Water Colour Pencil problem(s)

[Alan Dixon]

This is my first attempt at using watercolour pencils and Nolan is right it is much more difficult than greyscale. First of all I did not use watercolour paper and found out why regular drawing paper doesn't work. I drew the sky and then water brushed it and it really made a mess because of "blooming" As a result I drew the picture with coloured pencils and no water and the colours are bland with no vibrancy.
I intend to try this scene again using watercolour paper and then use water to blend them in.
Don't think waterclour is my medium but at least I want to give it a fair trial.

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Alan

[MaryAnne Long]

Alan

Been there; done that.  I had the same problems when I started with both watercolor and watercolor pencils.

Actually, your painting isn't as bad as I had expected from the description of your problems.

I now enjoy doing watercolor when I need an "instant" painting for a gift. 

I plan to use the watercolor pencils for accenting a watercolor painting as I learned in Dennis' advanced flower class.

Hang in there; all media have their purposes.

aloha

mea

[Val]

I agree with Mea, Alan. We certainly have been there and done it...numerous times!       

I love the texture you've created in the tall trees, nicely done. Oh, and as for those 'blooms' you speak of....you are speaking with the
 'Queen of Cauliflowers'!       

[Marsha (Pita)]

Alan, that is a beautiful picture...but don't mistake watercolor pencils with watercolor.  I did a birthday card in watercolor pencils because this friend had bought them for her mother and wondered about them.  I like watercolors but watercolor pencils is (I believe) to be considered a complete different medium.  I liked how I could mix colors but you ended up with a wax buildup that really did not like being taken off with thinner - it all became dull.  So, I finished the drawing with just the watercolor pencils, without water.  I'll post my picture so you can see...

[Marsha (Pita)]

Alan, this is the card I did in watercolor pencils...you can see my layering problem especially in the purple and green areas...there wasn't even suppose to any purple and green areas in this picture...ugh!

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[MaryAnne Long]

Marsha,

It's quite appealing, actually, even if it looks different than you expected.

aloha

mea

[Alan Dixon]

For reference this was the first drawing in watercolour pencils only

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OK try number 2

Details

This is the same scene but this time I drew it with the watercolour pencils and the did a water wash. I think it's a bit more colourfull, but still lacking in vibrancy.
I believe marsha is right. My only question is would colour pencils rather that watercolour pencils give greater colour vibrancy. If so why would anyone want to use watercolour pencils for straight drawing.
I also think that I probably picked a much too colourfull picture for a beginning effort. I'm going to sit back awhile and let the frustration subside, before I try coloured drawings again.
Alan

[Alan Dixon]

Opps! I posted the pictures in the wrong order. The first one is the "washed" one

[liz]

Hi Alan, I've used water color pencils only a few times and used very little water only where I wanted to accent a part of the drawing.  So I thought of my work more of an enhanced drawing than a painting.  Your first picture looks very nice.
 
-Liz

[Val]

Alan, have you seen the lesson on watercolour pencils?

http://www.paintbasket.com/paintbaskettv/online-art-class.php?class=watercolour-pencils-157

[Alan Dixon]

Thanks Val. I had searched the paintbasket but failed to find this earlier. I have now downloaded it and will be starting the lesson in the next day or so.
Alan

[Marsha (Pita)]

I really like your second picture (the first posted) - it looks really good.  I like how you added the white in the hills...

[MaryAnne Long]

Alan,

Nice attempt at watercolor pencils.  I, too, need to check out that lesson as my first use of them was not very successful.  Thanks, Val, for posting the URL.

aloha

mea

[Val]