How to Draw Watercolor Outlines ✏️ Tips & Tricks for Beginners
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- #watercolortips #watercolorforbeginners #watercoloroutlines
Have you ever wondered how to create clean and accurate pencil outlines for your watercolor art? I will show you my favourite tracing method - and it doesn't require any special equipment. Enjoy!
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If you are using an iPad you can turn on guided access and that freezes the screen so you don’t have to worry about the imaging moving. Also if I’m tracing I invert the image before I trace and the I place the paper with pencil mark onto the watercolour paper and rub over the lines. No need to shade the back of the paper
🤭😳 OMG how did I not know about screen freezing feature????? THANK YOU FOR THIS TIP!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I also prefer to do the drawing inverted and flip it. I also prefer to use tracing paper rather than copy paper and a ball point pen to do the final transfer to watercolor paper. I really want to get an iPad. It's a royal pain in the neck to try and trace off my upright monitor!!
This is so helpful!!!
My elementary art students taught me that trick ages ago. One reason why I banned iPads during art class as the students were tracing "their" drawings and not trying to do it themselves as per the lesson. As if I wouldn't notice that their so-so art suddenly went to outstanding overnight. There is a time and place for using iPads but not when you are supposed to be learning to draw on your own.
@@catzenhouse I think everyone would agree with you! I can draw, and I used to draw a lot. However, when I want to paint, I usually resort to some form of tracing to save time.
Two things I want to suggest:
1. Graphite sticks make it much easier to cover the back of the paper.
2. You might prefer to not do this, but kneaded erasers are really useful to pick of the excess graphite and lighten your work without damaging the paper. When I clear up the traced drawing, I like to use a soft pencil because I accidentally end up pressing too hard with a hard pencil halfway through, so using kneaded erasers has made my life easier.
Same. I do use Saral paper and blot with the kneading eraser after tracing. It works really well for me.
I like to tape translucent paper to my computer monitor and trace. Then I use the transfer paper on the paper or canvas. Works well!
Another tip, increase the contrast of your picture to maximum so you can see it more clearly under the paper. If your image has too many pale colors , invert the colors so they become much more saturated.Also you can use a kneaded eraser to lighten the sketch,though, instead of using it like normal eraser, use roling motion to pick up the graphite, it limits the smudging
Thank you!!! I usually print the image in gray scale, and there are even some ways of turning it into a kind of line drawing. Then I trace using a lightbox, but I also have an iPad.
What I really appreciate is that you aren’t lecturing about drawing. Yes, drawing is a great skill, and something I also enjoy. However, I’m really trying to learn how to paint with watercolor, and I do not want to spend a lot of time trying to draw right now. I also use a projector for my acrylic paintings, and I could use that for watercolor images, as well.
The most skilled and generous-in-sharing artist on RUclips. Thank you 💛
Thank you thank you thank you!!! ❤️ for always encouraging me! 😊
💛💛
I love this tutorial because I used to be able to draw as an novice in childhood. But seeing this method will enable me to have scope in the near future as I am retired. I did some painting 30 yrs ago but gave up due to a series of illnesses. I love all your work and you are an inspirational. Thank you so much.
Thank you Margaret! 💕 Enjoy your creativity and play around with how much precise outline you need in each painting - since you have experience with drawing you may just need the overall shape, and fill in the details on your own (at least that’s how I transitioned from full tracing to freehand 😊💜)
I tend to use the grid method when transferring my image, if I'm painting a subject where I need to capture a likeness. It's even great just to get the general proportions! It really cuts down the drawing time. I'm not one of those artist's that believes that using a grid or tracing is "cheating". It's a tool just as my paintbrush is!
I typically draw directly onto my watercolour paper with a col-erase (light gray) pencil, It's dark enough to see and so....easy to erase after.
I love the grid method too! Mostly doing freehand these days but I feel like it’s a great inbetween step from tracing to freehand, and you learn a ton doing grids, eventually being able to visualize them without an actual grid on paper. I completely agree - grids and tracing is definitely NOT cheating! 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t even know why it’s such a hot topic! As long as you are not misrepresenting another painting as your own work, having accurate outlines is so essential! 💚
Thank you so much for your beautiful lessons. Wonderful. All lessons are so helpful and meaningful ❤❤❤
Thank you for watching and supporting my channel 😊
@@AnnaBucciarelli it's my pleasure to get a chance to learn from your videos. ❤️
I have made the mistakes with carbon paper, halfway through painting I realised the lines don't melt or disappear. Next I used the grid method onto a sketch pad, traced my drawing and transferred it to the WC paper using 4B graphite on rear of tracing paper, now I know it muddies the watercolours .... so try again!! Still trying to paint the same dog portrait. Now I'll try your method - thank you for all the tips on the grade of pencils plus everyone else's comments and tips on iPad, inverting colours and also the Lightbox are really helpful. Thanks to all
This is great! I really prefer my watercolor paper to be stretched, so this method works very well. (Buying WC paper in sheets is about half the price of buying blocks...) My iPad is truly antique, so I really can't use it for tracing. I bought a lightpad from Amazon for only $17, and often use that to trace a drawing onto the WC paper BEFORE I stretch, and that works, as well. I'm with you, I'm trying to teach myself to draw without having to trace, but usually that means a pencil and eraser on a sketchpad or printer paper. Also, you can use Photoshop (or Gimp, which is free) to trace, then print out your tracing. But, that limits the size of your artwork, unless you break it up, which I don't know how to do yet!
Instead of using the cross-hatching on the back then taping down then redrawing, I would draw over the ipad tracing with a black fineliner pen then use a light box to transfer it to my watercolour paper
This is what I’ve done, as well.
@@annewatman677 I use the window at daylight. Chepaest light box. 😅
Thank you so much for all your tutorials ♥️ I learn so much from you! 🤗
This tutorial helps me soooo much ♥️
So I don't have an iPad ! And actually this is basically using it as a light box. I bought an artist's light box for 30£ on Amazon. I have to resize the photo on my computer ( 30 second job) and then print it on cheap printer paper and then transfer to the my paper.
I make a copy of image of what I want to paint, put on my light box and tape it down., the put copy of whatever on top, and trace with bright light on. If watercolor paper is too heavy, I put tracing paper on top instead and draw and then transfer drawing onto watercolor paper. It works for me.
Hi Anna, I've just discovered your channel and am enjoying your videos - you're an inspiration. One word of caution about using the graphite to trace your image onto the WC paper - use a light touch. If you press too hard, your pencil will leave an imprint on the paper and paint will pool in those lines. I'm looking forward to more videos from you. Thank you! Mona
Thank you Mona! Welcome to the channel and Happy Holidays 🎨💜
Thanks for this! I love that you give so many detailed helpful tips, like where to use the different types of pencil. I can draw but it usually involves a lot of sketching and erasing before I am happy with the result. That can dent and abrade the watercolour paper so I much rather trace a finalised drawing.
Thank you 🩵
It's a very cute adult wallaby :)
I generally download the free image I am going to paint, then I use GIMP to have the outline (there is a specific feature for that), then I print the manipultaed image the exact size I need. Then I reverse the printed image, cover the outline with 9B pencil traces, put it on my painting watercolour sheet, reverse it and trace it. Alternatively, I draw freehand - which is much better.
Really good advice. If a great painter like you can use tracing to such a great affect I‘ll definitely not try to reproduce everything from hand. I‘ll try this method.Thanks. Really admire your very detailed paintings!
I draw my pictures on a drawing paper or some smooth paper and when I am satisfied I scan the drawings just to preserve them for if I need them after and I trace it on a tracing paper and after I transfer the lines on the watercolor paper just to avoid erasing on the watercolor paper.
I tape the image i want on to the back of my watercolour paper, and in a big glass dish i put my phone with flashlight looking up. Makes it pretty easy
i use these weird gel crayons i got at marshalls, they come in tons of different colors, i rub them on the back of a printout and trace on the other side with a ballpoint pen. i prefer this to carbon paper/graphite because you can get a really pretty colors for the linework, i usually use purple, turquoise or magenta
aalso rather than trace off the screen ill just print it off my black and white laser printer, that way i end up with a contrast guide as well :)
Thank you for sharing I have a light box now but this is how I use to transfer before
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A professional artist taught me how to make graphite paper out of tracing paper. It works better than purchased graphite paper because it is still erasable if needed after applying the traced image onto the watercolor paper.
Thank you so much Anna⚘Your videos are highly helpful for me. And I learn and really enjoy your tips...and I think your voice is really sweet and beauty⚘💖
Thanks for this, it reduces a lot of stress for me because I kept drawing on the watercolour paper and erasing the mistakes ruined the work. May I ask how will you do outlines for bigger projects like A3 or A2? Thanks a lot.
Is this a cheat sheet? Who cares, this is a great idea, I'm definitely going to try this with some of my own photos.
Very useful tips about the paper and hardness of pencils. Thank you
What if you want to paint a larger image than your iPad screen size?
You are Amazing! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!🥰
You are amazing! Robt
Thanks for the tip! I don’t like transfer paler either! The lines are always too fat and lightening is near impossible. I’ll try this technique next time.
Also, thanks for the tip on wearing a glove so I can use my iPad to trace!
Gloves are super useful! And I use the same type for Watercolor (to avoid smudges) and iPad work 😊
those eyes! wow
Beautiful! I love your work!
Great instructions, thanks so much!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tips. Small critique on the painting. Perhaps it should have been an Australian flower in the background. Perhaps something like a protea?
Interesting idea ,I just draw it with pencil,was not allowed to trace at school the teachers would always know we had to leave construction lines to prove our. Work .I wondered a bit.... interesting idea if you want to work with the paint quickly a few times without sketching it everytime .thanks
You can use white pencil ✏️ or pastel pens like yellow or any lite color
I trace too! I can draw anything well enough but Id rather spend my time painting :) I used to use this technique before I bought a light pad but I loathe this it, and the mess it leaves on my WC paper from the soft graphite side of the drawing. It inverts the image also, which is rarely desirable considering the light and dark areas that are drawn in are subject to light direction so that must be taken into account. Everyone has their own preference!
Totally agree! Sometimes it depends on the mood too - I can be into drawing or just want to get down to painting asap 😊 flexibility is key ❤️
Yes! Reading through the comments has brought to my attention just how widely our preferences vary. Illuminating.
Thank you!
🤗
It's breathtaking! Great work.
Loved this, as always! I would love to see a video of you that gives tips on how you create your lineart on the iPad. (I’m assuming that’s what you do anyways)
Like the outlines you provide for skill share and patreon. Which brushes you use, the settings you’ve selected ect.
Thank you 💕 this one is pretty straightforward (I am very un-fancy when it comes to digital and use the same old brush to create coin designs for Royal Mint and the outlines for all my watercolor) it’s almost too boring to make a video about hehe - I simply overlay a blank layer over a painting scan (at 25% opacity) and use Inking > Technical Pen 😊
Good tips that I plan to try! Thank you for posting.
😊💚
Hello, do you know those "colepaper"?
I t is exactly for this use.
30 sheets A4, 5€ ~
And every sheet can be used several times.
But the idea to draw to the transparent paper on the i pad was unknown to me.
So many thanks for that! ❤
Greetings.
Great video upload and full watching! Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
Many thanks for this…..I find it easier and quicker to print the reference photo on to a sheet of paper, then use a very soft graphite pencil to cover the reverse side, then tape this to your waterclour paper , then use a harder pencil to go over outlines and details…. ….should I want a painting larger than the tracing, I use proportional dividers to work things out….hope this helps ‘
This makes perfect sense (I just don’t own a printer so I have to go through this one extra step) 😊 Happy Holidays!
I Love it!! Thank you for posting
Wow this is lifechanging advice artisticalwise😳😲I tried transfering from my Tablet, but the screen moved...i have to try your Method...thanks a ton🤩
Try the screen glove!! It really helps by making the screen surface “ignore” the back of your hand so there is less chance of movement ☺️💕
I used to trace from my tablet in this way. I have now downloaded an app that holds the image still or creates an outline to trace. Once I have drawn it onto the paper, I turn it over against a window and rub pencil only over the outlines so I don't have to do the whole back.
What is the name of the app? 😊 Thank you!
Amazing painting sister 😃👍👍👍
Thank you!
Very similar to my technique except that using an IPad would be great because of illumination vs Window
Could you list again the different hardness levels of pencils and what they are best for?
Depending on the size of my paintings, I will use my cheap projector in a dark room and trace from there. I dont like the mess of transfer paper.
감사합니다♡♡♡
If you already have a tablet, usually you can transfer the darkest parts directly on watercolour paper. Same if you have window on a bright day. The rest can be filled by hand.
Thank you!
thanks for the tips :)
❤️
I watched all of this and I still have no idea what you've done. BTW, do you ever breath air?
I use a light box
Could you let us know the brand of glove you use? I live in rural Mexico so if you also got them at a specific store that would be very helpful. Thank you!,
I just cut off part of an old gardening glove.
Is it okay to use carbon paper for transfering the image or is that what you refer to as traditional transfer paper (in which case, you've answered my question) ? 🌸
In my experience, carbon paper makes a dark mark that CANNOT be erased. Transfer paper, at least the stuff I have, is kind of waxy, and it doesn’t come off either.
That’s exactly right - like @fiddlermom said below regular carbon gets so deep into cotton grain that it becomes impossible to erase. Also smudges. Transfer paper is super waxy and interferes with water absorption later on when you paint! 😖 I think it’s sort of OK if you use it lightly without applying too much pressure but regular pencil is definitely much much better for your watercolors! ❤️😊
Thank you, again. You never hold back (like most artists, that I have come across, do) and give full and detailed info 💛💛
If you place a piece of plexiglass under your hand when using carbon paper to transfer, it prevents the awful smudges and mess the pressure of your hand makes.
The paper that you need is called trace down, ( can't remember if its 1 word or2) available from Amazon and art stotes.
I use grid and draw the paintings
Nice 👍❤️💙💛
Молодец 🤝
😊💚
What size I pad is the best Anna? Great info. Thank you
My large printer paper is 11 x 17 inches and I sometimes fold it in half for smaller pieces 💜
Another reason to get an iPad:) thanks:). I’ve been looking for a glove like that. Can you tell me where I can get one?
They sell lots of them on Amazon.
I got mine on Amazon
❤❣
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It seems like tracing is cheating. How do you feel about tracing a photograph? I guess it’s not much different than copying, but it seems wrong? Your results are amazing! Perhaps too amazing?
This is a very common method for transferring an image. It’s not cheating! If you feel more comfortable drawing, then you should do it that way. However, just know that lots of professional artists use some form of tracing. It saves a lot of time when you want to get to the painting itself.
Wouldn't tracing considering a cheating?
That method never worked for me because the picture always moves too much. I would just draw it and take a photo too see how close I was by putting them side by side. Crazy how much it would move and it drove me nuts.
Agree it’s distracting but someone above left a comment about “locking” the screen to prevent it - it really works great 😊💜
Very interesting, but I think, in my mind, that this way it's a little heavy. There are another ways, more easy, to draw with a pantograph for example. Have a good day from Canarias islands!
The problem is that the pencil ✏️ could have effect after finishing
Use water color pencils
I understand if you’re getting paid for realistic lines but at my age, just want to have fun and freehand everything..too many steps lol 😆🙏🏽🙋🏻♀️👍🏽
For sure!! Freehand is fun and good practice too. I mostly freehand these days unless it’s a portrait commission 😊💜