How I use watercolours

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Hiya!

 As some of you are aware I am a screen print artist, however, I also like adding other mediums into my art. Mediums like Ink, watercolours, paint pens and gel pens ( just to name a few, haha!)  However, screen print is my main medium and I include other mediums to add detail and personality to my artwork. So I decided to make a mini-series on how I use each medium in my art, starting with watercolours!

  1. Draw a fine-line sketch
I usually start out with a rough, but fine line pencil sketch. This is mostly because I'm just a beginner in drawing and I don't want to make many mistakes. Plus this is great if you're attempting to draw something new and that you don't have much experience in.

  1. Define lines
Once I'm happy with the rough fine sketch, I then define the lines, with medium pressure. So I don't put too much pressure on the pencil, just enough that I'm able to see the drawing clearly.

  1. Prep your colours
I'm blessed that I usually have the colours that I need ready mixed, (I use the Arteza premium watercolours . That and I'm too lazy to wash out my mixing palette:)!) If you have a limited colour palette, mix and prep your colours before using them on your illustration. This is so you don't mix colours that go well together and to avoid over mixing your colours, to the point that they become a brownish mess unless that's what you're going for.

  1. Lining sketch
After prepping my colours, I usually grab a small round brush (Mine is a Proart masterstroke craft & decorative, series 60 in a size 3/0) and the line inside my sketch.

  1. Light washes
Once I have finished lining my sketch and its dried, I then, using a bigger round brush (Daler Rowney Round in size 6), add a light wash on the lined sketch to make the colour wash over the drawing. Filling in the blank spaces in the drawing.

  1. Ink details
Once the wash has dried, I then add further details by using the same brush as mentioned to line with watercolour, I use India Ink to add line work and detailing. I experiment and play with varying lines and shapes and opacity to see what works. At the end, the result ends up having a comic book like finish, which is a plus if you're a fan of comic book/cartoon-like style.

Sealife watercolour print


BONUS TIP: I also use fineliner pens (I use the famous Sakura Pigma Micron pens)  and white gouache (Windsor & Newton Gouache)  for more tiny details and to play with shading and highlighting!

And that's how I use watercolours in my artwork! Stay tuned for next month, when I post on how I add brush-lettering!

If you guys have any tips or advice when it comes to watercolours, please comment down below!

Also if this post helped you at all, then please share and subscribe to my newsletter. I make posts about art, freelancing, faith and self-care.

Thanks for reading and keep being creative!

Glo x

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