Day 12 – Line and Wash

Drawing First, Painting After

Technique level: Basic
Duration: ~25-30 minutes

Objective:
Use a simple ink line drawing as the structure, and bring it to life with loose watercolor washes. The focus is on balance: letting the line do the defining, while watercolor adds softness, texture, and mood. Great for field journal vibes or casual nature studies.

Materials:

• Waterproof fineliner (e.g., 0.1-0.3 size, black or sepia)
• Watercolor paper (hot press or smooth cold press works best for ink)
• Round brush (size 4-6)
• Pigments: earthy neutrals and natural greens (e.g., Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Payne’s Grey, Olive Green, Sepia)
• Optional: reference pinecone or twig, real or photo

Steps:

1. Draw First:
   Choose your subject – either a pinecone (great for rhythm and repeated pattern) or a tiny, gnarly twig (great for character and irregularity).
   • Use your fineliner to sketch the object with intentional, clean lines. Don’t overwork or shade – just draw the contour and maybe a few interior lines to suggest texture.
   • Go slow, but let your hand stay relaxed – wonky is charming.
2. Let Ink Dry (fully!):
   Make sure the ink is waterproof and totally dry before moving to paint. If unsure, give it 10 minutes and do a test swipe.
3. Apply Wash:
   • Mix up a few natural hues. Keep the washes loose and transparent. You’re not “coloring in” – you’re letting watercolor support the line work, not bury it.
   • Let color bleed slightly outside the lines in places – it adds life and looseness.
   • Add depth by dropping in a second color while the first wash is still wet (e.g., a touch of dark brown into wet ochre on the pinecone).
4. Final Touches (Optional):
   If needed, reinforce a few ink lines at the end – but don’t redraw everything. Less is more here.

Focus:

• Think of the ink as bones, watercolor as breath.
• Let the white of the paper show – it adds clarity.
• Use the wash to guide the viewer’s eye, not to cover every area.

Bonus Idea:
Try painting one pinecone or twig in warm tones, another in cool tones, and see how the mood changes – line-and-wash is a great playground for fast variation.