Mixed Media: Water-Soluble and Not

 

2/2/26 photo reference (Derwent Drawing pencils, Neocolor II crayons, Museum Aquarelle pencils in S&B Delta sketchbook)

An interesting mixed-media result came about spontaneously the other evening (above). First I pre-selected an assortment of materials, including both non-soluble (Derwent Drawing pencils) and water-soluble ones (Caran d’Ache Neocolor II wax pastels, Museum Aquarelle pencils and Derwent Inktense Blocks). Thinking more about its value and mark-making potential than its hue or water-solubility, I started using a dark blue Drawing pencil to sketch the fence, tree trunks, utility pole and figure. Then I started using the water-soluble tools to scribble various foliage textures.

As I was scribbling, it suddenly occurred to me that I could use a trick I had tried briefly years ago in an intentional manner on location, but it had required too much planning to be tenable. Ironically, in the quiet comfort of my home, it happened spontaneously without any planning at all:

After drawing all the objects that I wanted to remain crisp in non-soluble pencil, I could easily spritz the entire page indiscriminately with water to activate the foliage. Voila – the other objects remained unblurred and sharp-edged! A pretty clever trick, if I do say so myself.

The sketch was made in a Stillman & Birn Delta sketchbook, which is the ivory version of S&B Beta. (Like the old spiralbound Beta, this spiralbound Delta has sketches as far back as 2012. Again, like the Beta, I use it only at my desk, so it’s taking forever to fill. I’m determined to finish it off with doomscrolling prevention play.) After being spoiled by Hahnemühle 100 percent cotton paper the past several years, it was a rude surprise to see that the surface couldn’t take as much water without pooling.

The next day, I tried again (below), this time with intention. I switched to Hahnemühle because I’m used to how much water it can take. You can see that the car and tree trunks stayed sharp, while I activated the scribbly foliage in an organic way by spritzing. I wanted a more solid activation in the ground shadows, so I used a waterbrush to spread the water more evenly.

2/3/26 photo reference (Derwent Drawing pencils, Inktense Block, Neocolor II crayons in Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbook)

A few days later, I went back to the Delta (below). I don’t like it, but as with any paper, the more I use it the better I’ll understand how much water it can tolerate.

2/7/26 photo reference (Drawing pencils, Neocolor II crayons, Museum Aquarelle pencils, S&B Delta sketchbook)

This is a fun way to use mixed media! Doing it on location is a different matter, but now I’m motivated to try it again.