The power of pure pigment is at your fingertips with portable, versatile watercolor sticks. Painting, drawing, scribbling and mark-making come together for maximum creative expression. Each stick is the equivalent of three full pans of paint, making it a fantastic value.
Exploration of this color reveals some surprising pigment properties beyond its obvious opacity. First, Graphite Gray disperses well and quickly in water so floating the dense pigment onto water or into a wet wash offers and interesting handling method. A dry brushstroke quickly followed by a wet brushstroke spreads some of the pigment leaving the texture look of the drybrush. Aged and weathered wood, fence posts and old buildings are fine candidates for this pigment and approach. Try this: overpaint a value sketch with a light glaze. As graphite pencil is entirely acceptable in watercolor, a synthetic graphite pigment, namely Graphite Gray, seems surprisingly natural.
Here are five ways to use them as an alternative to watercolor in tubes or pans.
1. Dip and smudge
Dip the stick into water, then smudge saturated color on to wet paper.
2. Rub and blend
Rub different sticks into a small puddle of water to create a blend.
3. Brush the tip
The flat tip and the sides (once the label is removed) of the stick are similar to a pan when used with a wet brush – it’s like a pan in your hand!
4. Make marks
Sharpen a dry stick to draw distinct marks on wet paper that can be slightly softened with a damp brush.
5. Create a wash
After sharpening your sticks, save the shavings to dissolve in water to draw distinct marks on wet paper that can be slightly softened with a damp brush.
You might also like
