Ink and wash fun and simple doodle illustration for beginners, by MarenaART on YouTube. 7 min 38 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 38 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Tape or hold your A5 paper flat. Sketch a simple doodle in pencil with light pressure so the lines are easy to erase later.
Keep the drawing loose and small. A few shapes and one main subject are enough for a wash illustration.
Go over the pencil lines with the waterproof pen. Vary line weight by pressing harder on outlines and lighter on details.
Let the ink dry fully, then erase the pencil lines with the artist eraser.
Load the brush with clean water and wet the area you want to paint first. This helps the color spread evenly.
Pick up a little color and touch it to the damp paper. Let it bleed and spread instead of brushing it around too much.
Add a second, darker layer once the first is dry. Build depth in shadows and small details.
Leave white paper for highlights. Do not paint over every area, as the gaps keep the sketch light and fresh.
Let the whole piece dry flat before closing the sketchbook so the pages do not stick together.
Tips and common mistakes
Use a waterproof pen, because regular ink will smudge when the water hits it.
Test your colors on a scrap of the same paper first so you know how strong they look.
Keep washes light and add layers rather than one heavy coat, which is hard to fix.
Rinse the brush between colors so muddy tones do not creep into your clean washes.
Questions
Do I need special watercolor paper?
Yes, watercolor or mixed media paper handles water without buckling. Thin printer paper will wrinkle and pill.
Can I use a normal ballpoint pen?
No, ballpoint ink is not waterproof and will smear. Use a fine liner or pigment pen labeled waterproof.
Can I sell the artwork I make?
The creator asks that you use the tutorial for personal work and gifts only, not for selling.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
