Exercise: Pencil and watercolour

In the this exercise I have done two version of the same still life, both initially drawn in pencil but one being painted carefully following the pencil mark and the second painted using the pencil mark as a rough guide.

I found the pencil marks helpful in terms of knowing exactly where I was to apply the paint, though if I am honest feel I prefer to go straight to the paint brush, that said I have only used watercolour as a wash for colouring in pen and ink drawings in the past.

I think given the simplicity of the subject matter I think the more expressive looser painting style adds more interest to the painting.

The pencil marks are lightly rendered and are not an obvious addition to the finished paintings. Pen and ink be and more obvious way of making linear marks a stronger feature in the painting.. perhaps too strong if you are producing a work that had a lot of detail underling pencil may allow you to hint at this details with out the need to paint it in using watercolour (slightly harder)

I certainly felt more pleasure painting the the version were your not obliged to stick to the drawing, and for that reason feel these paintings are more successful.