Watercolor pencils act like both a wet and a dry pigment.
With a watercolor pencil, an artist has wet and dry color in one tool. Unlike wax-based regular colored pencils, watercolor pencils contain a water-based lead. This feature makes it possible for artists to achieve a wide variety of effects using only watercolor pencils and water. The portability of this tool also makes it an attractive supply, particularly for traveling and outdoor artwork. The only other tool an artist might need to add when working with watercolor pencils to create many different effects is a small paintbrush.
Pencil Sketch Tool
Use watercolor pencils just like regular colored pencils to create sketches. Use the pencil dry on dry paper to create lines or build up color. Use tools such as cotton swabs or artist stubs to create softened areas by blending colored areas. Watercolor pencils offer a simple art tool for children as well as a suitable tool for established artists.
Watercolor Effect Tool
Watercolor pencils contain soft pigments held together in the lead with a water-based material. To use them as a tool with a watercolor effect, hold the pencil against the paper and brush the lead with a wet paintbrush. The pigment transfers to the paper and behaves like traditional watercolors for washes or paintings. You can also use a small piece of lead mixed with water in a small, shallow container to create a watercolor wash.
Wet-Dry Effect Tool
Use watercolor pencils as a tool to achieve sharp, blurred, washed or vivid effects. For a vivid, sharp line, wet the lead and draw on dry paper. For a blurred but vivid line, wet the lead and draw on wet paper. To create a watercolor wash effect with vivid, sharp lines, draw a composition with strong, sharp lines. When finished, go over the entire drawing with a wet paintbrush. The colors blend and blur, creating the effect of a watercolor wash.
Mixed-Media Tool
Watercolor pencils work well with other artist tools to create mixed -media designs. After drawing a watercolor pencil sketch on wet or dry paper and adding any watercolor wash effects with a paintbrush, allow it to dry. Add acrylic paint to create light or dark areas. Add the acrylic paint with a small paint brush or use the watercolor pencil lead as a blending tool to smudge and blend the acrylic paint.
