Watercolor pencils are a creative addition to your art projects.
Watercolor pencils add dimension and design to your drawing endeavors. The watercolor pencils work well alone as colored pencils or by dipping in water. Grab a few pencils, some paper and a few brushes and head outdoors for an afternoon of drawing and painting. Practice different methods of using watercolor pencils until you feel comfortable with the results.
Brush Painting
Using a brush dipped in water will alter the color and texture of your art project. The more water you add to the drawing, the more diluted the color becomes. You can experiment with shading techniques by the amount of water and colors you use. The best brushes for painting with watercolor pencils are flat bristle -- one for small details and a larger brush for washes and large areas. Another artistic idea is to paint the entire background with clear water and use your watercolor pencil to create a bleeding appearance.
Layers of Color
Layering colors with watercolor pencils require some experimentation. After adding water or another solvent such as alcohol, the colors may appear darker than what might be expected from a regular colored pencil. Work with different color combinations over different color washes until satisfied with the results. A blender stick also works for creating different effects of color layers.
Projects
Use 140 lb. watercolor paper -- either smooth or textured surface. Execute your drawing with your watercolor pencil, and brush on a coat of water. Sprinkle coarse salt into the wet surface to create different effects. Try a cotton swab dipped in alcohol for another outcome. When the surface is dry, draw a detailed design with your pencils. Design your own greeting cards, place cards or bookmarks or add embellishments to family scrapbooks. Take a black and white photo -- printed on heavy paper -- and add color with a watercolor pencil, brush and water.
Mixed Media
Watercolor pencils can be used effectively with other paint mediums. Use pastels with watercolor paintings to create different effects. Make a background wash of color gradations with watercolor pencils and blend with a coat of water; after the paint is dry, add a pen and ink drawing with water-soluble India ink, adding extra pencil lines for color and dimension.
