How can I make a sketch under a watercolour painting and have it not be seen?

Question

I usually use a regular pencil to sketch what I would like to paint very faintly, but I find that no matter how light it is, it can still be seen under the painting. Once the paint is dry, I can't seem to erase the pencil marks. Usually I end up drawing outlines over my watercolour in black pen or markers to seem like it was supposed to be like that to cover the pencil. Is there a better way to make the preliminary sketch under a water colour so I don't have to cover it later with black marker?Are water colour pencils the better choice? And if I do use watercolour pencils, how do I make sure the colour evens out with the paint application (if the paint layer is thin and watery)?

Answer 1

I do the under drawing with a hard lead pencil, usually 2H. If you draw with a pencil; the pencil you should use will vary by person, depending on how heavy handed you are. If you do a wash & paint your light colors first; pencil marks usually get blurred out. If you go directly over the pencil line with a high staining pigment & no wash, you could be left with pencil marks that are harder to get rid of.

Watercolor pencil marks will blend with water & the rest of your painting well. Just remember to plan ahead & work from light to dark. Also, if you want some more defined lines at the finish of the painting. Watercolor pencils; colored pencils, or dry brush technique:)