Watercolor Sketching Tools for Artists on the Go

Jan 30, 2011
Alina Bradford

A Watercolor Sketch Box and Watercolor Sketchbook - Alina Bradford

Armed with your watercolor pencils, waterbrush and your watercolor sketch box, you can sketch with watercolors mess-free.

When you think of sketching, you may think of pencils and pens, but watercolor sketching can also be a good way of getting your ideas down on paper. Watercolor sketching is simply making quick drawings using a brush instead of a writing instrument. This may sound messy for on-the-go sketchers, but with the right tools it can actually be just as neat as any other form of sketching.

Watercolor Pencils for Quick Sketching

Watercolor pencils may be the ultimate compromise between dry and wet media. You can sketch with them like you are using colored pencils, or you can add water to their pigment for wet effects. Here are a couple mess-free ways to add a splash to your sketches:

Dip the tips of your watercolor pencils into a water bottle before using them
Use a damp brush to wet your paper before you start sketching
Do a sketch with dry watercolor pencils and then add a wash of clear water once you get back home

Watercolor Painting with a Waterbrush

Using a waterbrush takes all of the hassle out of watercolor painting on-location. A waterbrush is simply a brush that has a built-in water reservoir. When you squeeze the brush, water is fed through the bristles. There's no need to carry a water cup or worry about changing your water. Plus, when you need to clean your brush all you have to do is squeeze it and then wipe it dry.

Watercolor Sketch Box

Probably the most important parts of making sketching with watercolor paint easy is having a watercolor sketch box. Many fine art supply companies make these, but you can make your own with paints of your own choosing.

Find a sectioned container with a sealable lid. You can find these in the container section of your local department store. You can also use a pill organizer that's made for a month's worth of pills.
Put a dollop of each paint color that you would like in your palette into separate sections of the container.
Let the paint dry until it is semi-hard.
Put the lid on the container and seal it.

The paint in your homemade sketch box can be brought back to life with just a little water from your brush.

Armed with your watercolor pencils, waterbrush and your watercolor sketch box, you can capture a scene in with the fluid color and lines of watercolor without the mess.