How to Use Watercolor Pencils

Draw a pencil sketch of your subject., Create a chart of colors., Layer some colors over each other and add water., Using your base color(s), LIGHTLY and evenly color your subject., With your base color, make a second layer over your picture., Using...

20 Steps 2 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Draw a pencil sketch of your subject.

    It does not need to be too detailed, but do include major lines and points.

    Do not shade the picture.
  2. Step 2: Create a chart of colors.

    With each of the colors of pencils that you will be using, shade a small square and paint over it with water.

    This will allow you to see how your colors will look, as some colors look completely different once water has been added. , Blending colors in this method can produce beautiful effects and add dimension to your picture. , Do not worry about shading yet. , This time, leave blank the areas of highlight and shade in your shadowed areas. , Using more than one color to shade your picture will give it dimension. ,,, Make sure that your brush strokes go with the contours of your subject.

    Start out with a little bit of water, and add more to produce a more washed out effect.

    The more water is added, the lighter the color will become and the less you will see your pencil lines.

    However, if too much water is used, the colors will run.

    Use a smaller brush for detailed ares. , Doing this provides a very strong color, and it is difficult to hide mistakes. , You may or may not want to add water to this layer.
  3. Step 3: Layer some colors over each other and add water.

  4. Step 4: Using your base color(s)

  5. Step 5: LIGHTLY and evenly color your subject.

  6. Step 6: With your base color

  7. Step 7: make a second layer over your picture.

  8. Step 8: Using your shadow color (Black

  9. Step 9: or a darker shade of your base color)

  10. Step 10: further shade your dark areas.

  11. Step 11: With your highlight color (White

  12. Step 12: or a lighter shade of your base color)

  13. Step 13: lightly color the highlights and surrounding areas of your picture.

  14. Step 14: Finish off your pencil sketch.

  15. Step 15: Using a medium to small soft paintbrush

  16. Step 16: paint water over your picture.

  17. Step 17: Once your initial layer of water has dried

  18. Step 18: you can dip the pencils themselves into the water to add areas of intense color or details.

  19. Step 19: If you wish to

  20. Step 20: you can go back over your picture now with another layer of shading colors.

Detailed Guide

It does not need to be too detailed, but do include major lines and points.

Do not shade the picture.

With each of the colors of pencils that you will be using, shade a small square and paint over it with water.

This will allow you to see how your colors will look, as some colors look completely different once water has been added. , Blending colors in this method can produce beautiful effects and add dimension to your picture. , Do not worry about shading yet. , This time, leave blank the areas of highlight and shade in your shadowed areas. , Using more than one color to shade your picture will give it dimension. ,,, Make sure that your brush strokes go with the contours of your subject.

Start out with a little bit of water, and add more to produce a more washed out effect.

The more water is added, the lighter the color will become and the less you will see your pencil lines.

However, if too much water is used, the colors will run.

Use a smaller brush for detailed ares. , Doing this provides a very strong color, and it is difficult to hide mistakes. , You may or may not want to add water to this layer.

About the Author

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Angela Hamilton

Writer and educator with a focus on practical lifestyle knowledge.

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