
How To Use Watercolor Pencils?
- Watercolor Pencil Activation With Water Watercolor pencils are made to be used with water and can be drawn with a soft brush after the pencil has been used to make marks. Activation is the term for this procedure. ...
- Layering And Mixing Colors Watercolor pencils may be combined by layering them. ...
- Take Color Directly From The Pencil Tip ...
- Surfaces For Watercolor Pencils ...
- Subjects With Watercolor Pencils ...
How to best use watercolor pencils?
How to use Watercolor Pencils
- Shade and draw then activate with water. This is the most intuitive of all watercolor techniques. ...
- Dry to wet. This technique will cause the dry watercolor pigments to activate upon contact with the paper. ...
- Straight from the tip. If you’re going somewhere and you can’t bring your watercolor tubes, then this might be a solution for you.
- Splatter. ...
What paper should I use for watercolor?
Which watercolor paper should I use?
- Watercolor Paper. What is made of : cotton, cellulose, or a mix of both. For watercolor I recommend 100% cotton paper.
- Texture. Cold press, where you have a fin texture or rough texture, or hot press that is a very very smooth texture.
- Thickness. Usually around 300gsm is what I use from small sizes until A2 size maximum. ...
What are the best watercolor brush pens?
Top 14 Brush Pens: Rated List from Best to Worst
- Arteza: Amazing Quality Pens with Water Brush. ...
- Genuine Crafts Watercolor Brush Pens: Perfect for Portable Painting. ...
- DasKid: Top Watercolor Brush Pens for Artist. ...
- Ohuhu Dual Tips: Perfect for Coloring Books. ...
- Crafts & Colors: Easiest Blending to Show Details. ...
- Nylea: Excellent Brush Marker Pens for Line Art. ...
Which is the best paper for watercolor painting?
- For paintings that are over a quarter sheet in size, don’t use anything less than a 300 pound paper.
- Lighter weight paper, like 140 pound, is best suited for small paintings and techniques that use less amounts of water.
- Larger paintings or paintings that are created with heavy wet techniques like large washes require a heavier paper. ...

What is the point of watercolor pencils?
Watercolor pencils make it easy to paint in color. Unlike paints, all you need to make a nice watercolor painting is your favorite pencils, a brush, and a small quantity of water.
How do you use Watercolour pencils?
0:4618:38How to Use Watercolor Pencils - Techniques and DemonstrationYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow of course you don't have to just activate water color pencils once they're on the surface. YouMoreNow of course you don't have to just activate water color pencils once they're on the surface. You can also apply a bit of water to the surface first and then make marks with the watercolor pencil.
Are watercolor pencils good for beginners?
Watercolor pencils are suitable for beginners as they are easier to control than traditional watercolors. You get them in various colors and can be blended to create different shades. Additionally, you can use watercolor pencils to create detailed and broad strokes, making them versatile for multiple projects.
What's the difference between Watercolour pencils and normal pencils?
Watercolor pencils look and operate like normal colored pencils at first glance, but create soft painted effects when water is added to them. As a result, watercolor pencils tend to offer less intense colors. It's more difficult to blend colors together, but relatively easy to lighten a color by adding water.
Do you use water with Watercolour pencils?
The pigment from watercolor pencils is designed to be lightened with water, while colored pencils are meant to be used dry. Colored pencils are meant to be blended dry and hold up well to the task, while most watercolor pencils do need to be activated with water before you can blend them.
Do you wet Watercolour pencils?
Draw, Then Brush With Water This is Watercolor Pencils 101. Just remember to wet the lighter colors first, because brushing darker pigments into lighter ones usually doesn't end well (for obvious reasons). Remember that colors look different wet than dry — usually, they're darker and more vibrant.
What should you not do with watercolor pencils?
TIP: Watercolor pencils do not work well in combination with regular colored pencils or on canvas intended for acrylic and oil paintings.
Are watercolor pencils better than paint?
It is more difficult to get fine lines and details. Watercolor paint is more suited to larger, 'floating' areas of color. Watercolor pencils can be used to create texture. By drawing with the side of your pencil, or using repetitive line, you can create a textured effect that you can't get with watercolor paint.
How do you blend watercolor pencils?
0:441:58Blending Watercolour Pencils: Quick Tip for Beginners - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe brush what is quite a nice effect is that you can actually transfer that elsewhere. But you mustMoreThe brush what is quite a nice effect is that you can actually transfer that elsewhere. But you must must not start doing that business on your paper it's literally a case of using your very blunt
Are Watercolour pencils worth it?
In short, watercolor pencils are the best of both worlds. They allow artists to draw and color like a normal colored pencil. But, they come with the increased flexibility to create lush watercolor paintings. As an added bonus, they're very portable and relatively mess-free, unlike some watercolor sets.
How long do watercolor pencils last?
In general, colored pencils can last anywhere from 2 to 5 years. When kept in a cool, dark place and stored correctly, colored pencils can last even longer (10 years or more). I've even read about an artist who had her colored pencils for 25 years and they were still in good, working condition! What is this?
Are watercolor pencils permanent?
These can then be diluted or stained across the paper surface by dragging a brush over the top of them, however remember that watercolour pencil colour is surprisingly permanent and will not dilute in water once it has dried to the paper – this is because the watersoluble binder will have already been broken down by ...
What paper is best for watercolor pencils?
Arches papers are probably the best paper for watercolor pencils, but they aren't just for watercolors. Use them also for drawing, calligraphy, gouache, printmaking, acrylics, and even digital printing. Manufactured from pure cotton fiber, they are so durable they will remain vibrant for centuries stored properly.
How do you water brush with watercolor pencils?
A waterbrush can also be used to lift color directly from watercolor pencils or watersoluble crayons. Simply place the bristles against the pencil, then move it back and forth until you've got enough paint on the brush.
How do you use watercolor pens for beginners?
3:518:46How To Use Watercolor Brush Pens | Simple Wreaths - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I just use the tip of that brush marker to do the thin delicate branch. And then I add a littleMoreAnd I just use the tip of that brush marker to do the thin delicate branch. And then I add a little more pressure and pull that brush across the page to create leaves.
How do you sharpen watercolor pencils?
0:293:40how to sharpen watercolor pencils - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf I want to conserve the color I will use a craft knife. And I will sharpen them into a containerMoreIf I want to conserve the color I will use a craft knife. And I will sharpen them into a container like this just trying to whittle away. The the wood while leaving the pigment. Intact.
Can you erase regular pencil marks under a watercolor painting?
It can be difficult to get rid of pencil lines on a watercolor painting. To make it easier, use a hard pencil and apply the lines lightly so that y...
Can you use regular colored pencils as watercolor pencils?
Unfortunately, no. Many colored pencils are formulated to be water-resistant, while others simply don’t react to water the way a watercolor pencil...
Can I use watercolor pencils dry?
Yes, watercolor pencils can produce beautiful, vivid results even if you use them without water. Simply use them like normal colored pencils.
What are Watercolor Pencils?
Watercolor pencils look, feel, and draw like regular colored pencils. There’s a fundamental difference, though. Add a bit of water and watch the pigment gently spread. For me, it was like magic.
What Watercolor Pencil Supplies Do I Need?
Whether a novice or a professional, you must stock up with the right supplies. Quality matters!
What is a dry pencil tip?
The firm tip of a dry pencil ensures your strokes come out as predicted. The flexible, moist tipped brush can throw some unpleasant surprises. The chances of your lines going wrong are plenty. Portable: Pencils are easy to carry, take little space, and are definitely less messy.
What is the difference between crayons and watercolor pencils?
For me, it was like magic. Let me explain how this works. At their core, crayons, colored pencils, and watercolor pencils are colored pigments held together with a binding material. In crayons, the binder is wax.
How to activate pigment in watercolor pencils?
You can use these methods individually or in combination to come up with amazingly creative paintings. 1. Draw on dry paper, then activate. This is the commonly used technique, where you draw with dry pencil on dry paper.
How many colors can you use with watercolor pencils?
Watercolor pencils come in a wide range of shades. But they are expensive. So, I would suggest that you begin with a set of 12 basic colors and add other shades as you progress. With time, as you learn how to use watercolor pencils, you’ll know your preferences better.
How to make a color chart with pencils?
Pick a pencil and draw a few strokes. Mark the color. Now activate with water. You’ll notice that the color looks different when activated. Create a sample color chart, showing each shade in its dry and activated state. This knowledge will allow you to use your pencils intelligently.
What to use to clean watercolor pencils?
Water, Paper Towels, & Masking or Washi Tape. Don't forget to have water, paper towels, and masking tape handy. You don’t need water just for activating dry watercolor pencil marks—you’ll use it to clean your brush as well as for techniques like drawing on wet paper and wetting your pencil tip.
What sharpener should I use for watercolor pencils?
A good sharpener will shave your watercolor pencils to a sharp point without breaking their soft leads. We recommend the Uni Color Pencil Sharpener for most watercolor pencils, which is remarkably reliable despite its uninspiring appearance.
What tools do you need to draw bold outlines?
They aren’t strictly necessary, but some artists like to use graphite pencils and waterproof pens for underdrawing and tracing bold outlines. Some techniques also require special equipment, like spray bottles, small knives, and sandpaper.
How to activate pencil marks?
Use a paint brush or water brush to activate pencil marks.
How to control the intensity of a pencil?
One of the most intuitive ways to control the intensity of your colors is to press harder if you want the pencil to deposit more color and use lighter pressure if you want a more delicate hue. Be aware that lines made with heavy pressure won’t dissolve as thoroughly as those made with light pressure, so they’ll be more visible in your finished piece.
How to lighten a wet color?
Blot wet color with a dry brush or paper towel to lighten it.
What paper to use for watercolor?
Watercolor Paper. It's best to use watercolor paper with watercolor pencils. Use sturdy paper that can stand up to getting wet and won’t absorb water too quickly. Watercolor paper is best because it is thicker than typical sketching paper and is treated with sizing that controls how quickly it absorbs water.
What are Watercolor Pencils?
Watercolor pencils look just like regular colored pencils. The difference is that they react to water and can create effects similar to watercolor paints.
Why use watercolor pencils over paint?
Detail. Convenience. A pencil is easier for most people to control than a brush. That alone makes watercolor pencils less intimidating. They also require less water, which is the most unpredictable aspect of watercolor.
How to draw a watercolor?
Technique 1: Draw First, Add Water Later. Most artists use watercolor pencils to create a drawing and add water afterward or in stages as they draw. In this method, start by outlining your subject lightly, either with a graphite pencil or the dominant color of your subject.
How to draw on top of wet area?
Use a dry watercolor pencil to draw on top of the wet area. You’ll find that the result is similar to dipping your pencils into water, but the effects last longer.
What is the most difficult type of painting?
Watercolor painting is notorious for being the most difficult type of painting. Watercolor pencils can be a way to ease into watercolor painting. You’ll learn how water affects pigments, moves paint across a page, and blends colors.
How much weight can you use for watercolor paper?
Manufacturers measure watercolor paper by how much 500 sheets weigh. Paper with a heavier weight can hold more water. 140-pound paper is the most commonly used. You can find high-grade, affordable watercolor paper from companies like Strathmore and Canson, while professionals might choose to go with Arches or Reeves.
What colors are used in watercolor pencils?
For those on a strict budget, or just feeling adventurous, you can get by with only the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Black and white can be useful but aren’t necessary. High quality watercolor pencil sets are available for any skill range from beginner to professional artist.
How Do Watercolor Pencils Work?
The core of this pencil contains a water-soluble binder. When you add water to it you get that flowing look associated with watercolor paints.
What is watercolor pencil?
Watercolor pencils are a medium that combines drawing with painting. When you add water to a watercolor pencil drawing the pigment spreads over the paper to imitate the look and feel of a watercolor painting. Working with these kinds of pencils is a great way to experiment with colors. As you add layers to your drawings you can play ...
What is the difference between watercolor and colored pencils?
Watercolor Pencils vs. Colored Pencils. Unlike the water-soluble pigment in watercolor pencils, the pigment inside of colored pencils contains a binder of wax or oil. The waxy-oily base of colored pencils makes them easy to mix and layer colors with. But not so much with water.
How does water soluble binder work?
The water-soluble binder activates when you add water, intensifying and energizing your colors. Photo by @deancookartist. It’s also easier to lighten areas of your work with watercolor pencils. Just take a Q-tip or a sponge and soak up a little bit of your color.
What kind of pencils are used for burnishing?
Regular colored pencils can also be used for burnishing. Burnishing is the process of adding heavy layers to a colored pencil drawing to recreate the look of a painting.
What pencils work well with watercolor?
Watercolor pencils work well in combination with regular colored pencils, pastels, ink, or anything else that floats your boat.
Why is watercolor so hard to work with?
Perhaps the biggest challenge of working with watercolor paints is that they tend to dry fast. That makes it a headache when you want to add more color or do some additional blending later.
