Powdered Graphite as a Base for Watercolor Painting

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Powdered Graphite as a Base for Watercolor Painting

I’ve been experimenting with using Powdered Graphite as a Base for Watercolor Painting. The risk is that the wet brush work could loosen the graphite powder, and create a muddy mess, but so far, I haven’t found that to be true.

I started this piece by laying a line drawing out using a Derwent Wash pencil. They dissolve in water, so I use them under watercolors frequently as a road map. Just light lines, and not a lot of fuss.

Next, I shaded the drawing using a small cup of Powdered graphite, and a Pan Pastel applicator. It’s a small plastic trowel with a removable foam cover over the tip (see below).

Using Powdered Graphite Underneath Watercolor

So it turns out, you can smudge light layers of powdered graphite under your watercolors if 1. you use a light hand and a slim amount, and 2. you choose smooth paper, like Arches Hot Press or Strathmore 500 series Bristol. There was no need to seal or fix the graphite. I just painted right over it, using thin, glazed layers of pigment in a slow build towards the values I wanted.

The color and lighting in this is inspired by the front room in a carriage house I lived in years ago. I have fond memories of reading lovely books in that room, floating inside every beam of sunlight. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you in the studio!

Belinda

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Art Quote

The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.

Steven Pressfield

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