Now that you have begun your journey with colour,

you can continue to explore the colours and types

of pencils available from Faber-Castell.
Getting Started
Creative Studio® ART GRIP® Watercolour pencils
are available in tins of 12, 24, 36 and 60 colours at an
excellent value for art students and aspiring artists.
WATERCOLOUR
PENCIL ART
114260

Additional Getting Started Art Kits

114224

Paint
Draw

Colour
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# 800094 Discover more great art products at www.faber-castell.com INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

 13

PAINTING EXERCISES
TABLE OF CONTENTS Imprimatura
Try this technique first in a small area - about 4”. Lay down
a field of colour over the entire surface of the picture area. In
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 this example, a blue watercolour pencil was used. Now draw
the outlines of your images on top of the background colour,
Basic Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 using any colour pencil or even a pen. Fill in the shapes you
make with coloured pencil and washes. The background
Pencil Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
colour will show through your objects and create a feeling of
Experimenting with Colour Mixing . . . . . . . . . . . 6 harmony, pulling the drawing together.

Papers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Shading and Shadows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Creating Texture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Colour another background with

watercolour pencil. This time
Painting Exercises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
use a wet brush to actually draw
Mixed Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 the objects in your background
area. When it is dry you can add
Collage and Altered Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 more colours and details.

Lettering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12

CREATING TEXTURE
With Salt
With Sandpaper For a subtle background texture, paint an area with intense
Wet your art paper. Rub the tip of the pencil across a sheet colour. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle salt over the
of sandpaper and let the colour shavings sprinkle onto the pigment. Let the paint dry completely before brushing
wet paper. away the salt.

With Sponges Founded in 1761, Faber-Castell is still run by the same family,
In a separate area, make a palette. Wet your palette with a Stippling now in the 8th generation. The company has developed from
brush. Then pick up the colour with a sponge and transfer Colour and paint an area and while it is still wet, use the a small workshop in Germany to an international corporation
it to your art paper, stamping the sponge in the drawing sharp tip of a pencil to make small marks in the same or which employs over 5000 people worldwide. Our Brand
area. Do this in wet or dry areas for different effects. another colour. Essentials encompass four core values:

Competence and Tradition

Outstanding Quality
Innovation and Creativity
Lothar von Faber Count A.W. von Faber-Castell Social and Environmental Responsibility
1869 Today
24 11
LETTERING SHADING AND SHADOWS
You can do beautiful lettering using the dry pencils, Painting with pencils Create shadow with colour
or fill in open letters with colour. Lightly draw an object. Roughly add Create intense shadows by adding layers of colour.
colour with the watercolour pencils,
Paint an object and allow the image to dry.
leaving the unshadowed portions blank.
Now add an additional darker colour at the
Then use a wet, clean brush to pull the
points where the shadows are the darkest.
colour across and create a soft wash.
Blend the shadows into the existing colour.
In this example, we added a blue shadow
to the red cherry.

Shading with paint

Lightly draw an object. Using the
“palette” method described on page
9, roughly paint blocks of colour,
leaving blank those areas where the
light is hitting.
Try lettering over a background that you have created
with the watercolour technique.
We hope you have enjoyed your experiences and that
you will continue to explore and discover the magic of
watercolour pencil painting.
14 1
Wash Drawing Discover the Magic of Watercolour Pencils.
A style often used for practice sketching is pen, ink and watercolour wash. It is very popular
This is a truly unique art medium and once you get started
for figure and fashion drawing and Asian-inspired art.
drawing, painting and experimenting you will be delighted
Although there is no pen included in this kit, you can achieve the same look very simply by with the results.
just using your black watercolour pencil. Wash drawings can be done two ways.
Watercolour pencils are very flexible. They offer the dual option of
drawing with coloured pencils, and then, if you like, with the touch
of a wet brush you can get the look of a watercolour painting. You
In the example to the right, a sketch is
have more control than with regular watercolour paints, you can
made first. Draw an object with a black
easily add details and blend and mix colours. The pencils never dry
watercolour pencil. Then use a very wet
out, aren’t messy, and take up very little space, all of which makes
brush over your pencil marks to create
them perfect for doing art whenever and wherever the opportunity
tones and shadow.
presents itself.

Your kit includes the primary colours (red, yellow, blue) secondary
Another method is to do the wash first. Create a palette of black on the side. In your drawing colours (orange, green, violet) black and magenta. With these eight
area, loosely paint blocks of shadow and tones that represent the object you wish to draw. colours you will be able to create an almost infinite array of hues,
Once your painting is dry, go back and add detail with a pencil over the top of the wash. tints and tones.

We believe that everyone, with a little encouragement and some

simple instructions, can express their creativity and create still life,
landscape, portrait, abstract paintings and more. By experimenting
and becoming involved with the materials we hope you will find
your own signature style to make original art that truly expresses
your unique way of seeing and creating.
2 15

BASIC TECHNIQUES Wash Drawing

In this book we present many ways to put colour and paint on paper. You can follow the book sequentially or start anywhere by By adding some brown tones you can achieve an earthy,
trying any technique that appeals to you in whatever order you choose. monochromatic feel.

Hold On!
Try various grips and placements Hold the pencil perpendicular to
with the pencil. For more control, the paper or at an angle.
grip the pencil close to the tip.
Colour with the side of the lead,
For a freer stroke, move back (A)
by holding the pencil almost
along the pencil and draw parallel with the paper.
loosely.
Blocking
Study the object you wish to paint by squinting your eyes.
Do not look for lines that define shapes, but instead look
Tip Keep pencils sharpened. Use the pointed tip for details and the side of the lead for colouring in large areas. for values - lights and darks - and colours. Roughly paint
blocks of value and colour that allow each shape and ob-
ject to emerge. (See A)
Brush Up
When you are satisfied that you have captured the essence
Use the tip of a slightly damp brush for fine details. of your object, allow the painting to dry. Sharpen the
pencils to a fine point and add details. Dip the tip of the
Press down on the brush to push colour into the paper.
pencil into a drop of water to get an expressive look to the (B)
Keep the brush full of water to create washes. lines you make. (See B)
10 23

PAPERS COLLAGE AND ALTERED ART

The type of paper you use will have a big effect on the look of your art. Create backgrounds for collage, scrapbook and Altered Art.
Paint the surface with white gesso. Add a layer of one or
The practice paper in the Watercolour Pencil Pad has a smooth surface.
more colours, using the side of the pencil lead. Brush with
Other papers may have more texture with “hills and valleys” on the surface
water. The gesso will give an interesting, mottled background
and when you colour, the pigment will stay on the hills and miss the valleys.
onto which you can add collage elements, photos or lettering.

The transparent quality of the watercolour pencils make

Try different types of paper. Thinner paper makes your art look delicate.
them ideal over pen work, to tint photocopies and printed
Lightly tinted and coloured paper can also be used. Since watercolour pencil
is transparent, the background hue of the paper will influence the overall On vintage photos with a matte finish, you can colour directly
colouration and mood of your art. on the image. Use only enough water on the brush to blend the
colour.

Handmade paper Other materials

can also be used also accept
with watercolour watercolour pencil:
pencils. try colouring and
painting on wood,
cloth and other
porous surfaces.
22 9
Stamping Make a Palette
Watercolour pencils are the ideal medium to use with rubber On a separate piece of paper draw different colour swatches, applying lots of colour. Use these dry pools of colour as if they
stamps because they offer many different applications. You were a watercolour tablet and pull colour to apply to your painting. Notice that the more water you use, the lighter the colour
can purchase rubber stamping supplies at your local craft wash becomes. With less water, the colour will be more intense.
store to get started. Or make your own stamps by cutting
or carving images out of different porous materials such as
foam or potatoes.
Stamp an image using a rubber stamp and a permanent ink
pad. Colour and paint the image with watercolour pencils.
If you use permanent ink, the stamped image will stay
intact when you paint over it.
Use the watercolour pencils as a stamp pad. Lay down
a swatch of intense colour. Wet the swatch. Place your
stamp into the pool of colour that is made and then
stamp the image.

Paint a background area with watercolour pencils. Once

your paint is dry, rubber stamp designs over it using
permanent ink or watercolour pigment.
16 3
Landscapes in a minute PENCIL TECHNIQUES
Not everything we view around us is perfectly clear and Colour an area with a pencil.
defined. This is especially true in nature with objects we view
Use a clean wet brush and stroke over your pencil marks.
from afar. For example, when you look at a cloud in the sky
The water will turn the pencil into paint.
you will notice that there is no definite line making the shape
of that cloud, and no two clouds ever look alike. Therefore
painting landscapes and nature can be very easy. Experiment with different ways to dissolve the pigment.
By using several of the techniques shown in the front of this
• Paint with a wet cotton swab, sponge or cloth.
booklet, you can make some very convincing landscapes in
just a minute. • Use your dampened fingers.

Sky • Spray the coloured pencil with a spray bottle.

Since the colour will lighten when you add water, test
The “Wet on Wet” technique you learned on page 4 is great Tip
for creating a cloudy sky. Create a palette of blue and red. the colour before applying it to your finished painting.
Wet the area of your drawing that will be the sky. Pull the
colour from your palette and swish it around the wet area Wet a section of the paper.
of your paper mixing to get some purple tones. Make some Lightly draw with a pencil. Dip the very tip of the pencil
areas light and some dark. Notice how the pencil marks lead into a drop of water.
The salt and sandpaper techniques described on page 12 can bleed to create interesting (Don’t plunge the pencil into
also be used to create the illusion of a cloudy sky. effects. the water as it will cause the
wood to swell and weaken.)
Grass Draw or stipple with the
Brush the tip of a sharpened
For spiky grass, simply use the scraping technique shown pencil with a wet brush. softened pencil lead.
on page 5. The wooden end of your brush makes fine Apply the paint to paper.
strokes that can represent blades of grass.
4 17
Line and Wash Pulling Colour Flowers Or draw dots, and brush water over them. Go back later to
Draw the outline of an image with a heavy pencil stroke. Colour an area with a watercolour pencil. Using a wet Several techniques are useful for making a field of flowers. swish in a few green stems.
With the tip of a wet brush, pull the colour away from the brush, cotton swab, or your finger, pull the colour into Use the “Wet on Wet” technique, randomly dotting the wet
line and into the shape. an adjacent area to complete the shape. area with greens, pinks and purples.

Sand and Rock

Achieve the look of rock or sand by implying texture. Lay
Wet on Wet Wet and Dry
down an area of red, orange and yellow paint. Spatter red
Using a clean brush, wet an area of your paper. Use the Add details to an area of washed colour. Wait for the Dip a pencil tip in water and stipple random flower petals and blue dots all throughout the brown paint. Be sure to
“Pulling Colour” technique, transferring the colour into painted area to dry before drawing over it with the wa- over a green patch of grass. mask off the rest of your drawing before doing this so you
the wet area. Notice how the colour bleeds as you paint. tercolour pencils. protect other areas from spatter marks.
8 21
Meet in the Middle: Batik Drawing Oil Pastel Resist Designs
You will use 3 cells for this experiment. Colour most Use a block of wax, a white candle or crayon to draw a Draw designs with brightly coloured oil pastels. Lay a
of one cell green, leave the middle cell blank and design. Then skim over the drawing with the side of a heavy border of watercolour pencil around the outside area
colour the next one blue. Brush the green with water, watercolour pencil, laying more colour around the border of your drawing. With a very wet brush, paint across the
rinse the brush, then paint the blue cell, moving colour of your design. Paint the picture with a wet brush, moving design, washing paint over the pastel. The oil pastel is not
into the blank cell and pulling some of the green into colour over the design. The wax from the candle or crayon affected by the paint. It will resist the watercolour, creating
it as well. This will create a gradated effect that works will repel the coloured water and your drawing will emerge an interesting effect.
really well for skies, flower and leaf petals and other through the paint. Add more colours if you like.
areas where you want to retain some of the original
colours that are blended into the new colour.

What about brown?

Based on the colour pencil selection in this kit, a
variety of brown tones can be achieved by layering
different ratios of yellow, orange, magenta and black.

Keep your brush clean when you are painting

Tip by rinsing it thoroughly between colours. Use a
cloth to wipe off excess colour and to control the
amount of wetness.
20 7

MIXED MEDIA
Use other art materials together with these
Using the side of the lead, fill one half of a cell with
watercolour pencils to create some wonderful
one colour. Place another colour next to it. With a wet
painting and drawing styles and effects.
brush, stroke over both colours to create a new one.

Pen, Ink and Watercolour Wash

Draw an object or a scene using a permanent ink
pen. In this example, we used a superfine Faber-
Castell PITT® artist pen with India ink.

Add washes of colour and different techniques

over the top of your drawing. If you use a Layer one colour over another by “cross hatching.”
permanent ink pen, the line work will stay intact Draw a set of parallel lines with the red pencil, then overlap
and be visible through the paint. at an angle with the blue pencil. Blend. Try this with different
colour combinations. Try this with 3 colours.

Allow the colours to dry and then go back and add another
colour. Rich colour and depth can be achieved by applying
multiple layers of colour. Allow the first layer of watercolour
paint to dry thoroughly and then add more colour to shade
and intensify. By allowing each layer of colour to dry, you
will be able to work the painting to get the desired effect.
18 5
Putting it all together Erase with Water Spatter
Create bands of colour. Use the techniques shown here if you If an area becomes too intense Wet the brush with colour
choose. Each band should represent an area of space such as with colour, brush over it with and flick it against a pencil
the foreground, the sky, mountains, etc. Let the bands blend a clean wet brush. Then dab it point. Protect areas of un-
into one another. When you are finished draw a frame or use loosely with a rag or sponge wanted colour by masking
a paper frame to define the picture space. to lighten the colour. with scrap paper.

Brush Strokes
Scraping
Use the very tip of the brush and apply light pressure
Colour an area with a watercolour pencil. Wet the
while painting to achieve fine, thin, controlled strokes.
colour. Now take the tip of the brush handle and pull
paint across the paper.

Apply more pressure to fan

out the brush tip and pull
it across the paper creating
deep, broad strokes.
6 19

EXPERIMENTING WITH Abstract Paintings

Colour MIXING Draw a space that you can easily work within. Then draw Or scribble and swash colour randomly around your paper.
a continuous line with a graphite pencil or a permanent Apply different techniques such as spattering and scraping.
Using the printed grids in your Watercolour Pad, ink pen. Make loops, zig zags, circles; cross over and back Don’t worry about what is forming, just experiment and have
try different colour applications and combinations. track. Now fill in the shapes that were created by your line fun. When you are finished turn, flip, and crop your image
With a graphite pencil or permanent ink pen, note meanderings. Use different colours and techniques shown until you find a view that you like.
the colours you use in each grid to build a reference in the front of the book.
chart for your future paintings.

Lightly, with the side of the pencil, fill one cell of

the grid with a colour. Using more pressure, apply
the same colour more heavily in another cell. Brush
each with water and see how the intensity of colour
varies by the amount of colour you put down.

Layering is an important technique in watercolour

pencil art. Through this method you can achieve
subtle colour grading, mix colours and create the
illusion of dimensionality.

Tip Use a hair dryer or craft heat tool to dry

the paint quickly so that you can add
more layers of colour or draw in details.