This is the question that I’m asking myself a lot lately!
Watercolour Pencils are such a great tool for quick sketches as you can decide whether to use them dry or activate them with water or watercolour (my preference). This double-page spread shows both options.
A few comments on these pages:
- Chantal and I had a lovely tapas lunch to celebrate the completion of the Teacups course. I only managed very quick loose ink lines at the time and shortly afterwards added some quick WCP with the intention of adding watercolour later that night. But I didn’t get time for that and decided that I liked the page the way it was.
- A little while ago I posted some sketches of a few fishing villages in Scotland. I wasn’t sure of the names of the places so I asked for help. A few people suggested Culross so I looked it up on Google Street View and then did a simple drawing of one of the scenes. I added WCP and then watercolour paint over the top.
- I don’t have a full set of the Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils but I do have a full set of Polychromos (thanks to Faber Castell Australia). So I did some Polychromos swatches to see if there are any important colours I’m missing!
As I’m now using a different sketchbook it is unlikely that I’ll touch the above food sketch but I’d like to hear from you – do you think I should add watercolour to this sketch or leave it as it is?
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12 Comments
Just love your sketches Liz…..My vote is to leave them as they are!
Leave as is, looks nice, tells the story. It also works well, good balance, with the pencil test on adjoining page.
My vote is to leave it as it is, too.
It‘s so lively and radiant as it is. It‘s lacking nothing IMHO.
I’m also thinking: The textured-ness suites food, why soften it?
P.s.: sorry for my poor English 🙂
Well I feel differently. The sketches are lively and delightful but I think they would be richer if some watercolour were to be added. Colour is such a joyous thing!
Hi Liz, yes, I’d add water to parts of these sketches, to define some areas and to tie in with the opposite building sketch.
They look complete to me!
I would add water to the sky and leave the rest dry.
Greetings Inspiring Liz!
Watercolor pencils are fun… and I prefer adding water or watercolor paints to pop the colors to give the sketch more life!
I love the combo idea. the sketches on the food are so wonderful but I think they could use your magic watercolor touch to make them edible.
thanks everyone! I love reading all your opinions about water or no water!
I like both sketches. They have their own individual character. I say let them stand and speak for themselves.
I think the mix of leaving some as dry and others with paint adds a nice variety, shows your techniques of the moment, and makes a nice flow of style. Keeping the food as a dry sketch also conveys the energy of a good meal, seeing the joy in the textures and lines is delightful!
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