Drawing with Watercolor Pencils

Hi Susie, I’m curious about something. Is it considered cheating to start off watercolor with watercolor pencils? I’ve been considering doing it that way first to teach myself the brush strokes I’d be most comfortable with by following the pencil lines. Although I’m not sure if that would hinder using actual watercolors.  Can you help me with this? Thank you for your time, Courtney

Susie's Reply:

Personally, I don’t like pencil lines in my work so using a watercolor pencil to “save” an area as I paint in my shapes is a good choice for me. Drawing with watercolor pencils is one of my favorite ways to create a guideline that assists with accurate placement when you want to paint more freely.

Keep in mind the watercolor pencil lines will dissolve when water is added.

Cheating? Certainly not!

Use them if they help you as you learn. You never know, you may outgrow their usefulness.

Happy Painting!

SUSIE

P.S. Use similar colors that you will use when painting i.e. Use a pink wc pencil to draw a pink rose and a green wc pencil to draw the leaves. A watercolor pencil can also be used to sign a painting. A lighter color or metallic wc pencil is very effective over dark paint.

More questions about gum arabic used for watercolors

QUESTION: Why is photo-grade gum arabic less expensive than gum arabic sold for watercolors? Can photo-grade gum arabic be used with watercolor? Thank you :-)

SUSIE"S REPLY: I did some investigating and I've learned that gum arabic is used in several forms for several purposes from food stabilizers to inks and textiles. It can be obtained in a powder, syrup, chunk solids, or pellets.
Some of its non food uses include traditional lithography, when used in paints, inks, glues, and printing.
As you mentioned it is also used in photography as well as cosmetics. Another interesting thing I learned was it is used on the postage stamps we once licked to stick on our mail.
My guess would be the photo grade gum arabic's chemical components are different than the gummy syrup used in manufacturing watercolor paints.

Can you use photo-grade gum arabic with watercolor?  If you are mixing your own tube paints it seems to me the thicker syrup type would make a more stable base for the paint.
Since I don't mix my own paint thats just my guess. Let me know if you discover any thing different!
Thanks for your question,
SUSIE

Moldy Watercolor Palettes

QUESTION:
I left my watercolors in the palette over the summer to garden. From time to time I put a damp cloth over them & sprayed them with water. Several have grown mold. I'm able to scrape off the mold. may I use them w/out trouble. How do you store watercolors in a palette for up to 2-3 months?  
Judy, Olympia, WA

Susie's Reply:
Hi Judy,  I have several suggestions for you. Let's start with the mold issue. Scraping the mold off is a good start. A solution of vinegar and water will also neutralize any mold spores that remain.
If the paint is a professional grade watercolor it should be OK.

Let's talk about storing watercolor paint in a palette. Allowing the paint to dry between painting sessions is not going to harm the paint especially if its professional grade.
Many artists prefer to paint with freshly squeezed paint straight from the tube.
Some watercolor paints are made with emollients or additives (such as honey) that aide in keeping the paint moist. Many believe that the paint must be kept moist to maintain the paint's integrity.  For many years I was included in this group of believers. And I can't tell you how much paint I washed down the drain at the end of each painting session. It wasn't until 1990 when I was fortunate to take a workshop with Zoltan Szabo that I learned dry paint was just as vibrant when reactivated as it was straight from the tube.
Some watercolor pigments and the formulas the manufacturers use are better suited for using dry than are others.
So here are my suggestions: If you feel you must use moist paint don't squeeze out more than you can use in a few days or maybe even up to a week. Use a palette with a snug lid and consider putting a moist sponge in the mixing area when the lid is on the palette.
If you will not be using the paint again in a few days, remove the lid and allow the paint to dry naturally. When you are ready to paint again add some fresh paint on top of the dried paint and replace the lid. The moisture will sink down into the dried paint. 
I hope this helps answer your questions.
SUSIE

Comment: I have 2 large palettes with paint in them....when I go to class they are too large to transport conventiently...I have since bought a smaller palette....is it okay to take the old paint out of one of the larger palettes and use it in the smaller palette? Is there an easy way to do this? Thanks Dee Cee

Yes! It is fairly easy to transfer paint from one watercolor palette to another. When the paint is dry its almost like a rubber block that will "pop" out of the well with some gentle prodding. Secure the dry paint block in the new palette well by squeezing some fresh paint of the same color into the well to act as a glue. Let it dry to cure and setup before using it.
Clean the paint block with a damp brush if there is renegade paint dried on it. Try it! Susie

Signatures on Watercolors

QUESTION: Susie, how do you suggest we sign our watercolor paintings? I was reading another blog talking about signing their art work they said "if you painted a purely watercolor painting and signed the painting with an ink pen, it was now a mix media painting. What do you think?" CV

SUSIE'S REPLY: My, this is a loaded question!
Obviously, if your painting is to be entered into a competition go by the rules outlined in the prospectus. Many shows have strict regulations against using anything but transparent watercolors in the paintings. Rules are rules and its usually not the juror but the board or show directors who do the regulating.
Outside of the competitions.... I think there could be several legitimate choices.
Let's look at a few choices:

• Watercolor is preferably the first choice. It can be painted on using a brush, or by using a stylus in a damp area a signature can be "imprinted or scratched" into the paper. This method allows the signature to blend into the painting. It's easily seen but not distracting.
• Watercolor pencils are dried watercolor in pencil form and are easy to use. If the marks made with the watercolor pencil appears to be sitting on top of the paper,,, try running a damp (not wet) brush over the signature. This will help it integrate with your painting.
• Ink - is used by many artists. It's convenient and easy to use. Preferably, it should be an archival water based ink. (Avoid petroleum based inks.) Some of the archival gel pens manufactured for scrap booking are recommended even in darker areas.
• Pencil is also a reasonable choice, especially if any line drawing is used as an important part of your watercolor painting.

So what do I think about a painting being classified as Mixed Media when you use ink for a signature? For what it's worth, I do not believe using ink just for the signature should turn a watercolor into mixed media.

However, if there is a question, or becomes an issue why push your luck?

More than anything paint it and sign it! Then move on to the next one!

SUSIE

Signatures on Watercolor Paintings

QUESTION:
Susie, how do you sign your paintings? Brush? What kind? pencil? . . . Jane

SUSIE'S REPLY:
Hi Jane,
I have a couple of ways depending on what I'm signing.
For my better than average paintings I use a stylized signature - nothing like my regular handwriting. I use a synthetic brush (I think it's about a#2 or #3) that has a crooked point. It was brand new, used once or twice and got put up wet -- got crimped in my paint box and now it has a tiny 90 degree turn in it at the very tip. At first I tried to save it but could not get the crimp out. Tried it to sign my name teeny tiny on some Christmas cards and it worked! Been using it for about 15 years now....for nothing but signing my name. I'll be up a creek if I loose it or if it wears out.
For my demos I use a stylus and sign them with my cursive handwriting signature as if I were signing a check while the painting is wet. I guess I do use it the most since I do more demos than anything these days. I learned that trick from Zoltan Szabo.

On some things when I'm in a hurry or if I want the signature very clear and legible for printing etc. I will use a sharp watercolor pencil on dry paper and my or may not glaze water over it to seal it.
On my greeting cards I sometimes use archival gel pens in a metallic gold or copper or misty blue. But mostly just use the stylus ---its so easy and convenient and fool proof!

Thanks for asking!
SUSIE