Tips for Ink & Watercolor Sketching! Simple STEP by STEP (Urban Sketch), by Jess Karp on YouTube. 12 min 17 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 17 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Lay out your materials: paper, pencil, fountain pen, waterproof ink, one brush, a small watercolor palette and a sponge. Keep a water cup nearby so you can rinse the brush between colors.
Pick a reference photo of a street or building scene with clear shapes. Choose one with strong light and shadow so the washes read well on paper.
Look at a few finished ink and wash examples before you start. Notice how the line work stays loose and the color sits in patches rather than covering everything.
Sketch the main shapes lightly in pencil: rooflines, windows, the street edge and a couple of figures. Keep the pencil lines faint so the ink stands out.
Draw over the pencil with the fountain pen and waterproof ink. Use confident, varied lines, add detail to windows and doors, and leave some areas open for color.
Let the ink dry fully before adding water. Wet ink will smudge and muddy the washes if you rush this part.
Mix a light wash on your palette and paint the sky and large flat areas first. Load the brush lightly and leave white or paper-toned gaps for highlights.
Add darker washes to shadows, doorways and the street. Build color in thin layers, letting each one dry before adding the next.
Dab the sponge or a dry brush to lift paint and soften edges where you want texture. Finish with a few extra ink marks on top once the paint is dry.
Tips and common mistakes
Use waterproof ink only. Regular fountain pen ink will bleed when the watercolor goes on.
Keep the ink drawing loose and skip fine detail. The washes do most of the work.
Test your paint colors on a scrap of the same paper before painting the sketch.
Work light to dark. It is easy to add more color and hard to take it away.
Questions
Do I need special watercolor paper for ink and wash?
Cold press watercolor paper works best because it holds water without buckling. Toned paper gives a warmer look, but white paper is fine for a first try.
Can I use a normal pen instead of a fountain pen?
Only if the ink is waterproof. A fine liner labeled waterproof or archival will work, but check it on scrap paper first.
How long should I wait between watercolor layers?
Wait until the paper looks dry to the touch, usually a few minutes. Painting on damp paper blends colors, while dry paper keeps edges sharp.
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.
