Ink And Wash Pumpkins - simple illustration for beginners, by MarenaART on YouTube. 9 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Sketch the pumpkin lightly in pencil. Draw a rounded body with a few curved ribs, a short stem on top and a simple curled tendril at the side.
Keep the pencil lines soft so they do not show through the paint. Erase any heavy marks before you start inking.
Ink over the pencil lines with the fine liner. Go slowly and use short strokes to keep the curves smooth.
Add a few thin lines inside each rib to suggest the pumpkin's shape. Keep the ink work loose and simple.
Let the ink dry fully, then erase the pencil lines. Rubbing wet ink will smudge the drawing.
Mix an orange wash on your palette. Paint the pumpkin body in light layers, leaving some paper white for highlights.
Drop in a darker orange or light brown near the ribs and edges while the wash is still wet. Let the colors blend on their own.
Paint the stem in green or brown and add a soft wash to the tendril. Keep the paint light and avoid overworking it.
Let the whole piece dry flat. Add a second light layer of color only where you want more depth.
Tips and common mistakes
Test your ink pen on scrap paper first so it does not bleed when you paint over it.
Keep washes light and build color in layers instead of one heavy coat.
Leave small gaps of white paper for highlights rather than painting them back in later.
Let each layer dry before adding the next to avoid muddy colors.
Questions
Do I need special watercolors for ink and wash?
No. Any watercolor set works, including pans or colorsheets. The key is to keep the washes light and let the paper show through.
What pen should I use over watercolor?
Use a waterproof fine liner such as a Pigma Micron. Regular ink pens can smudge when you paint over the lines.
Can I sell the artwork I make with this method?
The creator asks that you use the tutorial for personal artwork and gifts only, not for selling. Follow that request if you copy the design.
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.
