Underpainting Colored Pencil Art: Enhance Your Drawings

Today we're going to explore a technique that can truly enhance your coloured pencil artwork - underpainting with watercolour pencils.

Let's start by addressing a common frustration many of us face - those pesky white specks that can appear in our coloured pencil work.

You know the ones I'm talking about, right?

They're those tiny bits of paper that peek through, disrupting the smooth flow of colour and breaking the illusion of realism we're trying to create.

But don't worry, I've got a solution that will not only help eliminate this issue but also add depth and vibrancy to your art!

The secret?

Underpainting coloured pencil art with watercolour pencils.

This technique involves creating a thin, transparent wash of colour as your first layer.

Think of it as giving your paper a gentle tint before you start your main work. It's like preparing a canvas, but for coloured pencil art!

Now, you might be wondering, "Carol, how does this actually help?" Well, let me explain. This initial wash serves several purposes:

1. It fills in those tiny paper crevices, reducing those distracting white specks.
2. It creates a smoother surface for your dry pencils to glide over.
3. It provides a unified base tone, allowing for more subtle colour variations.
4. And best of all, it can significantly speed up your drawing process!

I remember when Peter first showed me this technique of using a watercolour underpainting - it was like a lightbulb moment! I didn't know I could use coloured pencil and watercolour pencils together.

Suddenly, my drawings had a new depth and richness that I hadn't been able to achieve before.

What will you need?

Watercolour pencils

Now, let's talk about how to actually do this.

First, you'll need to choose your watercolour pencils.

Not all pencils are created equal when it comes to underpainting. Some dissolve more easily than others, creating smoother washes.

I'd recommend trying out a few different brands to see what works best for you.

Staedtler Karat Aquarelle pencils

These create a smooth, even dissolution without granulating. However, be cautious as these pencils can stain. Despite this, their ability to create consistent washes makes them ideal for underpainting in projects like the Dartmoor landscape tutorial. 

Caran d'Ache Supracolor and Museum Aquarelles

Both great pencils but keep in mind they are more expensive than the Staedtler.

Faber Castell Albrecht Durer

These watercolour pencils are wonderful for paintings, but some of their colours can granulate. While granulation is desirable in some pure watercolour techniques, underpainting requires a smooth, even pigment dissolution.

Watercolour Paper

To prevent buckling, since paper expands and contracts when exposed to water, stretch it first. You will find full instructions on the stretching watercolour paper page.

For thick watercolour papers like Arches, applying water softens the internal sizing, which restores the paper tooth (or texture)—useful when adding dry pencils over the underpainting.

How underpainting coloured pencil works

To create your wash, you don't want to draw directly on the paper. Instead, try this:

1. Use a craft knife to carefully scrape a little pigment from your pencil onto a palette.
2. Add a small amount of water to create a thin, paint-like consistency.
3. Apply this wash to your paper using a soft brush.

Remember, less is more here - we want a light tint, not a thick layer of paint.

Let's look at an example...

In the photo, you can see three different blue washes - Powder Blue, Sky Blue, and Blue.

Notice how the Sky Blue, which contains a lot of white, is barely visible when painted. The Blue, on the other hand, is quite intense.

This shows why it's so important to test your colours before applying them to your final piece.

Now, once your wash is dry, you're ready to start layering with your dry coloured pencils. The wash provides a beautiful, subtle backdrop for your work, allowing you to build up rich, vibrant colours.

Underpainting coloured pencil demonstration

I've created a simple demonstration to show you how this all comes together.

While it's not a step-by-step tutorial, I encourage you to try something similar. Maybe start with a simple subject like an apple or a leaf.

Experiment with different colours for your underpainting and see how they affect your final piece.

Preparations for the project

I drew the following demonstration from imagination. I created it to guide you through the process of creating layering watercolour washes under a coloured pencil drawing.

As I began, I placed the initial underpainting on the paper with plenty of space around it. This foresight allowed me to enhance the scene later, adding elements to the left and improving the overall composition as the picture progressed.

In the final version, I made a subtle yet impactful change. I removed some of the underpainted foliage to the right of the copper beech tree, revealing more of the sky over the field. While my attempt to insert a cloud wasn't entirely successful, it's barely noticeable in the completed original picture.

For the cottage in the background, I took a delicate approach. After the underpainting was complete, I lightly sketched in minimal details. This technique helps the cottage blend seamlessly into the scene, becoming a natural part of the landscape rather than standing out too boldly.

Mix a limited range of soft, pale greens, yellows, and oranges to provide subtle hues for the first thin washes.

Keep the direction of light in mind, to allow shadows to give the scene depth. Don't worry about mistakes in a quick drawing like this. If necessary, dry colored pencil work will help disguise any areas that don't turn out as originally planned.

Keep your shading very light to maintain control over the eventual depth and density of colour. After washing in the first layer, continue with dry pencil work on top. The detailed step-by-step titled Coventry Canal shows an example of this approach.

As you can see from the above example, when underpainting with coloured pencil, you only need a THIN layer of colour. It's better to use two thin layers of colour than one thicker one.

With the second layers of wash, concentrate on where you need the greater depth of colour.

Once the washes are dry you can begin to build up the dry pencil on top of the underpainting.

Add darker shades using dry coloured pencil. I added an additional tree on the left to balance the composition. 

Add the sky at the top and minimal work to the cottage to give an indication of windows and shadows.  Build up the right hand greenery with dry pencil.

After the final adjustments here is our completed image showing the benefits of underpainting coloured pencil.

Your turn!

Remember, practice makes perfect. Don't be discouraged if your first attempt doesn't turn out exactly as you hoped. Each time you try this technique, you'll learn something new about how the colours interact and how to achieve the effects you want.

So, are you excited to give underpainting a try?

I can't wait to see what you create! This technique has truly transformed my own artwork, adding a new level of depth and richness that I never thought possible with coloured pencils.

Do you have any questions about underpainting? Or perhaps you'd like to share your experiences if you've tried this before? I'd love to hear from you.

 

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