Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:
Watercolor Pencil Tips & Techniques
It's All About Colored Pencils!
Watercolor pencils are very similar to colored pencils in that they allow you to have precise control, achieve great detail, are very flexible, portable, and inexpensive. The difference between regular colored pencils and water-soluble pencils is their leads. Colored pencil leads are either wax or oil-based, whereas watercolor pencil leads have a water soluble base.
When working with watercolor pencils, it is important to remember that the results will not be the same as if you were working with colored pencils. After you have layered several colors down and have applied water or a solvent of some type, you will notice that the colors will sometimes be darker, sometimes more vivid, or sometimes will become a color you were not trying to achieve at all. So experiment before you start layering colors to see if it is the color you want for your project or portrait. Also, try mixing your watercolor pencils with other mediums, such as Prismacolor colored pencils, Ohuhu Gel inks or Derwent graphite pencils. You will be surprised with the results!
Tips and Techniques
- Apply the watercolor pencil dry.
- Wet the paper first to produce a bleeding type effect or to create soft lines.
- Try using various tools, such as a sponge or toothbrush or shaking the watercolor pencil, to create different effects.
- After your watercolor pencil wash has dried, apply dry layers of watercolor pencil for detail.
- Create glazed watercolor pencil washes (transparent layers of color over another) by using either water or solvents.
- Use a colorless blender marker, such as Tombow's Colorless Blender Pen, to blend the colors.
- To achieve a thick opaque look, dip your pencil in water or in a solvent, such as Turpenoid Natural (this technique tends to eat the lead of the pencil up quickly) and then apply it to the surface of the paper.
- To create detail using watercolor pencils, try using a small wet paint brush.
- Try creating a graded wash, from dark to light with water or solvents.
- Try a backwash technique by wetting your paper first then apply one color at one end, and then another color at the other end, watch the colors blend and bleed together.
- To create a cool effect, try dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then dot the wet colored surface of your paper with the cotton swab.
- To create a sparkly effect, try applying salt to the wet surface of your paper and let it dry.
Best Papers
I have discovered the following papers work the best when combining watercolor pencils with colored pencils: Arches watercolor paper hot press, Strathmore watercolor pads cold press and Rising Stonehenge drawing paper. Rising Stonehenge works best with the dry technique, with colorless blender markers, or with minimal water. If you do use water, make sure to tape the paper down to the board to prevent buckling.
All three brands of paper are acid-free and Strathmore also has ATC/ACEO size watercolor paper.
Brands of Watercolor Pencils
The watercolor pencil brand that I work with the most is, Derwent Watercolor Pencils. They are super creamy like Prismas color pencils and they have a wonderful selection of colors. They are fine art quality water-soluble pencil. They are non-toxic with lightfast pigment. They are available in packaged tins or open stock at most art stores.
In addition, I like to use Stabilo Aquacolor Watercolor Pencils to work on skies and small details. They have leads similar to Prismacolor Verathins, but, unfortunately, they have been discontinued. However, from time to time, you can find them on Ebay.
Watercolor Pencil Example
