmatched by any other medium.
Watercolor pencils provide artists with the advantages of both painting and drawing techniques. Although they share similarities with colored pencils, their behaviour changes significantly when water is applied.
Unlike colored pencils that use a waxy or oil-based binder to hold the pigment, watercolor pencils utilize a binder that dissolves in water, allowing for unique effects.
Watercolor pencils:
Watercolor paints:
Choosing between watercolor pencils and paints depends on:
Advantages:
Versatility: Watercolor pencils offer the flexibility to transition between drawing and painting techniques, providing artists with the best of both worlds.
Control and Precision: They allow for precise lines, details, and controlled application of colors, making them suitable for intricate and detailed work.
Portability: Watercolor pencils are portable and easy to carry, making them convenient for on-the-go sketching and painting.
Layering and Blending: Artists can layer multiple colors and blend them together using water, creating a wide range of hues and smooth transitions.
Dry Application: Watercolor pencils can be used dry for traditional drawing, allowing artists to create colored pencil effects without activating the pigment with water.
Disadvantages:
Limited Color Range: Compared to traditional watercolor paints, watercolor pencils may have a narrower color selection available.
Texture: Watercolor pencils can leave a slight grainy texture on the paper when activated with water, which may not be desirable for some artists.
Limited Wash Effects: Achieving large, seamless washes with watercolor pencils can be more challenging compared to using watercolor paints.
Requires Additional Tools: Using watercolor pencils effectively often requires additional tools such as brushes, water, and water containers.
Watercolor pencils are easy-to-use art tools that combine colored pencils and watercolors. The pencils have a water-soluble pigment core that can be activated with water.
To use watercolor pencils, simply draw on paper like you would with regular colored pencils. Then, when you add water using a brush or by wetting the pencil tip, the colors transform into watercolor-like washes.
This allows you to blend colors, create gradients, and achieve different levels of transparency.
Watercolor pencils work best on watercolor paper, as it absorbs the water and helps spread the colors smoothly. You can experiment with different techniques and surfaces to create your desired effects.
Overall, watercolor pencils offer a simple and enjoyable way to add vibrant colors and watercolor effects to your artwork, making them suitable for artists of all skill levels.
This is a beginner-friendly medium that will help you get the gist of mixing different colors and painting with much more desired control.
It gives an artist to both draw and paint. They look no different, yet when a little bit of water is added you can actually paint with it.
Another cool thing is that you can actually sharpen your pencil. That would make it incredible if you are after those fine details.
Here, we will overview the best supplies that you will need in order to do your very first watercolor painting.
This is no surprise that pencils will play a massive role in the successful outcome of your piece of drawing this is why I will say, that you can invest in a good quality set.
They will last you a very long time. More significant the set, the more variety you will have overall allowing you to create what you want.
Our top picks:
Watercolor paper is a must and should be over 200 gsm.
This is because we will need to be using water. If the paper gets all bubbly, it is not good for anyone.
My favorite is: Arches Watercolor Pad 10×14-inch
When using watercolor pencils, you will need for sure some brushes.
I love water brushes as they are perfect to have for when you are on the go and inspiration strikes you.
The image above shows an affordable version.
But a professional set of brushes will be always good to have on you as well. It is an investment that will last for a while.
This is a good set for a great price.
You just bought yourself a set of brand new watercolor pencils.
Congrats!
So what is next?
I think it is to make a color chart. That way you will be able to experiment and see what happens when you do different things with it.
This is a great in-depth video that you can watch and see different ways that you can use pencils.
Watercolor pencils offer a variety of techniques that allow artists to achieve different effects and styles in their artwork. Here are some popular watercolor pencil techniques to explore:
1. Layering: The layering technique in watercolor pencils involves building depth and intensity by applying multiple layers of color. Starting with light, gentle strokes, each layer is gradually built up using increased pressure to intensify the colors.
Through careful layering and blending, smooth transitions and gradients can be achieved, adding richness and dimension to the artwork. This technique allows artists to create vibrant and complex compositions while retaining the control and precision of colored pencils, making it an essential skill for mastering the full potential of watercolor pencils.
2. Wet-on-Dry: This technique involves applying dry pencil strokes onto dry paper and then adding water with a brush. It allows for precise control over the application of color and produces sharp lines and defined shapes.
3. Wet-on-Wet: In this technique, wet the paper first with clean water before applying the watercolor pencils. The wet surface allows the colors to blend and flow more freely, creating soft and fluid washes.
4. Blending: Blending is a crucial technique for achieving smooth transitions between colors. You can blend colors by using a wet brush to mix and spread the pigments on the paper.
Alternatively, you can layer different colors directly on the paper and then blend them with a damp brush.
5. Dry Brushing: Dry brushing involves using a dry pencil or a lightly damp brush with minimal water to create textured and grainy effects. This technique is useful for adding details, texture, and highlights to your artwork.
6. Gradients and Washes: Watercolor pencils are excellent for creating gradients and washes of color. Apply a light layer of color at one end of the area and gradually increase the intensity as you move across the paper. Then, use a wet brush to blend and spread the colors, creating a smooth transition.
7. Mixed Media: Watercolor pencils can be combined with other mediums such as ink, pen, or even traditional watercolors. You can add ink outlines, pen details, or enhance your artwork with additional watercolor washes to create unique mixed media effects.
The best way to master any new medium is to practice and follow along with tutorials. The more you practice, the better you will understand the techniques, the best pencils for your preference as well as what is your favourite subject to paint.
This is a step-by-step beginners tutorial on how to draw sunflower in watercolor pencil. It is very easy to copy. If you are feeling flowery, make sure to check it out!
See more here
This is a great tutorial for beginner watercolor pencil artists because it shows you exactly how to do flower drawing easy.
Getting a book is always a good ideas as a way to learn and master how to use watercolor pencils like a professional. This book is great as it shows all of the techniques to take you from a newbie to a pro.
Check it out
