Using Watercolor Pencils On Ceramics

Using this type of underglaze can achieve painterly effects.

Using watercolor pencils on ceramics.

This results in darker colors. This process is called activation. Watercolor underglazes work best on bisque fired pieces since a great deal of water is needed to apply them. Apply pencil lightly over very large areas and use the wet paint brush to fill it in.

As you apply the water mimic the shape and direction of the pencil strokes. When using watercolor pencils you will need for sure some brushes. Watercolor pencils are similar to colored pencils but use water soluble binders to hold their components together rather than non water soluble wax or oil. The image above shows arteza s water brush pens.

Once the material has been activated it behaves like watercolor. Use smooth strokes as you use the brush to spread the pigment from the watercolor pencils. Typically water is applied with a brush but sponges and other tools can be used as well. On the test tile above you can see the difference one coat of clear glaze makes to the watercolor surface.

Marks made with graphite pencils on ceramic surfaces will burn out in the firing which can be very convenient as the firing erases the guidelines or grids used for painting or drawing on patterns and designs in ceramic pigments. Apply water to an area then color in with a pencil. Pencil sets are compact and easy to carry. Watercolor pencils are designed to be used with water which can be applied with a soft brush after making marks with the pencil.

Okay this isn t really a technique but one really nice benefit of watercolor pencils is that you can use them as on the go paints. The colors blend seamlessly providing more dimension in pieces. Apply pencil to the outside edges of a shape then fill in with a wet paint brush. This allows the colors to spread like watercolor paint when painted over with water but it also makes them more difficult to blend without the use of water.

Use watercolor pencils as portable paints. Guidelines also can be painted on with vermilion watercolor paint which also burns away. For example although you cannot apply actual watercolor paints onto ceramic clay pottery you can apply ceramic glazes onto the unfinished pottery work to look like it was painted with watercolor paint. Once the pottery piece is fired in a kiln it will look like it was painted using watercolor paints.

The main difference is that the glazed bisque surface absorbs the color and water mixture more quickly. Much more so than paint sets. This will feel the most like watercolor painting except that instead of dipping your brush into watercolor paint you re using water to spread pigment already on the paper. But once you get used to that you can create beautiful watercolor like surfaces.