I have used this approach for a full landscape/seascape painting where I had a fully developed drawing then glazed over with watercolour. I tried this after seeing Mario Robinson using a grisaille as the initiation for his watercolours (though his grisaille was painted using a gray mix of ultramarine and burnt umber). I wasn't sure it'd work with pencil, expecting perhaps the pencil would act a a resist to the watercolour, nor had I realised that other people do this. I thought my result was good (the painting sold, so others must have thought so too!) I think, as you suggest, this would be a great method for beginners, but it's also an approach that those more experienced should experiment with too.
That’s absolutely stunning with the drawing & painting. I have been doing something kind of like this but never realized that it was a technique that could be used. Thanks for sharing this process with us and continuing with the inspirational video. Have a great weekend Steve!
It’s such a shame we are influenced by the watercolour purists. So many channels are now showing young women making a living from the most simple techniques we would shun.
I started a drawing in pencil, and it has a lot of detail, and I’ve been a bit anxious about finding a medium that will work well with it. The background has a depth of field, out of focus quality, and watercolor was what I wanted to use for that part of the picture, so I’m glad to see that it will probably work out!
Beautiful, Steve. I love to draw a detailed bird and then watercolor over it. Thanks for reminding me that this is a perfectly acceptable way of painting!
First time I've heard the graphite's effect on the watercolor pitched not as a bug but a feature. Very helpful! As always you inspire me as a master who still loves his craft. Thanks.
Great video! I love drawing and also found watercolor just so fun. I never felt like I cared to used watercolor on it's own or as the main part of a work, so I try to find ways to accent my drawings instead. I found I reach for water soluble pencils before pan sets for that reason. It's awesome to hear someone else is on that same journey and to see how they accomplish that combination.
That is an amazing sketch, looks very real like a botanical drawing, only for fauna. Is there a name for that? Then painting it really brought it to life
If you go to Patreon.com/mindofwatercolor my rewards are listed. That said, it's not really a subscription for more content. Patrons mainly support the content here on RU-vid. They are my sponsors for this channel, in other words, so I can continue making videos full time. Supporters come and go so I'm always in need of new ones. Thanks for asking.
This has always been my style. I find traditional watercolour washy and boring a lot of the time, the idea that hiding the ‘artwork’ is ‘done’ by watercolour purists has always baffled me. This painting is my cup of tea.
I was always avoiding putting too much graphite on my paper when I watercolor, but very appreciate how you not only demonstrate but explain what you're doing. I never thought of graphite as a toning element! Gorgeous swan, Steve 🤩
I always tell my students to avoid graphite as much as possible under watercolor. It’s a good thing I also tell them to break all the rules because this is fantastic! I’m guessing colored pencil would resist the watercolor. What a game changer this is. Thank you for always giving such great advice and tutorials.
Colored pencil will resist but there are enough micro spaces for the wash to go through and soak into the paper, so it works fine unless you burnish the colored pencil which blocks the surface almost completely.
Move over Audubon there is a new artist in town. I really like what you have shown us. Tomorrow I will give it a whirl. It might not be a bird, but I’m sure I can find something that will work. Thanks for this one.
Rewatching this one because I'm interested in this technique. I wish I could find a brush that is thickish but comes-down to a fine point and doesn't break the bank like the one you are using.
I really enjoyed this. I have been doing some extensive graphite drawing and love the detail. What is the watercolor pen that you are using? Is it a brush or a pen. Thanks. Barbara
How cool! Thank you so much for sharing; I'll have to try that! Also, thank you for the verses you put at the end of your videos - I always look forward to them. Good pieces of daily bread 😊🙏 Your channel is such a blessing. Hope you have an awesome weekend!
I do that often but when I’m at school, my professors (except one) hate it. I love how it looks. I also like it with color pencils or ink (like a pen). It’s fun and I never care if it’s in the lines or not. It’s so fun.😩
A beautiful technique and an even more beautiful painting! I’ve seen this in only one other video here on RU-vid. For those interested, I think it was Oliver Pyle’s channel. CORRECTION: it is Smoothie77, not Oliver Pyle who paints in pencil and wash. Sorry for this confusion.
Ohhh, I love Oliver Pyle too! And Louise De Masi, Lois Davidson, Ganesh Hire, Liron Yancosky and so many more. Maybe it was Smoothie77 ru-vid.com/show-UCmFD5CqShz-qI5xV0_JWV7w Be warned, his voice has the Bob Ross effect 😌🤤
Hello Stephen, actually, it was Smoothie77, not Oliver Pyle who paints like you do in pencil and wash. I shall correct or delete my earlier comment to avoid confusion. My apologies for his error.
I used to love graphite and wash when doing botanical field studies but you reminded me how much I prefer the technique and don’t have to keep it just for the field! Thanks!❤
Hello all! In a previous comment I mentioned that Oliver Pyle here on RU-vid paints in a similar manner as Stephen does in this video. Actually it is not Oliver Pyle, it is Smoothie77 who paints in pencil and wash. My sincere apologies for this error. I shall correct my earlier comment to avoid confusion. Again, my apologies.
Hello, please continue with this type of video, I'm just starting out with watercolor and cannot find these type of videos. Thanks. Also what's the name of the bush your using in this video.
Steve...I want to try this technique, yours is so beautiful, but you didn't mention whether your paper is hot pressed or cold pressed. I'm new at all this but have seen the difference in texture and how the paint application on each one is different. Thanks for reminding your followers (me) about a detailed pencil sketch, it makes me remember that it's hard to get clear, sharp detail on a rough surface.
Absolutely beautiful video. One of my personal all-time favorite watercolors is one I did, almost by accident, of watercolor over graphite. Thanks for qualifying this technique, Steve.
thank you 😊 i always worry about pencil line showing through too much /more than i might like but it appears that may not be the case or is it the colour palette that enables it 🤔
Both actually. Lines are more likely to show than shaded areas. Paint value will also determine what is visible. I personally like pencil line showing a bit.
@@mindofwatercolor thank you for your reply indeed i love line and wash especially the opposite to yours i make a weak finished loose watercolour presentable by adding line afterwards in pen saves the day /bin the funny thing is they are the ones people end up buying 😄
I have been learning how to play with watercolour for about 2 years now, and lately feel like I've hit a plateau in my interest and ability. However I saw a video about watercolour over graphite; basic wash over lines, like pen and wash. But this video has blown my mind. I too love drawing and love watercolour. Eureka, I have found a new path to explore. Thank you all the way from Canada for this video and this goose!!
Wow!!!!!! So Goregeous,,AND..., I you said exactly what I was thinking! INDEED!! The MIND of..! I Absolutely ADORE Graphite/ Pencil/ Charcoal drawing and sketching. But something about this technique and Pen/ Ink..MAGICAL! I get to the point where I am to lazy to color something with wet pigments, because I like the B& W tones, or Sepia...etc.. As I was watching you add the beginning brown tones I thought, WHOA! That right there is Perfect!, just as you were saying how one could render the image..!! Cool! Thanks So Much!! I'm self taught and learning from WONDERFUL FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF!! Its made my dream of higher learning ( thst I could not possibly afford) Way more accessible and beyond!! I've got hundreds or more of migratory birds for reference material from my own photos!! I really need to go thru that treasure trove and work on critter art! Right now its Botanicals, Zen doodles, and occasional animals.. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS, and YOUR TALENT SIR!!! 🎨✍👍🤗💖🙋🏻♀️
I think I have used too soft of a pencil when trying this. It smears and makes the watercolor muddy. What grade pencil do you typically use? This turned out lovely as always.
Ironically I accidently stumbled on this at the beginning of my art journey at 53 when I did a graphite sketch from a photo I took at Fallingwater. When I was done I wondered if I could enhance it a bit with some subtle watercolor. It is one of my all time favorite accomplishments. So excited to see you intentionally take advantage of graphite and watercolor!!! You are one of my favorite artists to watch and listen to … your voice is so calming and instructive!!!
Great Job Steve!!! I always look forward to seeing and hearing you and your next painting! I appreciate you and the knowledge you are sharing with us. Scott
Brilliant! I love the look of the muted color. Perhaps because of the tinted graphite that companies are making, it seems very appropriate to use watercolor over a substantial pencil drawing; it used to seem "inappropriate." That was not the way to use watercolor. But I gotta try it! Thank you so much for not listening to "them!"
Just realized this. I needed a grey flat wash to glaze over and thought instead of using watercolor and waiting for it to dry, why not see if graphite will work. Turned out to be a faster and easier process.
I love watercolor. Love graphite. Love this video. Experiencing a renewed enthusiasm and looking forward to working more with this technique! A tad, but not by much, off subject. Derwent makes Graphitint paint sets, as well as sets of Graphitint watercolor pencils. Really lovely results. Oh, Steve, have you ever done any videos on drawing? Thanks
I LOVE to draw. Anything in black & white is my favorite (including pen & ink and scratchboard). However, for a long time I have wanted to do water color. I am so happy that I became proficient with drawing. Seeing watercolor OVER a drawing really helped me to learn watercolor. Sometimes, I am afraid to mess up my drawing by adding paint! Just painting was so hard for me because I wanted to add detail using the watercolor and 9 times out of 10, I made a mess. I hope to be 1/2 as good as you! Thanks for your lessons and demonstrations!
Excellent video Steve. I recently began doing this technique and loving the results. A few weeks back I watched a video that Kristy Rice put out about this same technique. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lYSxBlMfR4E.html Now, her style is very different from ours, looser I’d say, but it got me on this path of graphite and wash. Really happy with these results. I’m mostly using HB and F in the Faber Castell 9000 series, since I prefer the feel of wood to the mechanical pencil. What pencil are you using? I’ll check the description and see if it’s in there. Blessings to you and to everyone!
Enjoyable video and something I’ll need to try. You always make things look so simple as I’m sure they are with lots of practice. Well, I’m off to practice.
Omg I'm working on a project for college and I wanted the painting to depict exactly that vintage feeling and I was so worried about erasing the graphite. Thanks to you, now I know that that's exactly what i wont do.
