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Let's Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!!!
Hey there!! Are you ready for a creative adventure? Today we're delving into the world of water-soluble drawing supplies and are gonna have a blast creating our very own craggy castle ruins!
I'm going to be using an elegant writer (felt tip calligraphy pen), but you can use any kind of water-soluble marker or pen you have lying around at home. Not sure if you've got any water-soluble art supplies at home? Keep reading, because I'm gonna help ya find one!!
Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
In less than one hour, I'm going to go over NINE key concepts
in this FREE mixed media art lesson including:
Let's set the mood for a relaxed and enjoyable experience, shall we?
Forget about perfection and masterpieces – today, it's all about having fun and exploring the amazing properties of water-soluble materials. We're gonna let our inner second-grader shine through, embracing the joy of creating without any pressure.
Not sure if you have any water soluble drawing supplies lying around the house? How about a felt tip pen? Most of us have one of those hiding in a drawer somewhere, and guess what?
They're water soluble! Yep, just draw a line and add water to it with a paintbrush – it will melt like magic! Now, let's talk about the materials that can take our creativity to the next level. If you happen to be an artsy, fartsy person with a collection of art supplies (lucky you!), there are some fantastic options to consider.
One of my personal favorites is the Elegant Writer (above, which I'll be using today) – a watersoluble calligraphy pen. It does come in a variety of colors, but trust me, I've played with them all, and the only one well worth your time is BLACK.
Mixed media art supply lovers may also have Fineliners, Tombow markers, Neo Color IIs, watercolor pencils, watercolor markers, or a Stabilo all black pencil (if you've been hanging with me for a while - you definitely have one of these!!). Any of these supplies are an excellent choice for today's castle ruin project. Don't have any fancy art supplies? You can still have a TON of fun using any regular old pencil!
When it comes to paper, anytime you're doing a mixed media project that involves water, I suggest you work on watercolor paper because it can take way more layering than mixed media paper and holds up beautifully.
As far as watercolor paper goes, you've got choices. Cold press watercolor paper or hot press watercolor paper would both work beautifully for this activity. Cold press offers more texture and holds more water, so I'd go with this option if you plan to do multiple layers. Hot press doesn't really have any texture to it, and is super smooth. What you choose today is entirely up to you, and your artistic preference! To learn more about watercolor paper and see each type of paper in action, check out this recent video.
Alright, let's dive into the techniques we'll be using to bring our craggy castle ruins to life. No rulers or erasers allowed – we want those wonky lines, uneven shapes, and rustic charm. Embrace the imperfections!
Make sure you watch today's video so you can draw along with me in real-time. Then, get ready for the magic – we're gonna activate the elegant writer ink by applying water selectively to just one side of our drawing using a watercolor brush!! You're gonna LOVE watching the ink melt into stunning shadows, adding depth and sophistication to your work!
As you can see in the above pic, I'm using my FAVORITE watercolor brushes by Polina Bright. Learn more about why I'm obsessed with them here, or get a set for yourself at 10% off here when you enter my name (KarenCampbell) as the coupon code at checkout.
For all you pencil lovers out there, fear not! A blending stump, cuetip, or your finger does an amazing job of adding dimension to your drawing when you're ready to start shading.
Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Embrace the process, enjoy the unpredictability of your water soluble marker if you've got one, and let your creativity guide you.
There's no right or wrong way to approach this – it's all about exploring, playing with your supplies, and adding your personal touch to those craggy castle ruins.
Once you've completed your masterpiece, don't keep it to yourself! I'd LOVE to see your work!!
?www.facebook.com/groups/awesomeartschoolPost a pic of your craggy castle ruins in my Facebook group ?Or tag me on Instagram @KarenCampbellartist I'm genuinely excited to see what you create!! Want Another FREE Elegant Writer Project?Loved This Castle Project & Want MORE?
You might just LOVE my Celtic Collective art club with Lucy Brydon over at Awesome Art School. EVERY project in this club is inspired by castle ruins like today's piece, fairies, mythical creatures and fantasy!
?Check out The Celtic Collective & add your name to the waitlist to be notified next time we're taking on new members! Need More Resources?
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FUN & EASY Mixed Media Project for Beginners with Derwent Graphitint Watercolor OVER Pencil20/9/2022
Today's mixed media project is PERFECT for mixed media beginners, watercolor beginners, and anyone curious about the Derwent Graphitint Paint Pan Pocket Set.
Adding watercolor over pencil drawings is a super FUN and EASY technique that can really make your drawings look more sophisticated. Grab your watercolors and your fairy drawing to create along with me as I lead you step-by-step through simple face shading, creating magical hair, and an easy background in watercolor!
WANT 30 FUN Mixed Media Project Ideas with SIMPLE, tried, and true art supply combos like Watercolor over Pencil? Click the button below to download my FREE Hot Dog Packet!
Each mixed media idea in The Hot Dog Packet reads like a recipe with ONLY 4 art supplies, so it's perfect for mixed media beginners! Click the button above, and I'll send it straight to your email.
Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
Use whatever watercolor set you have on hand to paint along with me. Today I'm trying a new set - Derwent's Graphitint Paint Pan Pocket Set.
If you've never heard of Graphitint before, it's a "unique blend of graphite paint with color for dramatic tonal work," according to the package. To me- this set feels like muted nature tones, which is perfect for today's mixed media project.
As soon as I start to swatch these watercolors, they remind me of my granulating watercolors by Daniel Smith. They also look kinda dirty, which isn't a bad thing - you can just tell they have gray graphite in there for sure.
There isn't a skin tone in this set, but I feel like the shade called Russet will work. Watch as I add a light wash of this onto my fairy face drawing. (Wanna draw this fairy? Watch this first.)
I'm using my Polina Bright watercolor brushes (get 10% off Polina's watercolor brushes here) for this project. They're the only thing I use now! Find out why here.
Next I added a little Autumn Brown to accentuate the nose and creases of the eyes to add dimension. I love this technique of adding watercolor to an already shaded drawing. It's got this messy, grungey feel.
It's so freeing because you don't have to be "precious" about your work - just get in there, drop a light wash where you want some color, and call it a day.
I switched to a larger Polina Bright watercolor brush to do the hair in meadow green. If you struggle with how to paint hair (or draw it), I add color from root to tip, leave some white space, and add more color from tip to root.
Make sure you click over to the video to see this in action. It's such a cool effect, and SO easy to do - even if you're a beginner.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I HATE to mix watercolors. I know - it's ridiculous. I'm the only professional artist who won't do this. LOL.
I'm just lazy like that - I love to work straight from the pan, tube or whatever. It's faster and there's no guesswork about what color I'm gonna get! I feel like this Derwent set could've used a nice dark forest green. Since it doesn't have one, I went out of my way (LOL) to mix one for the leaves in my fairy's hair.
I'm kinda loving my new Derwent Graphitint Paint Pan Set! It's perfect for doing projects like this - just adding some color to a graphite drawing.
If you've been following me for a while or are a student in one of my art clubs, you know I'm obsessed with my pentel pocket brush for drawing eyelashes and outlining. I know many of my students are intimidated by it because it can be unpredictable and take some getting used to.
Recently I discovered a little sister product, the Pentel Arts Sign Pen with Micro Brush Tip. This is perfect for adding some finishing touches to today's piece.
I think it will also help those students intimidated by the Pentel Pocket Brush. This one has a much thinner bristle tip and is way easier to control to create daintier lines. I hope you enjoyed today's full-length mixed media tutorial! Remember, if you want to draw this fairy- watch this video first: When you've finished your drawing, watch this one to watercolor her: Thanks for hanging out with me today! If you enjoyed this lesson, you might just LOVE my entire #50FunFabFairies drawing challenge. Here's the playlist in case you wanna check that out. ❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON ❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON ❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP ❤️ FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
Today's mixed media art tutorial might just blow your mind if you're a beginner. Not only will I show you how to use Faber Castell skin tone watercolor markers to shade a mixed media face, but you'll learn 3 UNIQUE WAYS to melt, blend and freeze the pigment from your watercolor markers so they BEHAVE in YOUR OWN gorgeous mixed media projects at home!
Got a new set of watercolor markers, colored pencils, pens or watercolors? It's SO important to SWATCH your new colors so you know what to expect when each color hits your page!
I've made this process MORE FUN for you by creating a FREE Swatchsheet! Simply click the button below, and I'll send it straight to your inbox.
LOVE swatching, and can't get enough?! Check out the book I created with my Facebook Group called The Fun Fab Swatch Pad. These playful pages will keep you swatching for days!
Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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Karen CampbellFounder of Awesome Art School. Mixed Media Artist. Author of 18 Instructional Art Books! Archives
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"Karen is flipping hilarious and she's very real...I like the way she teaches in a way that really gives you confidence, whether you're a beginner or advanced there's always something new to learn!"
- Elizabeth W. |
What Fans Are SayingKaren, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do. |
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