Watercolor pastels look like ordinary colored pastels at first glance, but when you add water, they take on the beautiful look of watercolors. This article gives a basic overview of one of the many ways to use them.
Steps
Step 1. Draw a pencil sketch of your subject
It doesn't need to be too detailed, but include the main lines and points. Do not shade the drawing.
Step 2. Create a color table
With each of the colored crayons you have decided to use, paint a small square and run the wet brush over it. This will allow you to see how your colors are rendered, as some take on a totally different look once water is added.
Step 3. Overlay some colors together and add water
Blending colors in this way can produce beautiful effects and add dimension to your design.
Step 4. Use your base color (s), and color your subject lightly and evenly
Don't worry about the shadows just yet.
Step 5. Create a second layer of the design with your base color
This time, leave the bright areas blank and shade your shadow areas.
Step 6. Using your chosen shadow color (black, or a shade darker than your base color), shade the dark areas further
Using more than one color to shade your design will give a sense of three-dimensionality.
Step 7. With your chosen highlight color (White, or a shade lighter than your base color), lightly color the highlights and surrounding areas of your design
Step 8. Finish your pencil drawing
Step 9. Using a soft, medium or small brush, paint over the design with the water-soaked brush
Make sure your brushstrokes match the contours of your subject. Start with just a little water, and gradually add more to produce a more fluid effect. The more water is added, the lighter the color will become and the less crayon lines will be seen. However, if you use too much, the colors will run off. Use a smaller brush for detailed areas.
Step 10. Once your first layer of water has dried, you can dip the crayons themselves in the water to add areas of intense color or additional detail
Doing this results in a very strong color, and it is difficult to hide mistakes.
Step 11. If you want, you can go back to your design now, with another layer of shades
You may or may not want to add water to this level.
Advice
- Shade lightly and evenly, deep grooves may remain or indent the paper in unwanted places.
- When painting with water, move from the lighter areas to the darker ones. The brush will bring the dark colors to the light areas if you don't.
- You may be able to remove small errors by adding water and blotting it with a paper towel. This method is especially good for lightening small areas where you have lost light. Once dry it may still work, depending on the brand of watercolor crayon. Derwent Inktense and Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pastels do not re-wet and cannot be lightened once dry, but Prismacolor, Derwent Graphitint, any graphite Sketch and Wash, Derwent Watercolor and many other brands "reactivate" if you moisten them again. Paint the light spot with clean water and dab lightly to remove the color. Repeat as long as necessary unless the surface of the paper begins to damage.
- Try out unexpected color combinations on a separate sheet of watercolor paper or a mixed sketch pad. Try mixing complementary colors like orange and blue or yellow and purple. Check if mixing two dark colors, such as Indigo and Dark Brown, can give a fuller shade of black than pastel black. Sometimes overlapping very bright colors in the right order and combination can result in richer browns and grays than those resulting from pastel browns and grays.
- If you're planning on drawing a background, you should do that first.
- Do not add pencil to wet areas, it will create a dark color that cannot be changed.
- If you find that an area is too dark before adding water, use a gum to lighten it. Squeeze the gum and flatten it on the area to be lightened. Peel it off, roll it out and roll it up, repeat until it's lightened enough. This method is light enough not to damage the surface of the paper as opposed to rubbing different types of eraser.
- Try a water brush - a watercolor brush with nylon bristles and a plastic handle that has a water receptacle inside, which provides a steady flow of water to the tip. They are available from Niji, Derwent, Sakura and several other manufacturers. Incredibly convenient for watercolor pastels, they can be cleaned by simply wiping them with a cloth until they leave no residue before moving on to a different area of color.
- Your pencil strokes and brushstrokes should go in a direction that agrees with the contours of your subject.
