Makings and Musings Community

In this workshop I share one of my favourite mediums with you – watercolour pencils. They are such a joy because they combine the precision of a coloured pencil with the softness and flow of watercolour paint.

Watch Here:

I begin by showing you different ways to use them: sketching dry, adding water afterwards, and even dipping the pencil straight into water for stronger marks. I explain why these pencils are wonderful for travel sketching and why I prefer starting with colour instead of graphite.

Together we explore a peaceful countryside landscape. I guide you through placing the horizon, hills and a lake, and we add a little sheep in the foreground using very simple shapes. You will see how I block in colours, layer greens and blues to create depth, and keep the sheep light so we can return with details later.

I show you how adding water brings the pencils to life, how to layer and blend, and even how to lift colour away if you want to soften an area. We look at different textures for hedges and trees, using circular and zigzag marks, and I encourage you to keep it loose and impressionistic rather than over-planned.

Finally, I add the details to the sheep, using gentle shadows and warm tones to bring it to life, finishing with a touch of pen for the eyes and nose. To complete the scene, I show you how you can change the atmosphere by adjusting the colours of the sky.

This class is calm, practical, and full of tips you can use in your own sketchbook. I hope it inspires you to pick up your pencils and enjoy the playful nature of this medium.