At yesterday’s Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil class, I used an example of drawing a watermelon to demonstrate how to use watercolour pencils on the page.

We were at Dromkeen homestead, just outside of Melbourne, It happened towards the end of the three hour class, when we had returned to the (airconditioned) conference room. This was after sketching in the garden and inside the house, as we avoided rain and humidity.

There were questions about applying the watercolour pencil to the paper and spreading it on the page. Today. I drew it again, taking photos along the way. I hope that this explains the way I use pencils and achieve the final result. Let me know if you have any questions.

Step One

Waterbrush and the three watercolour pencil colours used . Alizaron Crimson, Pine Green and Grass Green

Draw the watermelon shape and outline directly with the watercolour pencil colour that is going to be used. The watermelon is red the skin is green.

Heavily and roughly add colour in the areas of of the watermelon that are darkest.

Step Three

Using the waterbrush, rest it in the coloured areas and pull the colour across the page. This adds a lighter colour to areas of the page.

Step Four

Wait to dry, then add more colour in some areas to give depth and texture, Dabbling the watercolour brush on areas of colour can give, texture, and remove any hard lines.
Add hard lines with a sharpened watercolour pencil along some of the skin and just some of the darkened areas of the watermelon.

 I have three classes that are coming up.

• Nature Sketching with Watercolour Pencils in Fitzroy Gardens https://www…trybooking.com/BFSOH
• Travel Sketching with Watercolour pencils in East Melbourne  https://www…trybooking.com/BFSOD
• Memories and Nostalgia with Watercolour Pencils at Dromkeen https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=555071&