Which comes first in pen and wash? Ink or watercolour??

Pen and wash (or line and wash if you prefer), is a wonderful way of combining the strength of ink with beautiful soft washes of transparent watercolour. At its best, the sum of the parts adds up to so much more than the individual elements. But the most common question for those starting out is, which comes first - ink or watercolour? Should I draw first and then add colour or paint first and then add lines?


I share with you a simple exercise involving a quick raid on the veg rack or fruit bowl, which helps you come to the conclusion that either works. Indeed, as long as your layers are dry you can switch between line and wash.


This exercise is a short version of one of the lessons from my comprehensive online course which can be found at www.lizchadertonstudio.co.uk. In that course, I introduce you to a wide range of inks and pens, watercolour techniques and then how to combine them in an infinite number of ways. It covers portraits, animal studies, urban sketching and more.


I reckon we can learn so much from this exercise and it should give you the confidence to develop a way of working which suits you. I have put a photo of the two peppers on the community tab of my channel, so I hope that might help you if you have a go.


If you enjoy it, please like and subscribe. I upload a short tip, trick or technique each week, usually on a Sunday afternoon. So if there is a particular topic you want me to look at, please leave a comment and I will try to help.


#lizchaderton #lineandwash #penandwash