Designed and distributed by Matisse Derivan, an art supply company based in Australia, Derivan liquid pencil is a relatively new art medium designed for creating graphite drawing effects with a liquid application (see link in Resources). The result is a drawing with the appearance of being a pencil sketch but with textures and styles no pencil could ever create. Liquid pencil is an entirely unique visual art medium.
Instructions
1. Decide which type of Derivan pencil you want to use for your drawing. First, you will want to decide between permanent and non-permanent (water-based) graphite liquid. The permanent liquid pencil will remain in place, unalterable, once it is dry, like acrylic paint. The water-based liquid pencil will be powdery and erasable when dry, like regular pencil, and will need to be sprayed with a fixative to be permanent.
2. Select colors of liquid pencil for your drawing. Derivan's liquid pencil comes in six colors: red, sepia, yellow, blue and two shades of gray. These are shades of graphite color, so they're all a colored tinge of gray rather than a true color (see link in Resources). You can use a combination of colors for your drawing or use a single color and create varying shades by applying the liquid more or less thickly on the paper.
3. Thin the liquid pencil as needed. Thinning the liquid will help you apply it in lighter shades and help with applicators that need thinner liquids (such as a quill pen). The water-based liquid pencil can be thinned using water while the permanent liquid will need an acrylic medium. (The manufacturer recommends MM9 medium on its website).
4. Apply liquid pencil as you would paint, using brushes. Try brushes of different length, thickness and stiffness, depending on the effects you want to create. Greater stiffness and smaller size will give you more control over lines, while longer, swishier brushes will allow you to cover larger areas.
5. Use a quill pen to create fine, controllable lines in your drawing. An old-fashioned quill pen with a dipping tip (not a fountain pen with a reservoir) will allow you to create fine lines that are easier to keep straight and consistent than brush effects.
6. Experiment with liquid pencil and non-traditional applicators. Liquid graphite can be applied using any object you can dip into it. Try cotton swabs or balls for a wash of consistent shading. Use the tip of a bamboo skewer for short lines with uneven shade. See what effects you can create with your fingers. The possibilities are almost endless.
7. Mix the use of liquid pencil with traditional pencil in your drawing. If you find you need the control and effects you're used to getting with a standard drawing pencil for certain parts of your drawing, give the liquid pencil some time to dry, then switch. For best results, test your pencil color with your liquid pencil color beforehand to make sure you like how the shades match.
