EXPLORING WATERCOLOUR PENCILS – Simple Techniques

PREPARING THE PAPER

1. Tape a single piece of watercolour paper to a plastic placemat or piece of stiff cardboard.
2. Use masking tape to divide the paper into 4 sections.
3. When the tape is removed it will leave a white border around the paintings.
4. Be sure to use one long strip of tape for each side unless you want a broken border.

WET PENCIL

1. Do not wet the paper before starting.
2. Dip a pencil into water and then draw on the paper.
3. Use:
   - the pencil tip
   - the side of the pencil tip
   - more of the side
   - different pressure
4. Repeat the lines to create interesting patterns.
5. Imagine how you might use these lines, and or patterns in a picture.

3-D SHAPES

1. Draw some geometric and organic shapes with a pencil.
2. Colour around the inside edges of the shape with a dry pencil.
3. Use a wet paintbrush to wet the colour and spread it out into the shape so it goes from dark to light
4. Experiment with how much colour and water you use to get a 3-dimensional effect.

3-D LINES

1. Draw some wavy, horizontal lines across the paper.
2. Colour along the edges of the lines with a dry pencil.
3. Use a wet paintbrush to wet the colour and spread it out to the next line so it goes from dark to light.
4. Experiment with how much colour and water you use to get a 3-dimensional effect.

WET PAPER

1. Wet the entire paper with clear water.
2. Wet a paintbrush and paint it across the tip of a pencil to pick up colour.
3. Paint into the wet paper.
4. Repeat this process until the paper is filled with colour.
5. Push the wet paintbrush against the tip of the pencil to create splatters.

DRY PAPER

1. Wet a paintbrush and paint it across the tip of a pencil to pick up colour.
2. Paint on the dry paper until it is filled with colour.
3. Compare this painting with the wet paper painting.
4. Imagine how you might use these techniques in a picture.

RESIST

1. Stick small pieces of tape to the paper before painting.
2. Wet a paintbrush and paint it across the tip of a pencil to pick up colour.
3. Paint on the paper until it is filled with colour.
4. Go right over the tape.
5. Allow the paint to dry and then gently remove the tape.
6. Imagine what the white shapes might be.
7. Add details or leave the shapes as they are.

CRAYON RESIST

1. Use crayons to draw a design on the paper. Press hard while colouring.
2. Leave lots of the paper uncoloured.
3. Wet a paintbrush and paint it across the tip of a pencil to pick up colour.
4. Paint over the crayon drawing letting different colours blend together.

WET OVER DRY

1. Colour a variety of colours (or just one) directly on the paper with a dry pencil.
2. Paint over the colour with a wet paintbrush. (Don’t get it too wet.)
3. Wet a paintbrush and paint it across the tip of a pencil to pick up colour.
4. Paint over the first layer of colour until the paper is filled with strong colour.
5. Allow the paint to dry.
6. Paint over the dry paint with contrasting colours.

1. Gently remove the tape.
2. Examine your experiments.
3. Imagine how you might use these techniques in a picture.

1. Choose 3 of the 8 techniques to discuss with a partner.
   - Why did you choose these techniques?
   - How would you use these techniques in a picture?
   - What did you like best about using watercolour pencils?