watercolor pencils

[duranfan]

i went all out yesterday and bought a set of "derwent" watercolor pencils. i'm hoping to give my cards and such a more "finished" look than what i get with the crayolas! i'm excited! if anyone has any tips, i'd love to hear them. i had thought about getting the su! pencils- is that worthwhile? i'm trying to build up my ink/paper so that the colors all coordinate. can't wait to color today!

[KathiR]

Derwent watercolor pencils are wonderful. I don't think you need to invest in SU pencils, but I'm not an SU person.

I use a Niji water brush with my pencils.

[TriboHearts]

I don't have any tips for you, since I am new to colored pencils myself. I just got the Prismacolors, but haven't used them yet. I wanted to wish you happy coloring today! and lots of fun too.

Trish in Wisconsin

[TriboHearts]

Originally Posted by KathiR

Derwent watercolor pencils are wonderful. I don't think you need to invest in SU pencils, but I'm not an SU person.

I use a Niji water brush with my pencils.

I didn't know that you could use a paint brush with pencils, I thought that you had to use the Stumps. I am in heaven if I can use the brushes. Does this really work. Do you have some images that you can share? Thanks a bunch for the tip.

Have a happy stamping, err coloring day!

Trish in Wisconsin

[duranfan]

i don't know if it works for the pencils, but a friend uses the su! watercolor crayons, then uses a damp q-tip for blending. i may try that. i guess i should add that i had a 50% off coupon! that, and my dh just bought himself a big bad tv se, so i figured i got a new toy, too!

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by TriboHearts

I didn't know that you could use a paint brush with pencils, I thought that you had to use the Stumps. I am in heaven if I can use the brushes. Does this really work. Do you have some images that you can share? Thanks a bunch for the tip.

Have a happy stamping, err coloring day!

Trish in Wisconsin

You use a brush with water with watercolor pencils. You use the stumps with gamsol/baby oil with regular colored pencils, like Prismacolor. HTH

[lbirus]

Originally Posted by Phantom

You use a brush with water with watercolor pencils. You use the stumps with gamsol/baby oil with regular colored pencils, like Prismacolor. HTH

That's right. The WATERCOLOR pencils are meant to disolve in water where the regular colored pencils (prisma color being the most densely pigmented brand) are NOT going to dissolve with water and will need an agent such a Odorless Mineral Spirits or oil to break down the wax and spread the pigment.

Two different things! Two different results. Watercolor pencils give a much more subtle color and the color is transparent. Regular colored pencils (Prisma Brand) when spread with blending stumps and OMS will be more opaque and give a deeper richer color saturation.

Sorry for the "lecture", just hoping to clarify for ya!

[Cook22]

I have some Derwent, along with several other brands. I love my watercolour pencils - I am sure you will too. I can't be bothered with aqua-painters, so I just use a regualr watercolour brush dipped in water. Using watercolour paper makes quite a difference, although it's not totally necessary with the pencils as it's not really a wet technique.

[Star Gazer]

A blender pen can be used with watercolor pencils as well.

[lilbitt34]

Originally Posted by Star Gazer

A blender pen can be used with watercolor pencils as well.

I always use a blender pen with watercolors. I've tried an Aqua pen but I have much better control with a blender pen.

Becky

[duranfan]

thanks for the input- can't wait to play around this afternoon!

[MSBetsyZ]

My favorite way to use wc pencils is on watercolor paper. I scribble on a spare piece and use a wet brush (not aqua brush) to pick up the color. This way is great because if I want to blend two colors together it's a snap...just color the two colors side by side and use the brush to mix them together. Using the blender pen with pencils works ok, especially on smaller projects, but I do prefer the overall "wash" look of using a regular ol' paintbrush, lol!

I'm going out on a limb here...nobody shoot me, please...but I don't think you really need to invest in the SU pencils. One, the Derwents are great pencils and two, the SU pencils are NOT in SU's colors...they just "coordinate." Our crayons...yes, those are fabulous and do come in SU colors, but they are a different animal. If you just want pencils, your Derwents are great.

Now the SU crayons...they are still a watercolor medium, but the pigmentation is much richer. Pencils give a washed, transparent look...crayons are much more opaque and vibrant. You can dilute them easily enough, though. If you find you want SU colors for watercoloring, I'd go with these.

[duranfan]

i used the blender pen with the pencils, and was VERY pleased! i've been wanting a more "finished" look, and that's exactly what i got. i do plan to get the su! watercolor crayons at some point. i'm so happy to have purchased these!

[stamper1996]

Originally Posted by lilbitt34

I always use a blender pen with watercolors. I've tried an Aqua pen but I have much better control with a blender pen.

Becky

Same here.

I also own a set of the Derwent watercolor pencils. They are very nice quality, and you can add individual pencils as your budget/needs allow.

[Paula in GA]

I have Prismas and some others, but I love all Derwent products. I have their watercolor pencils, artist colored pencils, (Inktense and Graphitints, which are positively fantabulous!) and Colorsofts which are not watercolor style. Derwent has a really cool website that will give you a few tutorials also.

[mas de todo]

Originally Posted by Paula in GA

I have Prismas and some others, but I love all Derwent products. I have their watercolor pencils, artist colored pencils, (Inktense and Graphitints, which are positively fantabulous!) and Colorsofts which are not watercolor style. Derwent has a really cool website that will give you a few tutorials also.

Wow, Great info about pencils.. Thanks, Ladies

[duranfan]

i will definitely add more! ilove the way a colored image looks when it's been "blended"!

[poptartgirl]

i enjoy using a blender pen with the water color paper but normal SU paper works just as well ~ have fun!

[cindykey]

The Derwent pencils are my favorite watercolor medium and my favorite way to use them is in layers. I color and shade my image, then soften the edges with the appropriate size damp brush. After it dries, I may want highlights or finer detail. If so, I put it in with the pencils, sometimes I soften again. Usually I finish with a very light touch of the pencil, sometimes I dip the tip in water to soften the final look.

Try them on regular paper, hot and cold press watercolor paper AND watercolor canvas.

[Reddyisco]

Originally Posted by lbirus

That's right. The WATERCOLOR pencils are meant to disolve in water where the regular colored pencils (prisma color being the most densely pigmented brand) are NOT going to dissolve with water and will need an agent such a Odorless Mineral Spirits or oil to break down the wax and spread the pigment.

Two different things! Two different results. Watercolor pencils give a much more subtle color and the color is transparent. Regular colored pencils (Prisma Brand) when spread with blending stumps and OMS will be more opaque and give a deeper richer color saturation.

Sorry for the "lecture", just hoping to clarify for ya!

Lecture? I LOVE answers like this!!! Thanks!

[Reddyisco]

Originally Posted by Star Gazer

A blender pen can be used with watercolor pencils as well.

what EXACTLY is a blender pen?

[JacquieR]

I love my S/U watercolor pencils and feel that they are worth the investment. You get 24 different colors which is awesome. I use mine with a blender pen, and it is cleaner than using a paint brush. Just wipe the tip off on a white paper until it comes clean, then go on to the next color. Enjoy your coloring!!!!

[creatingisfun]

oh i love watercolor pencils. and I use blender pen too.

[angela.asteriou]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a blender pen and a water pen? I'm so impressed with the knowledge that everyone knows on here. I have SOOOOO MANY colored pencils (because of my kids) but then I heard you can't use them with stamping, etc. because they weren't watercolored pencils. So, I went out and bought 24 watercolored pencils and a H2O pencil/brush <-- love it! But now I hear there is a difference between the blender and water pen/brush. I have heard the horror stories of beginners (like me) that go out and buy so much unneeded stuff (although I could spend hours with a SU catalog, browsing in Michael's, JoAnn's, etc. and love buying craft materials. However, if I could use mineral oil/q-tip with colored pencils instead of spending $25.00 for a pack of 12 watercolored pencils...I would much rather do that and buy more STAMPS!!!! Can you tell I have the bug? I'm addicted!!!! : )

[Stargroves]

Love my watercolour pencils, ADORE my Derwent Inktense pencils, even more vivid shades.

[cmesinden]

The way I think of blender pens is it is like a marker with a clear fluid that "blends" colors. When you are done with a color wipe it on scratch paper until it is clean and go on to the next item you want to work with. I like the SU blender pens I have better than a water brush because I don't have to worry about how much water to apply. I use it often when working with watercolor pencils, chalk pastels, and SU inks (refills, ink pads, or to soften edges of a stamped image). I am sooooo not a painter so this lets me have a chance at acting like one.

[darskee]

I hate to say you don't need the SU watercolor pencils, but I think you would be getting them so they match everything else. They don't. the SU pencils do not come in the 48 coordinated colors.

I do have the SU pencils, blender pens and aqua painters (fill it yourself water pens) love them all. I also have a bunch of pencils that I inherited from Grandma. Don't see much differerence, well, the price since I bought them at an art supply shop.

[scraphappy4067]

Originally Posted by angela.asteriou

Can anyone tell me the difference between a blender pen and a water pen? I'm so impressed with the knowledge that everyone knows on here. I have SOOOOO MANY colored pencils (because of my kids) but then I heard you can't use them with stamping, etc. because they weren't watercolored pencils. So, I went out and bought 24 watercolored pencils and a H2O pencil/brush <-- love it! But now I hear there is a difference between the blender and water pen/brush. I have heard the horror stories of beginners (like me) that go out and buy so much unneeded stuff (although I could spend hours with a SU catalog, browsing in Michael's, JoAnn's, etc. and love buying craft materials. However, if I could use mineral oil/q-tip with colored pencils instead of spending $25.00 for a pack of 12 watercolored pencils...I would much rather do that and buy more STAMPS!!!! Can you tell I have the bug? I'm addicted!!!! : )

You CAN use colored pencils with stamped images! I have even used Crayola colored pencils and baby oil.

[dawndreger]

I own Derwent and really like them! I use them with the SU! blender pens and really like the result. My only tip would be don't worry about colouring perfectly; once you add moisture, the result is more interesting. I also like to wipe the blender pen directly onto the watercolour pencil for a more intense colour when I need it.

[missiowa81]

Originally Posted by Paula in GA

I have Prismas and some others, but I love all Derwent products. I have their watercolor pencils, artist colored pencils, (Inktense and Graphitints, which are positively fantabulous!) and Colorsofts which are not watercolor style. Derwent has a really cool website that will give you a few tutorials also.

Two weeks ago I bought a set of 36 Derwent watercolor pencils at a garage sale for $11. Only 4 of the pencils had been used.

I haven't had a chance to play with them yet, though. I have Prismacolor Premier pencils and have started using them more with the odorless mineral spirits, but haven't ever had watercolor pencils before. Thanks for posting about the Derwent website.

[Sweet RN]

Wow, I'm going to have to check out "derwent" - never heard of it before. I agree with the others about liking the SU watercolor crayons more than the pencils. My question is this: can someone explain what is better about watercolor paper than plain old cardstock?

[dawndreger]

Watercolour paper is thicker, is made of cotton (I think) and takes the watercolour medium better. I don't know the technical terms, but if you try it, you will see!

[uncbballfan]

Watercolor paper has a sizing that allows the water to sit on top of the paper, giving you more blending time. It comes in different weights, expressed as pounds (for example, from 90 lbs up to 300 lbs, the higher numbers are thicker and heavier). It is processed using two methods: cold press (textured) or hot press (smooth). Price makes a difference, especially if you're watercoloring large areas. On regular cardstock, the water is rapidly absorbed into the paper, giving you less blending time, and if coloring a large area, the water will cause the cardstock to warp.

Blender pens use a special fluid, containing glycerin, water and alcohol. There's a recipe here on SCS for making your own blender fluid refill. I have a Dove blender pen, and they offer refill fluid, but it's much cheaper to make your own. You can use blender pens with any watercolor medium (pencils, cakes or tubes), with brush markers (such as Marvy and Tombow) and with decorator chalks. Water pens (or water brushes) are basically used like paintbrushes with watercolor mediums. The water pens have a barrel that you unscrew from the tip; you then squeeze the barrel and dip it into a container of water. When you "unsqueeze" the barrel, water flows into the barrel, much like an eye dropper. Screw the barrel back onto the tip, and then gently squeeze the barrel to allow the water to flow into the brush tip. Water pens are great for traveling, as you don't need to carry a separate water supply or worry about spillage. Water pens are available in different brush tip sizes, and in my opinion, the best waterbrushes are made by Niji or EK Success.

[beckaroni]

I love my watercolor pencils so much I bought a 2nd set. I bought the General Kimberly's I think that is the name at Hobby Lobby. My friend bought the SU and I like the colors that are in mine 10 times as well as hers. I use my Stampin Up Blender Pen with mine and absolutely love the look. Happy STamping !!!

[duranfan]

i really like using them! i will definitely try some water color paper. i'm sure i'll be adding to my colors!

[Sweet RN]

Thank you for the explanations about watercolor paper, I always wondered, and now I know.