Watercolour Tips For Pencil and Wash Technique

[@dianequinn1500]

A sensitive, masterful account. Thank you. I am someone who loves drawing and who would love to be successful with watercolour, but I too complicate tone and colour. You have been a godsend. Your method suits me, and I have, thanks to you, been able to produce some good drawings and some decent watercolours!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Wow, Thanks Diane, your comment just made my day! Its wonderful to hear you are producing some nice watercolours! I think complicating tone and colour is a common problem, and not one that's easy to master quickly, I struggled with it for years, until I started with pencil and wash, Its a wonderful method, and I'm glad it suits you too, thanks again for your nice comment:)

[@amypak]

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for answering all my questions!! I'm finding nothing out there on the pencil and wash technique, and I'm so intrigued with the look of it. I didn't want to put a ton of time into a full illustration without getting some answers first, and your answers were exactly what I was hoping to hear. My son is going to be publishing a children's book in the next year and I'm doing the illustrations for it. I loved the look of a couple of watercolor paintings I found with a graphite sketch that was preserved below the watercolor, but couldn't find anything on the topic. This is perfect!

[@lisaprentiss8599]

Ha, great, you just answered a question I asked on another of your videos!! You are an excellent artist and teacher! Thank you!!

[@marcwheeler4406]

Interesting view points...

[@maureendaunt8665]

Wonderful in-depth explanation. I have watched you demonstrate pencil and wash in the past but when I tried I did experience the granite lifting and thought my painting lost some freshness. I will certainly try again now and experiment with your ideas regarding choice of paper etc. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I am so pleased to see you posting regularly now. Many 🙏👌

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you 🙏

[@smooth_Koala]

just found your channel, probably going to binge watch all of your videos. soooo good.

[@tonygreen971]

Well thought out presentation of the facts that I am sure will help and inspire many people to "have a go" with this technique or just to incorporate these ideas into the work they are already doing. Thanks Smoothie, as always I enjoyed watching.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks Tony, I've had a few nice comments saying its helped them with their watercolours, that's good news!

[@rutbrea5140]

Very methodical explanation and technique. I am trying to work with watercolors but was finding it to be kind of disappointing because I always work with oils, but your teachings have helped me a lot at this time. Thank you for sharing, I hope you are successful with your teachings on the Internet. Thank you. You are very kind.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you, I'm pleased my videos have helped you, thanks again for the nice comment :)

[@thuntz29]

I’ve seen this method on botanical watercolours but not much in landscape. : D thank you for the video! I’ve been learning coloured pencils and thought about using them in conjunction with watercolours.

[@waltpierluissi2301]

I do like your technique, I am a firm biliever that for a good watercolor piece we must achieve a quiality drawing first.... so, thanks for your ideas and videos, they have help me a lot to improve my art.... I am not a professional artist, but I do love to draw and paint, and I have been doing so since the 70's.... I have used Oils, Acrylics and recently my new found passion have been watercolors.... Thanks..

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you Walter, I'm so pleased to hear my videos have helped you, this is the reason I post these videos, to help and inspire as many people as I can, and its just great to receive nice comments like yours...it keeps me on track, I wish you all the joy and success with your painting! thank you.

[@Bryo25]

An excellent video again Smoothie. I've known about this technique for years but only with Photoshop. So now I've gone back to basics and started using pencils and watercolours. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're welcome Brian, Grisaille is a great technique, I think its a real game changer for people that struggle combining tone and colour. thanks for the comment, much appreciated!

[@edwgwilymedwgwilym2827]

Another very instructive tutorial. Thanks! I‘m learning all the time.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're welcome William, thanks for the comment.

[@dwbrady5795]

Thank you for answering a lingering question. Happy New Year.

[@alatriste2222]

I like your scientific experimental approach. I like way more the "drawing" part, but I wanted to add some color. I will definitely give this a try. Thanks.

[@keithevans7933]

Hi, Thanks for the demo on graphite stability. I have been struggling with watercolour for a long time - I keep knocking it on the head and going back to opaque media - acrylic, oil, pastel - anything! :-) Until I saw your demos, I had no idea that this could be done with any success. I really like the depth and structure of the pictures you make and I will certainly be giving it a go! Thanks for sharing.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're welcome Keith, yours is a similar story to mind, I have always struggled with watercolour too, I'm not saying pencil and wash is the answer for everyone, but for us "strugglers" its certainly a good option if you can draw reasonably well:)

[@derickchatfield]

Yet again, a great video, thanks for your effort and time, to educate mere mortals like me. I always learn a lot from your videos, please keep up the great work.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hahaha, I'm just a mere mortal too, but I will try my best to keep posting these videos, especially if they are helping people, thanks for the kind words Derick, always appreciated!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

If anyones interested in the Alwyn Crawshaw watercolour course book, I have provided Amazon links for USA, and the UK, in the discription:)

[@pate8250]

Thanks very much for that explanation of the pencils. Because I've only ever had tuition in Botanical Illustration, I always use hot-pressed paper and an "f" pencil used as lightly as possible in the hope that my lines won't be visible after I've applied the watercolour. I'm keen to try some of the things you've shown.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're welcome Pat, sounds like this will be a new approach to watercolours for you, I hope you take to it, its a good method to use for certain things.

[@kathrynpetti598]

New subscriber here from Canada! Cannot wait to learn from you Smoothie!!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hi Kathryn, and welcome to the channel, hope you enjoy :)

[@jerzyk1293]

Thank you so much for explaining how to watercolor a drawing. The problem I have is that I learnt from you to make very detailed drawings (you are too excellent teacher :)), and after a lot of work I'm too afraid to ruin my work with poor wash! Anyway this tutorial gave me a lot of knowledge ... and I'll try. Greetings Smoothie.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're very welcome Jerzy, Its not really important that you do a very detailed drawing, the amount of drawing and detail is really up to the individual, but to establish the tones first can be very helpful when it come to the painting stage, yes detail looks good too and you can add as much or as little as you want, I'm pleased to hear you will give it a try, maybe practice on a rough sketch first if you are worried about ruining a good drawing. Thanks for nice comment :)

[@lvbailey1]

Yes! Exactly! Thank You!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're very welcome, and thank you too!

[@joycurry31]

Another great video thank you so much for explaining

[@glenmiller6404]

very good video ! I have used this method for a while now..works great for me !

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks Glen, its great to hear this method is working for you, I hope more people will give it a try.

[@martynsnan]

Really informative video. You've inspired me to experiment more. Thank you.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're very welcome, its always nice to hear people are getting inspired, thank you for the comment.

[@goldiewatts659]

Just found your channel recently and am so grateful for your videos, especially this one which answered so many questions for me, an old beginner who is really only comfortable with pencils. Can't wait to try the wash over pencil value studies. Very exciting. I also really appreciate your presentation, it's so pleasant and clear.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hi Goldie and welcome! I'm so pleased the video was helpful to you, thank you for such a nice comment, and for joining Patreon, I really appreciate it :)

[@carolblyth5854]

Just watched you eraser comparison....very useful...I have since found that the putty erasers will clean the stuff of the Zero pencils...saves a lot of expensive eraser !

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks for the tip Carol!

[@mariakellner2221]

Very informative ,i always enjoy your demos, congrats on 6000 subs.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hi Maria, thanks so much for the kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed the demo! www.marylkaart.com

[@silvanocece1365]

Thanks for sharing this experience and something I'm looking forward to try ✏️🎨👌

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're welcome Silvano, I wish you all the best :)

[@jrz7325]

Well done Smoothie! Thank you for sharing.

[@izakpolman6280]

Thanks for sharing. This is very informative.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

As always you're very welcome Izak, thanks for commenting.

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

I like Alwyn Crawshaw a lovely man, he captured my interest with the Polperro ones we had several holidays there. He was amazing he sat in a fishermans hut in the pouring rain just painting. But what fascinated me was how it all came together at the end with the pen and ink, truly amazing. It's an interesting concept I went on amazon and there are used books you can get for 1p plus postage, I think it might be worthwhile to do that.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

A lovely man indeed! and very encouraging too, there's a link in the description to the 1p books on Amazon, I highly recommend Alwyn's books, I have several of them.

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

smoothie77 I've ordered that one and his drawing and sketching one I need to learn how to do that as well. I watched this to try and prepare for the July project, but will make sure before then I can manage the hookers green lol I'm sure it will figure somewhere

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

That's great Margaret, Alwyn uses Hookers green too, I'm sure you will get some good tips from His books.

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

smoothie77 these days I seem to retain more info from the written word than the spoken, your explanations are wonderful I've rewatched the colour mixing one on patreon and will do so again and again till I've absorbed all the info, but I'm sure the books will help too

[@marlenevincent6019]

I am wondering if I could draw light pensil over a dry watercolor wash .,

[@gillinacook1477]

Which do you use, cold press or hot press?

[@rafaarmi5087]

I always learn with you. Thanks!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you Rafa, its nice to know these videos are helping you, I appreciate your comment.

[@NilRochaArt]

It's always good to see your videos I really like :]

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks very much Nil, I really appreciate it:)

[@movedon12]

Love your videos thank you much appreciated 🇬🇧🙋

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you Carole, that's very kind of you to say, I appreciate your comment:)

[@edwill62]

very informative

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you E Will, nice of you to say.

[@ELP979]

Thank you for answering me. I really like your watercolor and simple pencil works. I saw this video-I do not know English and there is no auto-translation in this video. Could you tell me briefly what is the difference between the pencils you are comparing. Left and right - which is better and what kind of pencils . Sorry. Thank you.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

There's no difference with the pencil, its just to show if the graphite makes the water dirty.

[@ELP979]

@@smoothie77drawingpainting Thank you very much - so we will check the pencils beforehand- thanks for the quick response . All the best to you

[@LinekeLijn]

Oh and I forgot, congratulations on your 6000 subs! :D

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you so much Lineke, I never thought I would get 6 subscribers, but 6000 is mind blowing, and congratulations to you too for getting 1800 subscribers, that's truly outstanding!!!

[@LinekeLijn]

Thank you dear!!! My mind exploded too. I am sure hoping to reach the 20000 by the end of march but I allready learned that you are a real channel when you reach the 100.000 and then KZbin sends you some kind of paque...? Well.... I will race you - but my guess is that you will pass me by far around that time ^.^ Want to take a Gambling bat?

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

That's a bet I'm sure to lose! :D Just imagine all the comments you will have to reply to when when you get 100,000, you will be glued to your computer for months :D

[@LinekeLijn]

Hmmmm... I am not so sure about that because the grow you get now is enormous.... And the second remark ^.^ I would not know about that but have a theorie: All I know is that most big KZbinrs do not reply at all but I guess it is because they just can't! ?!? For us it is still easy because we are small channels just now but in about a 100 years or so (just kidding) we will not be able to draw one more minute anymore, should we want to reply to each comment... ? :D lol

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Yes its a down side to having a massive channel....its impossible to reply to all the comments, If my channel does get big, I will always try to answer as many comments as I can, I love interacting and chatting with people especially when I know its helping them, if viewers are kind enough to leave comments I always think its right to reply to them if you can. 100,000 subs is a long way off for me, Its a lot closer for you:) Hey maybe you wont reply to me anymore when you get 100,000 subs :(

[@johnritter5951]

thank you much !!!

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

You're very welcome John, thanks for commenting.

[@meccamw]

can you recommend a book for a newbie to learning watercolor?

[@elsagrace3893]

Mark Mecca there are so many. Check the Library or book store for an over view to find what you like.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks for the question Mark, , elsa Grace is quite right with her comment, there are lots of books out there to choose, the book I showed in the video is a great book for beginners, its called the Alwyn Crawshaw watercolour painting course, I highly recommend it, in fact Alwyn Crawshaw has written many watercolour books, they are all excellent.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hi again Mark, If you are interested in the Alwyn Crawshaw watercolour course book, I have provided Amazon links for USA, and the UK, in the discription:)

[@georgelane4669]

I keep on and on having problems with my paper buckling. I have not found 1 paper that doesn't buckle .like to get on with watercolour but this puts me off

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Sorry to hear that, have you tried stretching the paper first, or maybe go for a real heavy weight paper like a 300lb weight, bit expensive but shouldn't buckle.

[@georgelane4669]

smoothie77 yes the only paper I have found that never buckled was £10 a sheet to expensive really .even block paper buckles

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Yeah I know what you mean, watercolour blocks don't work, its the weight of the paper that matters, whether its glued around the edge or not makes no difference, your better to use tape to fix it to a board in my opinion.

[@georgelane4669]

smoothie77 yes I know what you mean. masking tape is a no no for watercolour. and gummed is OK only on certain surfaces

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Masking tape is fine to use, I use it all the time, I only use gummed tape when I stretch paper, which is hardly ever these days.

[@LinekeLijn]

Second!!! ^.^ These were some nice tips Smoothie! Never thought of it and I will defenitely give it a try... 15th like!! hehehehe ;)

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hahaha you will have to be faster next time :D Thank you my friend, i'm glad you liked the tips, you will be great at this technique Lineke, I hope you give it a try:)

[@LinekeLijn]

You have a lot of faith in me my friend!! And yes.... I want to be first some time hahaha :D

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

:)

[@oberesmilieu4135]

Smoothie in many videos you said that you got many landscape and sea Pictures you locking at, while drawing a landscape. Is it posible that you can show us some of this Pictures you locking at while drawing? It would be helpful :)

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

They are reference pictures I have pulled up from google to give me ideas as i draw, as soon as the drawing is finished I close the windows with the images on, I don't save them, so I can't show you them, sorry.

[@oberesmilieu4135]

smoothie77 ok thank you for answer ^^

[@myingaet]

Do you think your technique will work on a mixed media paper?

[@drummergirl9481]

I wish I had seen this video before I sketched my painting, haha! It'll probably be okay, but it definitely has smeared alot. Hopefully my paint will cover all of that up. Do you think the Arches paper is okay for this technique? That's all I am using these days. I drew my painting with a Pilot mechanical pencil too, and that might be part of the problem. sigh.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

I never tried Arches for pencil and wash, but I'm sure it will be fine.