Watercolor pencils offer a unique blend of drawing precision and painterly effects, allowing artists to create vibrant artwork by activating their pigments with water. Unlike regular colored pencils, these pencils are designed to dissolve and spread when water is applied, transforming pencil marks into washes of color.
Understanding Watercolor Pencils
Watercolor pencils are essentially watercolor paint in pencil form. Their lead is made from a water-soluble binder that allows the pigment to dissolve when it comes into contact with water. This versatility enables artists to achieve both sharp, detailed lines and soft, blended washes, making them a favorite for illustration, sketching, and mixed-media art.
Essential Materials for Watercolor Pencil Art
Before diving into techniques, ensure you have the right tools:
- Watercolor Pencils: A set of good quality pencils with a range of colors.
- Watercolor Paper: Crucial for preventing warping and allowing proper pigment absorption. Paper weight of at least 140 lb (300 gsm) is recommended.
- Water Brushes or Regular Brushes:
- Water brushes: Convenient for travel, as they have a refillable barrel for water.
- Regular brushes: Soft synthetic or natural hair brushes work well for spreading color. Various sizes allow for different effects.
- Two Water Containers: One for rinsing dirty brushes and one for clean water.
- Paper Towels or a Rag: For blotting brushes and controlling water.
- Palette (Optional): A ceramic dish, plastic palette, or even a spare piece of paper can be used to mix colors.
Core Techniques for Using Watercolor Pencils with Water
There are several effective ways to combine watercolor pencils with water to achieve various artistic effects.
1. Dry Application, Then Wet Activation
This is the most common and versatile technique.
- Draw Dry: Apply your watercolor pencil to dry paper, just as you would with a regular colored pencil. You can draw outlines, shade areas, or build up layers of color.
- Activate with Water: Dip a clean brush into water, blot any excess on a paper towel, and then gently brush over your dry pencil marks. The water will dissolve the pigment, turning your lines into fluid washes.
- Tip: When you activate the dry pigment with water, the color becomes quite a bit more intense and vibrant compared to how it appears when applied dry without any water. This dramatic increase in intensity is one of the main advantages of using water.
- Control Water: Use less water for more controlled, intense lines, and more water for softer, more diffused washes.
2. Wet Application (Dipping the Pencil)
This technique creates bold, dark lines similar to ink or concentrated paint.
- Dip the Tip: Briefly dip the tip of your watercolor pencil into clean water.
- Draw Wet: Immediately draw on dry paper. The moistened tip will lay down a rich, intense line of color that dries quickly. This is excellent for strong outlines, details, or creating deep, saturated areas.
3. Application to Wet Paper
For soft, diffused, and atmospheric effects, apply pigment to wet paper.
- Wet the Paper: Lightly brush an area of your watercolor paper with clean water.
- Draw on Wet Surface: While the paper is still damp, draw with your watercolor pencil. The pigment will spread immediately, creating soft, blurry edges and a painterly quality.
- Layering: You can layer different colors onto the wet surface to create gentle blends.
4. Using the Pencils Like Pan Watercolors (Palette Method)
This method allows for more traditional watercolor painting techniques, like mixing colors.
- Scribble on a Palette: Take a watercolor pencil and scribble a concentrated amount of pigment onto a non-porous surface (like a ceramic plate, plastic palette, or even a laminated sheet).
- Pick Up with a Wet Brush: Dip a wet brush into the scribbled pigment on the palette, picking up the dissolved color.
- Paint: Apply this "paint" to your paper. This method is great for large washes, mixing custom colors, or applying very light layers.
- Direct Pick-up: Alternatively, you can directly touch a wet brush to the tip of your watercolor pencil to pick up pigment and apply it to the paper.
Advanced Tips for Mastering Watercolor Pencils
- Layering for Depth: Start with light applications and gradually build up layers of color. You can layer dry pigment, activate it, let it dry, and then add more dry layers before activating again.
- Blending: Achieve smooth transitions by overlapping colors and then activating them with water. For seamless blends, ensure the paper is evenly damp.
- Lifting Color: While not as easy as with pan watercolors, you can sometimes lift a small amount of color with a clean, damp brush or a blotting paper towel if you work quickly on fresh washes.
- Detail Work: Use a fine-tipped brush with a minimal amount of water for precise lines and small details after your main washes have dried.
- Experiment with Texture: Try rubbing the side of the pencil on textured paper, then activating it, or flicking water onto a dry drawing for speckled effects.
Comparison Table: Dry vs. Wet Application
| Feature | Dry Application (before water) | Wet Application (after water) |
|---|---|---|
| Color Intensity | Muted, less vibrant | Significantly more intense and vibrant |
| Texture | Pencil marks, sometimes grainy | Smooth washes, dissolved pigment |
| Edges | Sharp, defined | Soft, diffused, or blended |
| Control | High, precise lines | Variable, depends on water amount |
| Blending | More challenging, requires layering | Seamless, fluid blends |
| Appearance | Drawing-like | Painting-like |
By exploring these techniques and understanding the unique properties of watercolor pencils, you can unlock a vast range of creative possibilities in your artwork.
