Watercolor Pencils

some tips to get you started

When I first started my art adventures, my focus was botanical art and I used pencils for all of my work. Fast forward a decade or two, my art has expanded, and I still love pencils! Pencils are great for fast sketches, detailed work, and layering over watercolor and gouache. I use watercolor pencils the most because they are versatile, easily portable, and if you add a bit of water then you have even more ways to use them.

You may already have a set of watercolor pencils in your art box which is great. If you are looking to purchase some, I recommend starting with a small set (12 pencils) of good quality watercolor pencils. There are several good brands on the market and each one has the option to purchase pencils separately. This way you can replace frequently used colors or try new colors without having to spend a lot. My preferred brand is the Derwent Watercolour pencil line (pictured above). They were the first set I ever used and I love the way they perform. If you have a brand you like, you should use it. I am a huge advocate for using what you have.

Just a few of the subjects you can create with watercolor pencils. Each painting uses 1 or more of the techniques listed below. You can even use pencils on toned paper like the bird in the middle.

Before we work on some projects, I think it’s helpful to get familiar with some of the techniques you can use. This post is all about play and experimentation. This should be a fun time; mix some color, splash some water, and see what happens without worrying about the end result.

Gather all your supplies

The list below is a guide, if you already have some/all of these please use them. Your results may be different from mine but that is what makes art so interesting.

• Watercolor pencils - a small set of 12 will give you more than enough to get started and learn more about color mixing

• Watercolor paper - look for 140 lb (300 gsm) cold-pressed paper

• Brushes - a small and medium size (my go to brushes are no. 2 and no. 6 rounds)

• Container of water

• Paper towels

The fun part…using your pencils

There are many ways to use your pencils. Here is a quick list of some common techniques. I also put a couple of videos at the end in case you want to see the techniques in action.

• The most common use is to apply the color directly to the paper and then use a wet brush to dissolve the pigment into a wash.

• You can layer colors onto a piece of scrap paper, wet them to mix the colors, and then apply the mix like regular watercolor paint.

• Use a wet brush to lift color directly from the pencil and apply it to the paper.

• Use dry pencil to add details over an already dried wash. This is a great technique for feathers, fur, and leaf veining and flower stamen (like in the flower above).

• Broken pencil bits can be dissolved in a small amount of water and applied like paint.

• If you rub a pencil over sandpaper or an emery board you will make little particles which can be applied to damp paper to create a mottled effect.

• If you like to pre-sketch your subjects before painting you can use a watercolor pencil instead of graphite. Pick a light color so that it will blend into your painting. My favorite color for this technique is light violet, the color is dark enough to see but once it is wet it blends into the existing colors.

• If you need to make small dots, like those in the lily pictured above, dip the tip of your pencil in water and then press it onto the paper.

See the techniques in action

The videos below demonstrate many of the techniques mentioned above. I hope you try them. If you do, leave a comment on how it went or post your work on Instagram and tag it #kellimcnicholsart so I can see it and like it (I love seeing what you create).

What’s next

I am already working on some projects for you to try which will be shared over the next couple of newsletters. They will use many of the techniques covered in this post plus some additional best practices that I have discovered over the years. I hope you are ready for more watercolor pencil fun.

Until next time…Happy Painting!

Kelli ♥

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