Things To Draw With Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor pencils can help you create beautiful watercolor works of art without having to use paints. Draw with your pencils on watercolor paper or thick papers that will hold water. You can then apply water by brushing it on or spraying your drawing. You can also layer pencil colors and water to intensify the watercolor effect. Feel free to experiment to see which effects you like best!

1
Use watercolor paper or heavy board to draw on. Because watercolor pencils eventually require the application of water, you'll want to draw on material thick enough that it won't tear. Watercolor paper or heavy board are great choices.^[1]
- If you prefer a smoother surface than watercolor paper has, you can draw on illustration boards. They are thick enough to handle the application of water, but are much smoother than watercolor paper.
2

Sketch a rough outline with a regular pencil. Before you begin filling with color, you'll need a rough sketch of your drawing. Don't worry about being too precise or adding too much detail—that's something you'll do later as you layer color.^[2]
3
Add base colors to your sketch. Once you've got a rough sketch, you can fill it in with base colors. Don't use the watercolor pencils as you would a regular color pencil, filling in your sketch completely. Instead, apply the pencil in the general shape and direction you would with regular pencils, but leave some white space in between.^[3]
- Although you don't need a lot of detail at this stage, be careful about the direction of your strokes as you add base colors. Once activated with water, the directions of the strokes will still show through.^[4]
4

Skip adding color to areas where you want the lightest shade possible. Because you'll be blending the colors with water later, areas that are white in your sketch will eventually pick up the lightest possible shade of the nearby colors. Leave areas where you want the lightest colors blank as you add your base colors.^[5]

1

Apply water to your rough sketch and base color. The size of the brush will depend on the size of your drawing and where you want the watercolor effect. Thinner brushes are better for precise, detail work. Thicker brushes are better for more abstract looks. Dip the brush into a small bowl of clean water, then wipe it gently on the rim of the bowl.^[6]
2

Gently brush water onto your pencil work. Use smooth strokes as you use the brush to spread the pigment from the watercolor pencils. As you apply the water, mimic the shape and direction of the pencil strokes. This will feel the most like watercolor painting, except that instead of dipping your brush into watercolor paint, you're using water to spread pigment already on the paper. Dip the brush back in the water when it feels dry against the paper.^[7]
3
Let the first layer dry before applying a second. You can layer on water to create an even stronger watercolor effect. Let the first application of water dry completely before applying a second. Use your fingertip to test the paper – it should feel completely dry when you press down on it gently. Test your painting every five minutes or so.^[8]
- How long it will take the layers to dry will depend on how much water you used and how much space you covered.

1
Add another layer of pencil. This is your chance to deepen the colors of your painting. Once the first water application has dried, you can either add more of the same color to deepen your base color, or you can add another color for a layer effect.^[9]
- For example, if you're adding shading to your painting, use blue and brown watercolor pencils layered on top of each other. Once the water is applied and the pigments blend, they'll create a true black.
2

Apply another layer of water. What brushes you use for your second application of water will depend on what sort of layering work you did. If you worked on small areas for deepening color, use a smaller brush. Larger areas can take a larger brush.^[10]
3

Dampen the tip of the pencil before drawing detail. Dampening the tip of your watercolor pencil will create a brighter pigment when it's applied to paper. Dip the tip of your pencil into a bowl of water, and then trace the contours of your painting to add detail and definition. You can also use dampened pencils to add detail on top of painted areas.^[11]

1

Draw your complete picture. Since you'll only be applying 1 layer of water, make sure your picture is completed in watercolor pencil first. You can layer all of the colors you want and add as much detail as you like.^[12]
2

Fill a spray bottle with clean water. You don't need to fill the spray bottle up all the way. A few ounces should do, unless you've created a huge work. Then you might need the whole bottle!^[13]
3
Spray your drawing with water. You should use enough water so that you see the colors begin to bleed into each other. Spray slowly and gently, since spraying too much water too fast can cause the colors to completely mix on the paper.^[14]
- How close you hold the bottle to the paper is up to you. Holding it close will cause the colors to bleed a lot and lose a lot of their definition. Holding it further away will result in less bleeding and more definition.
4

Let the painting dry for 1 hour. If your drawing is larger than 8.5 in (22 cm) by 11 in (28 cm), it may take longer than an hour to dry. Test the painting with your fingertip, pressing down lightly. You shouldn't feel any moisture under your finger.^[15]
5
Add detail with watercolor pencil. If you want, you can add detail after the painting has dried. You can clarify borders, add wording, and do anything that requires clarity and detail. Or you can leave your painting as is!^[16]
- If you want your detail to be very pigmented, dip the tip of your pencil into a bit of water before you begin drawing.

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Question

Can you erase regular pencil marks under a watercolor painting?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

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 you're not getting as much graphite on the paper (or making grooves where the paint can settle in). Try to erase the lines as you go so that they don't get covered up completely with paint, which can make them harder to erase. Choose a gentle eraser, such as a white vinyl eraser, to avoid damaging your paper and paint.
Question

Can you use regular colored pencils as watercolor pencils?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Unfortunately, no. Many colored pencils are formulated to be water-resistant, while others simply don't react to water the way a watercolor pencil does. The pigments won't dissolve and spread in water the way watercolor pencil pigments do, so you won't get the same paint-like results.
Question

Can I use watercolor pencils dry?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, watercolor pencils can produce beautiful, vivid results even if you use them without water. Simply use them like normal colored pencils.
Question

Can this method be used with adult coloring books?

You can use watercolour pencils in adult colouring books but it is not advisable for small details such as eyes and tiny designs. Also, watercolour pencils are not suitable for certain types of paper, such as printer paper because you are adding water to the colours.
Question

Can I use watercolor pencils in a sketchbook?

Yes, just make sure that the paper is thick. If the paper is too thin or soft, then it will soak up too much water and tear.
Question

Can you just dip the pencil into the water if you don't have a brush? What other alternatives can be used?

It depends on the look for which you're going. If you do this, you will get a very strong/bold color that is hard to blend (but good for details).
Question

How would I protect watercolor pencil artwork?

Spray the piece with fixative. If you wish to add more color on the top, use workable fixative. Keep in mind that you will not be able to erase pencil or blend below the layer of fixative. If you do not want to do that, you could also put it inside a frame or archival/acid-free plastic sleeve.
Question

Can water color pencils be possible for the face?

If the pencils blend easily and are quite light. Test your pencils out on a separate sheet to see what method/pencils work best for you as all watercolor pencils are unique in texture and pigmentation.
Question

Is there a wrong way to use watercolor pencils?

Not really. They are very versatile and can be used for many different things (pencil drawings, soft watercolor pieces, vivid pieces, etc.). However, I would advise against using them as regular colored pencils, as the colors are very strong and it is hard to blend them without using water.
Question

How do I use watercolor pencils for a background effect?

Shade a layer of the colour that you want for your background (if you want it to be light and soft, shade lightly, if you want it to be vivid, press hard, etc). Using a flat brush, brush water onto the background in a certain direction. Applying a consistent amount of pressure to the brush, using a consistent water and applying a consistent amount of pressure and pigment will obtain a flat background. This technique can be applied to gradient effects.

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The water will carry colors into each other. Keep this in mind if you're beginning in an area with a dark color and moving to an area with a light color.
To remove color, dip a cotton swab or ball into water and gently wipe away the color.
Consider creating a test chart. Shade a small area with each pencil and then use a brush dipped in water to paint over half of it. This way you can see how the colors change when water is added.

Errors are difficult to undo.

Things You'll Need

A pencil
A set of watercolor pencils.
A cup or bowl of water
Watercolor paintbrushes
Drawing or watercolor paper

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Article SummaryX

To use watercolor pencils, start by sketching a rough outline of your drawing in regular pencil on a piece of watercolor paper. Then, fill in parts of your drawing with watercolor pencils, skipping over the parts you want to have the lightest shade. When you're finished, dip a paintbrush in some water and gently brush it over the watercolor pencil marks to spread the color around. Finally, let your drawing dry completely before moving or displaying it. To learn how to use watercolor pencils with a spray bottle, scroll down!

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