Watercolor pencils: This detail changes EVERYTHING!

[@paintingandchocolate]

Which version is your fave? More about watercolor pencils in this playlist : kzbin.info/aero/PLDOODfin0x04eIrhCotk_UGkxO8hlY6zK

[@WingedJedi]

My Arches hot pressed paper has been lying in a corner for ages, because of the reasons you mentioned. I had no idea that it works so well with watercolor pencils, but I gotta give it a try now!

[@paintingandchocolate]

It does, glad you will find a use for it!🙂

[@exmoorbeastie]

Interesting but predictable. Paper choice is critical, but ones style is also crucial. My own tests like yours produced the same result. However, I have noticed a marked difference between the performances of pulp paper ie non cotton. The sizing plays a big part. For example, Seawhites of Brighton make a 140gsm cartridge paper journal which I have found better than Hahnemuhle 200gsm travel journals! My conclusion is that one must test them all to find which suits ones own style. I like that you do this kind video. It will be very helpful to early learners. Many thanks.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you 🙂 We came to the same conclusion then, an evolving quest of the right supplies at the stage one is at.

[@doralevitt2879]

@@paintingandchocolate Here you go - I found it! 😄🤗🕊️🌹 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn6wcql7rdGgq80

[@paintingandchocolate]

@@doralevitt2879 thank you

[@annenglish2935]

Chocolate caught my eye... what a great gift!!! You're such a delight to watch, even though I'm a beginner in watercolor. I am currently looking forward to a purchase of Faber Castell Polychromos and the Albrecht Durer... 36 set. Colors in both tins are the same. Your paintings are very beautiful! Such talent!!! I haven't watched too many pencil videos... so interesting to see the comparison! Thank 😊 you for a lesson that was so filled with tips... I had to eat some chocolate to celebrate! Much love, from a California Gramma ❤️

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for your kind message, I also like good chocolate to celebrate 🙂

[@annenglish2935]

Merci!!! ❤️

[@stevendavis7628]

Thank you for this! Especially when the results weren't expected. Have you experimented with pre-wetting the paper like you do for watercolors? Please keep up coverage of watercolor pencils! It seems most channels just dabble in them and then move on.

[@paintingandchocolate]

I did prewet the paper before but for landscapes only so far 🙂

[@brucetidwell7715]

The fourth one is clearly inferior but the other three are very similar. I think it would come down to the actual feel of drawing/painting and maybe, as you mentioned, how an individual brand of pencils works. I think I would probably like hot press better because I often start with a base layer of watercolor and then build up multiple thin layers with watercolor pencils to add depth and details so I don't necessarily need a heavy coat of color. I also paint for pleasure so I'm not concerned about working fast. What I generally don't care for is pencil marks, unless I consciously plan for them to be there. I have matching sets of watercolor pencils and wax pencils so that when I want pencil marks I can add them in a controlled way. I actually recommend that. There are so many interesting effects that you can get by playing the regular pencils off against the watercolor.

[@paintingandchocolate]

So much to discover still about this medium! Your process sounds so creative and interesting!

[@LuchaCatDIY]

Wonderful tutorial and explanation 😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

I am happy to know this, glad it helped 🙂

[@rmuller366]

Hot press + Inktense pencils = success. Hands down, hot press is the best to use with these pencils. As far as the mixing board, I bought a textured cutting board at the dollar tree store. It works great for less $. Blessings to you!

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for your kind message and sharing about your own experience 🙂

[@JC-il4or]

Very interesting. For smooth transition with water, I like the Caran D'ache museum. I do dislike wetting my pencils...but love my caran dache palatte.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Yes I love this palette too, I use it for everything but traditional watercolor now.

[@danyelhudon458]

I like using hot press paper Arches for my colouring with coloured pencils and cold press Arched with my oil pastel mainly, but I don’t experience yet my watercolour Albrecht Durer nor my Museum too with these papers, but only with Strathmore series 400 with my Watercolour pencil dryness. On the black paper those watercolour coloured pencils are popping out amazingly when it is using in dry way! I love your channel, keep going on, bc it is interesting always! ❤😊, from Quebec in Canada 🇨🇦.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@RebeccaWilcox-f6x]

I know you had to work harder with Strathmore but I could tell pretty early on it looks, to me, more realistic and vibrant (minus the build-up at the end). The Arches hot press (3) is a runner-up and the Arches cold press is an extremely close 3rd. I agree with not using cellulose for watercolor pencils. The results could discourage new users and make them think it's them rather than the paper. Thank you so much for this.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂 it helps!

[@catbraunwell6450]

I actually liked the strathmore paper look the best. Also didn’t understand why you added all the little white spots at the end? Great video though thank you so much.

[@paintingandchocolate]

I love to add the bright highlights last, it's most convenient this way and also super satisfying.

[@larysacherner312]

It's very helpful, thank you very much! 🌷 I'm also wondering if your opinion of these 4 types of paper changed as it's been over a year since you made the video?

[@paintingandchocolate]

I still lean towards the great quality watercolor papers and love results on thick drawing paper that is smooth but not too much. Next video will cover that 🙂

[@larysacherner312]

​​​@@paintingandchocolateI see. I was wondering whether you prefer hot or cold press now. Thank you very much for your reply! I look forward to your next video😊

[@yesimk.7708]

First one is the best looking

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for letting me know 🙂

[@nanschifris8734]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome!

[@danyelhudon458]

It is difficult to say for me actually, I had loved to expérimented with cold press for portrait with oil pastel and préfèred the hot press for marker, and feeling confortable with Strathmore for my colouring pencils, but I am wondering which kind of psper I would prefer with my Albrecht Durer! Tky for your testing review! 😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome, it's difficult with all these choices and mediums🙂

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautif water color nice

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you!

[@myrnalandersartist]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome!

[@jpcolindesign517]

Thanks. Very helpful video.

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome!

[@bobbiegraham7729]

I would have liked the same reference for all 4 paintings. The one on CP is so much darker. The 1st has the most vibrant colors.

[@paintingandchocolate]

I see what you mean, it's one reference split into 4 and yes some parts are darkee.

[@bobbiegraham7729]

@@paintingandchocolate I'm experimenting with 3 brands of gonache on Arches 140 CP (love this paper) but using same reference. There will always be differences but same starting point helps. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful work. I'm a realistic painting fan as well so the gouache should be interesting .

[@paintingandchocolate]

@@bobbiegraham7729 i bet! I havent tried gouache enough but I wouldn't mind it.

[@adyatmah2954]

Thanks ❤️

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome!

[@dimitrioskalfakis]

all your work was impressive especially the cold press ones. i understand cold/hot press paper is a subjective and personal preference depending on intent and style.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Yes, and thank you🙂

[@patriciagleve4784]

Am I the only one who liked the painting on the Strathmore Bristol? Colours were pretty glossy from the get-go, and kept that sheen. Hot-pressed paper was second (for me) cold pressed 3rd & then the cellulose paper.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Strathmore bristol has its charm for sure. For me it felt lenghty to layer and the fact it's not the best with water otherwise I could make do if I didn't have Arches I bet!

[@duffycat7021]

I prefer Arches HP paper. Thanks for sharing.

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome and thank you for sharing !

[@lizday8140]

I have watched professional botanical watercolor artist's videos and they seem to all prefer the Arches HP. Unfortunately, with supply being what it is these days, they expressed frustration in not being able to find it in local markets and were having to order online and wait for painful lengths of time to get it. Perhaps the further away from lockdowns we get, the better the Supply Chain becomes.

[@paintingandchocolate]

@@lizday8140 i noticed this for other types of more rare cotton papers but not Arches but then I always order mine online.

[@almas.2530]

Mi papel favorito para los lápices acuarelables es el Arches hot press. También va bien el Canson mix media y es mucho más económico. Tengo que probar el Strathmore, que me ha gustado mucho al verlo en el vídeo.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Estoy contenta que a tu te gustas, gracias para tu mensaje 🙂

[@grannieannie1371]

For me I hate the texture of cold press in my drawings. I find details and nuances more fun with hot press. Also I feel like the pigment sits on top of the paper if that makes sense on the hot press.

[@paintingandchocolate]

It's nice you have your favorite, thank you for sharing how hot press feels for you!

[@heatherhoward2513]

The 4th one is not successful but it might be good for other work. I'm an arches hp fan for coloured pencils, and I liked that one best. I'm using Reeves 300cp at a class at present and I can't say I'm a fan of it, however it's what the tutor proscribed, so I'll live with it. Overall, that was very interesting.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for your feedback, I never used Reeves.

[@doralevitt2879]

I love how the cherries came out but for me the backgrounds are way too dark. I have so many different sketch pads and a few different watercolor pads, but I think my favorite was the hot press pic as I don't like anything toothy- even canvases, and I double prime it sometimes to get a smoother finish so I'm going to try next a hot press pad, plus I've been wanting to try a 300lb sheet of paper, I even saw a 400lb sheet which felt like hard dry wall. Oh- can you do a wc painting on black WC paper, I finally scraped up enough (wasn't cheep 😣) the Stonehenge black WC pad, I do have iridescent WC paints as well as Cotman metallic wc paints but haven't tried it yet- thank you! 😳🤔😄🤗🧑‍🎨🖌️🎨🖼️

[@paintingandchocolate]

I can imagine, I bought something like a 600 gsm watercolor paper once by mistake. Black watercolor paper us on my list to try 🙂

[@doralevitt2879]

@@paintingandchocolate Cool and thank you for replying, I just finally bought recently the Golden absorbent ground for priming canvas for doing watercolor but haven't used it yet, I also want to get black watercolor ground for black canvases I have, but I'm not crazy about the Daniel Smith one as it's seems too watery to me, I did look into other brands and can't seem to find it in black but I'll keep looking. I once watched a review video on 4 different wc grounds and their effects when painting on it, and the Golden seemed to have the best finish compared to the others, I'll look through my history list and post the link so you can watch it 🤗🕊️🌹

[@paintingandchocolate]

@@doralevitt2879 I smam featuring the transparent one in a next video and gesso but haven't tried black yet!

[@Martin-lele]

Actually the First cherry Part With the drawing paper looks More realistic than the Other three parts ❤

[@paintingandchocolate]

It does look good. I remember it took longer because it's so smooth to color on.

[@susanbowman2054]

I like the hot press paper the best

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for letting me know

[@wave9181]

Your videos are so therapeutic...all the best ..please stay the same😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you 🙂

[@wave9181]

@@paintingandchocolate please can you recommend some good qlty brush? I am beginner but keeps geting put of with the brushes i have many thanks

[@paintingandchocolate]

I like the petit gris mix mop paintbrushes, been using them since I started. Mine are Raphaël paintbrushes.

[@indigodande4345]

Strathmore looks the best

[@paintingandchocolate]

Minus the shine it does look nice, thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@morandi9inna9marius]

It was interesting to watch and I guess I prefer first 2 versions. But either way they look so juicy so now I want some cherries 🍒🍒🍒🍒😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

I agree it looks juicy in the end 🙂

[@debbyleiper8367]

First one

[@susanbowman2054]

The first two are too shin

[@serenityjewel]

Strathmore looked better