WATERCOLOR PENCILS: A DEFINITION OF SORTS

FIVE MINUTE STILL LIFE OF PLANTS, originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter.

UNTIL I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH WATERCOLOR PENCILS, I WAS BECOMING DISINTERESTED IN ART. UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE "TOTALLY FANTASTIC" STYLE THAT SEPARATES ARTISTS WHO PAINT IN WATERCOLORS FROM OIL PAINTERS, I WAS DESPONDENT AND DEPRESSED, CERTAIN THAT "WATERCOLOR EXCELLENCE" WAS NOT A LEARNED PROCESS BUT A DIVINE GIFT, A TALENT THAT I WAS NEVER DESTINED TO ENJOY. AND THEN, I DECIDED TO TRY WATERCOLOR PENCILS. THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE ENOUGH: DRAW THE PICTURE, FILL IN THE LINES WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONTACT YOU WANT FOR CONTRAST, ETC. THEN, APPLY A WET BRUSH AND CREATE A WATERCOLOR. AFTER FINISHING A FEW, I DECIDED I LIKED SOME OF MY WORK, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHERE I HAD NOT APPLIED WATER. THESE, THEN, WOULD REMAIN SKETCHES, COLORFUL SKETCHES. THUS, I HAD MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH WATERCOLOR PENCILS. SOME LOOK BEST WHEN THEY ARE BRUSHED WITH WATER; OTHERS LOOK BEST WITHOUT (W I T H O U T) WATER. IT'S A PERSONAL CHOICE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLORED PENCIL AND A WATERCOLOR PENCIL? IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE WC PENCIL OFFERS A BETTER AND DEEPER LEVEL OF COLOR. BUT THAT IS JUST ONE OPINION, ANOTHER REASON ART IS SO ENJOYABLE AND SO INDIVIDUALISTIC. COULD THIS BE CALLED STYLE? By R.L.Huffstutter