Buzz
Watercolor pencils allow you to create beautiful watercolor-like artworks without using traditional watercolor paints. Simply draw on watercolor paper or thick, water-resistant paper, then apply water or spray it over the drawing. You can also layer pencil colors and water to enhance the watercolor effect. Feel free to experiment and find the effect you like best!
Steps
Sketch the drawing and apply the base color
Use watercolor paper or thick cardstock. Watercolor pencils need to be activated with water after applying color, so choose a material that is thick enough to prevent tearing. Watercolor paper or thick cardstock are excellent options.
- If you prefer a smoother surface than watercolor paper, you can use drawing board paper. This type of paper is thick enough to handle water, yet smoother than watercolor paper.
Sketch with a regular pencil. Before you begin coloring, you’ll need to outline your drawing. There's no need for precise details at this stage – that will come after you've added color.
Apply a base color to the drawing. Once your sketch is complete, you can begin adding color. Avoid using watercolors like regular colored pencils, where you fill in the entire drawing. Instead, color along the general shapes and follow the direction of the pencil strokes you made earlier, leaving some blank spaces between.
Do not color areas that you want to remain the lightest. As you will blend the colors with water, areas left white will maintain the lightest tone, with the surrounding colors bleeding into them. Keep areas blank where you want the brightest color when you apply the base color.
Blend the colors with a wet brush.
Brush water over the sketch and the base color. The size of the brush depends on the drawing's dimensions and the areas where you want the watercolor effect. A smaller brush works best for precise and detailed artwork, while a thicker brush suits abstract styles. Dip the brush in a small bowl of water, then gently tap off the excess.
Gently brush water over the pencil drawing. Move the brush smoothly across the sketch, following the flow of the pencil strokes. This technique will make your drawing resemble watercolor, but instead of dipping the brush in watercolor, you'll be applying water to the pencil marks already on the paper. If the brush feels dry, add more water to keep it moist while applying.
Wait for the first layer to dry before applying the second. To achieve a stronger watercolor effect, you can apply a second layer of water. Be sure to let the first layer dry completely before applying the second. Test by gently pressing your finger against the paper – it should feel dry. Wait around 5 minutes before testing again.
Add depth and detail with layers of pencil and water.
Apply another layer of pencil. This step is perfect for adding more depth to your colors. Once the first water layer has dried, you can apply another layer of the same or a different color to enhance the layered effect.
- For example, if you want to add shadows, layer blue and brown watercolor pencils on top of each other. When water is added, these colors will blend and create a natural black tone.
Brush on another layer of water. The size of the brush you use for the second water layer will depend on the area you're working on. For smaller areas, use a smaller brush to create depth, while larger areas will require a larger brush for better coverage.
Moisten the tip of the watercolor pencil before adding detail. Wetting the tip of the watercolor pencil enhances the vibrancy of the colors on the paper. Dip the pencil's tip in a bowl of water, then apply it to your drawing to add detail and definition. This technique can also be used to add finishing touches to areas that are already colored.
Use a watercolor pencil with a spray bottle
Complete your painting. This technique involves spraying a layer of water over the artwork, so it’s important to finish the drawing with watercolor pencils first. You can layer colors as desired and add extra details as needed.
Fill the spray bottle with clean water. There's no need to fill the entire bottle, just about 100 ml should suffice, unless you're working on a larger piece. In that case, you may need to use a full bottle of water!
Spray water onto the artwork. Use enough water to see the colors begin to blend together. Spray gently and slowly, as spraying too quickly or with too much force will cause the colors to blend too much and lose their definition.
- The distance between the spray bottle and the paper is up to you. A closer distance will cause the colors to spread more, softening the lines; a farther distance will result in less blending and sharper details.
Wait for about an hour for the painting to dry. If your painting is larger than 22cm x 28cm, you might need to wait more than an hour for it to dry. You can lightly press with your fingertip to test; if it no longer feels damp, it's ready.
Advice
- Water will cause colors to blend together. Keep this in mind when transitioning from dark to light areas.
- To remove color, dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into water and gently wipe to erase the color.
- Try creating a color test sheet. Paint each color on a small area and brush water over half of it. This will help you see how the colors change once water is added.
Warning
- It can be very difficult to fix drawing mistakes.
Things You Will Need
- Pencil
- Watercolor pencil set
- A cup or bowl of water
- Watercolor brush
- Watercolor paper
