Watercolor pencils look like ordinary colored pencils, but when you add water, the strokes create a beautiful watercolor look. At first, using these watercolor pencils may seem difficult, but when used properly, the results are beautiful.
Step
Step 1. Draw a sketch of the subject using a pencil
You don't need to go into too much detail, but draw the main lines and points. Don't make dark gradations in the image yet.
Step 2. Create a color chart
Choose the colors of the pencils that you will use and make small square gradations, then blend with water. This way you can see the resulting color, as some colors look completely different after adding water.
Step 3. Coat some of the colors with other colors and then apply water
Blending colors in this way can produce a beautiful effect and add dimension to an image.
Step 4. Start drawing the subject with the basic colors thinly and evenly
Don't just add gradations.
Step 5. Still with the base color, draw a second layer on top of the sketch
This time, leave the light areas blank and make a dark gradient on the shadow areas.
Step 6. Take dark colors (black or another dark base color), and then draw gradations on the shadow areas even further
Using more than one color to create this gradient will add dimension to your image.
Step 7. Take a light color (white or another light base color), lightly draw the light area and its surroundings
Step 8. Finish this pencil sketch drawing
Step 9. Take a medium or small soft brush and apply water to the image
Make sure the brush strokes match the contours of the subject. Start with a small amount of water, then increase to create a lighter effect. The more water you add, the lighter the color, and the thinner the pencil line will be. But if you use too much water, the color will fade. Use a smaller brush for detailed areas.
Step 10. After the first layer of water has dried, dip the pencil directly into the water to draw additional areas of intense or detailed color
That way, you'll get really intense colors, but it's also going to be hard to hide mistakes.
Step 11. If you want, you can add an additional layer of dark color to the image
You can add water or not to this layer.
Tips
- Do not scratch the pencil on areas that are still wet as this will result in darker streaks of color and this cannot be changed.
- If before adding water you notice an area looks too dark, use a kneaded eraser to lighten it up. Squeeze the eraser and press it over the area you want to lighten. Lift, press, and roll the eraser. Repeat until the area is lighter. This eraser is quite soft, so it won't damage the surface of the paper like other types of eraser.
- You can remove minor mistakes by adding more water and pressing a tissue against the area to absorb the water. This method is especially useful for lightening small areas that are too dark. Once dry, this method can be repeated, depending on the brand of watercolor pencil. Derwent Inktense and Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils cannot be re-wetted and cannot be lightened once dry. But Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils, Derwent Graphitint, and any Sketch and Wash graphite, Derwent Watercolor, and a few other brands can be repainted if you wet them again. Flush bright areas with clear water and dry gently to remove some of the color. Repeat as necessary, but not to damage the paper surface.
- The pencil lines and brush strokes should align with the contours of the subject.
- When you are dabbing with water, sweep the brush from the light areas to the darker areas. If you do the opposite, the brush will drag the darker color over to the lighter area.
- Experiment with different color combinations on a piece of paper for watercolors, or on a sketchbook for all kinds of drawing media. Try mixing secondary colors like orange and blue or yellow and purple. See if you can produce a richer black by mixing two dark colors like indigo and dark brown instead of just using a black pencil. Sometimes layered strokes of several light colors in the right order and combination can produce richer browns and grays than using brown and gray pencils alone.
- Try using a watercolor brush, which is a nylon watercolor brush with a plastic handle that has a water container in it, so that there is a steady flow of water to the tip of the brush. These brushes are manufactured by Niji, Derwent, Sakura, and several other manufacturers. Very convenient to use for painting watercolor pencils. To clean it, you just need to wipe the brush against the cloth until the brush is clean again. After that you can move on to a different color area.
- Make the shadows thin and even. Deep strokes won't go away and can create fluted paper. You certainly don't want this.
- If you want to mix several large areas of color as a background, then paint the entire area with a little water. Before drying, add a layer of pencil on top of the background, as well as another watery layer for a wet effect.
- If you're planning to add a background, it's a good idea to draw the section first.
