Watercolor Pencils Changed Everything for Me (And Why I Still Recommend Them)

Have you ever felt like traditional watercolor just wasn't "clicking"? That's exactly where I found myself over 15 years ago. Then I discovered watercolor pencils—and they completely changed the way I approached watercolor. In this beginner-friendly watercolor pencil tutorial, I'll show you why I still recommend them as one of the best ways to learn watercolor while we paint a realistic strawberry together. In this step-by-step lesson, you'll learn: 🌿 How watercolor pencils simplify the watercolor learning process 🍓 How to build beautiful color through gentle layering 💧 Tips for activating watercolor pencils with water while maintaining control 🎨 A simple technique for creating a soft background that helps your subject stand out ✨ Why watercolor pencil skills transfer so naturally to traditional watercolor ETSY OUTLINE: https://sunlitbrushstrokes.etsy.com/c... 🖌️ Want to keep learning? If you enjoyed this strawberry project, you'll love tutorials in my Etsy shop. Each tutorial includes a traceable outline, step-by-step instruction, and teaches the same encouraging, confidence-building approach you'll find here on YouTube. 🌸 NEW! Cosmos Watercolor & Watercolor Pencil Tutorial Learn to combine the beauty of traditional watercolor with the control of watercolor pencils in one realistic floral painting. 👉 https://sunlitbrushstrokes.etsy.com/c... 💐NEW! Lily Watercolor Pencil Tutorial Create a vibrant lily featuring sparkling water droplets while learning layering, blending, and realistic detail. 👉 https://sunlitbrushstrokes.etsy.com/c... NEWSLETTER: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview... (Be sure to check your spam if you don’t receive your first email within a few minutes of sign up) How to TRACE OUTLINES to watercolor paper: Time stamp 7:02    • Transfer Any Image onto Watercolor Paper w...   SUPPLIES: Faber Castell Watercolor Pencils: Large set: (I don't personally own this set, but recommend purchasing individual open stock watercolor pencils in the colors of your choice to fill out pencil sets you already own) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KT73LK/ OR Open stock at Blick or your favorite local art store: https://bit.ly/3ZoayhD Watercolor Paper: Arches Cold Press Paper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086WSQV9H Pentel Water Brush Pens (set of 1 or 3): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017OLHNM/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079J2R4MP/ Multi Media Sketchbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027A3EM2/ Pencil Sharpener that works with Faber Castel Pencils: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E67Z16/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DDJZVY/ Simply Simmons brushes https://www.michaels.com/product/simp... Watercolor supplies (in Canada) My personal (current) watercolor palette: https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/11... https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/11... https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/11... https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/11... https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/11... Arches watercolor paper: Large sheets (I buy these most often): https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/52... 9x12 pad: https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/52... Simply Simmons Brushes: https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/24... https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/24... The “scrubber” brush (not the exact brand I have, but similar) https://www.deltaart.ca/product/00/24... Amazon Palettes: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0983M12DZ/ WATERCOLOR SUPPLIES (in the USA) My personal (current) watercolor palette: M Graham: Hansa Yellow Deep: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JPF5IM Phthalocyanine Blue: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JPH5TO Quinacridone Rose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JPLY4Q Ultramarine Blue: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044TW074 QoR: Quinacridone Magenta: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KNT5WL0 Watercolor Paper: Arches Cold Press Paper: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086WSQV9H Simply Simmons brushes: https://www.michaels.com/product/simp... Artegria Brushes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FBDKG5K Shader Brush for Scrubbing” mistakes: https://bit.ly/4hN6HjT #watercolorpencils #watercolorflowers #watercolortutorial #watercolorforbeginners #flowerpainting #botanicalart #watercolorpenciltutorial