Use watercolor pencils for both drawing and painting.
Artists use watercolor pencils to combine the convenience of colored pencils with the versatility of watercolor paints. If you carry watercolor pencils and a sketchbook, you can make watercolor sketches on the go without hauling an easel and watercolor supplies. Watercolor pencils also come in handy for practicing basic art skills and working with kids. Some ideas for using watercolor pencils can help you become familiar with these versatile art tools.
Practice Painting an Apple
Draw several apple outlines on watercolor paper and use different kinds of pencil strokes on each apple. Use vertical strokes on one, horizontal on another, crisscrossed strokes on the third, and circular strokes on the fourth. Add shadows near the bottom of one or two apples. Moisten a paint brush and stroke over each apple to see what happens with the various types of pencil strokes. Brush more water onto the apples to see how much the pigment lightens when diluted.
Embellish Scrapbook Pages
Use watercolor pencils to highlight scrapbook pages.
If you use stamps and drawings on scrapbook pages, watercolor pencils can give you special effects by adding color. Use a wet brush to moisten the tip of a watercolor pencil and apply the pigment to a flower, leaf or other piece of art on your page. Draw a tree trunk with a dry watercolor pencil and moisten a brush to blend some of the pencil strokes. On a separate piece of paper, scribble several green hues and use a moist brush to pick up the color and paint leafy branches on the tree.
Make Bookmarks
Kids can make mixed media bookmarks with minimal mess.
Students can learn basic watercolor resist techniques by using watercolor pencils. After rubbing color from the side of the pencil tip onto heavy paper, moisten the pigment with a brush and sprinkle salt onto the wet pigment. Students will see the salt push the pigment away to create the effect of sparkles or snowflakes. For another resist, students can draw a simple shape with a conventional white crayon and add color using a brush loaded with moistened pigment from a watercolor pencil. The white crayon drawing will show through the paint. Cut the paper into bookmark sizes when the paint dries and laminate.
Tint Black and White Photos
For inexpensive art, use watercolor pencils to tint black and white photos printed on drawing paper. Use watercolor pencils to experiment with tints and textures on the copies. Moisten areas suitable for pencil lines and lightly draw into the wet paper to see how the pigment spreads. For a sprinkle effect, rub sandpaper across the desired watercolor pencil and let the shavings fall onto lightly moistened areas of the photos. Use the sides of pencil tips to fill in selected areas and blend with a brush.
