Watercolor crayons are versatile art tools that can be used in various ways to achieve different effects. You can use them as both a drawing and painting medium.
Versatile Usage
Here's a breakdown of how to use watercolor crayons effectively:
Paper Application:
- Dry Paper:
- You can apply watercolor crayons directly onto dry paper.
- Draw or sketch as you would with regular crayons.
- After the application, you can activate the colors using a wet paintbrush or water and achieve a watercolor effect.
- The crayon strokes can remain visible, offering a textured, mixed-media look.
- Wet Paper:
- Apply the watercolor crayons on wet paper for a smoother, more blended result.
- The colors will dissolve more easily, producing a wash-like effect.
Techniques:
You can employ various techniques using watercolor crayons:
- Drawing: Use them like traditional crayons to create vibrant drawings.
- Painting: Use a wet brush to activate the pigment for a watercolor effect.
- Layering: Layer different colours for shading and depth.
- Blending: Blend multiple colours with water for smooth transitions.
- Mixed-Media: Combine the crayons with other art media, such as ink, markers, or colored pencils, to create unique works of art.
- Texture: The crayon strokes can remain visible, offering a textured, mixed-media look.
Beyond Paper:
- Fabric: Watercolor crayons can be used on fabric. This expands the possibilities for arts and crafts projects.
Creative Possibilities
| Usage | Description | Example Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry paper | Apply directly to dry paper, then activate with water for a watercolor look or keep the crayon strokes visible. | Textured mixed media. |
| Wet paper | Apply to wet paper for smooth, blended, watercolor-like effects. | Smooth watercolour wash. |
| Fabric | Use directly onto fabric. | Fabric painting. |
| Drawing | Use like regular crayons for direct application of color. | Traditional crayon drawing. |
| Painting | Use a wet brush to dissolve the crayon marks to create the look of traditional watercolor painting. | Traditional watercolor effect. |
| Mixed media | Combine with other mediums, such as oil pastels, to create unique effects. | Textured, layered effect. |
Conclusion
Watercolor crayons are a versatile medium, useful in various techniques and applications. They can give you the look of transparent watercolor, a textured oil pastel drawing, or a mixed-media artwork. They can be used on dry paper, wet paper and even fabric as a painting or drawing tool.
