How To Draw On Watercolor Paper

Here at Lily and Thistle, we have so many fun projects designed to help you gain confidence in watercolor and have a fun and relaxing experience in the process. Today I thought I'd show you four ways you can transfer (or trace) the templates we have made available to you onto your choice of watercolor paper. You can use this technique for your own drawings as well.

Because watercolor is not an opaque medium, it's easy to see the lines you make under your painting. It's much better to work your drawing out first and then transfer it so you don't have any eraser marks or lines where you don't want them.

So with that, let's get started!

Supplies:

140lb Watercolor Paper (this is my favorite)
Printable Pattern (included in the Lily & Thistle Watercolor School or the Free Resource Library)
Graphite Paper or Window, iPad, Lightboard (see below)
Pencil
A Kneaded Eraser (perfect way to make your lines faint but not too faint that you can't see them)

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Method #1: Your Window

Hot tip: You have a light board (actually a whole bunch) right in your home: WINDOWS! This is one of my favorite ways to transfer images to watercolor paper because it's free, easy, and so accessible.

Just a few things to remember: adhere your template and watercolor paper with tape that will be easy to remove from both your paper and your window and don't press too hard with your pencil.

Method #2: Your iPad or Tablet

If you are working on your project at night or in the early hours of the morning (my favorite time), windows will obviously not work. You might not be aware of this, but you actually have a light board on your iPad!

I have an app that I love to use on my iPad. It's called the Softbox app . Once you download the app, go to the color settings and put it on the white setting. Tada! You now have a perfect light board!

Method #3: An LED Lightboard

A few years ago, I invested in this awesome lightboard. I use it a lot for paper doll projects and other illustration work. It's very skinny which makes it easy to store and pull out when I need it. If you are getting serious about art and want something that is specifically designed for tracing, I'd recommend this!

Method #4: Graphite Paper

Graphite paper is also a great option. Graphite paper is basically a thin piece of paper coated on one side with a smooth layer of graphite and another side that is not coated. This is how you use it:

Place the graphite paper coated side down on your watercolor paper.
Tape your drawing right-side-up in place on top of it.
Use a pencil (or even a pen) to trace the drawing onto the working surface.
When you're finished tracing, simply remove the drawing and graphite paper.

A sheet of graphite paper can be used many times over so one sheet goes a long way. One warning: it is easy to create smudges on your paper where you don't want them. You can usually erase but sometimes if you rub too hard against your paper or push too hard with your pencil, it doesn't erase as easily.

BONUS TIP FOR TRACING ON WATERCOLOR PAPER

You can actually make your own graphite paper! Just use a pencil, shade one side of a piece of paper with several layers of graphite, and voilà! You have your own graphite paper! Just as I mentioned before, be careful with smudges and you should be fine.

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I hope you found these tips helpful! Transferring onto the proper paper is such an important part of watercolor art so pick your favorite method and see what it does for you.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I am so happy to help.

And remember, your life is your art.

Your friend,

-Hannah

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How to trace or transfer images on to watercolor paper. Four fast and easy ways!

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