Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Jessie, a UK based illustrator and lettering artist, specialising in nostalgic, botanical illustration and Victorian style lettering. I have been fortunate enough to work with wonderful clients across luxury British food and drink brands.
Today I’d like to show you some sketching techniques for creating work whilst on the go with Graphite pencils, Fineliners and Watercolour Promarkers, all from Windsor and Newton
I’m using a Winsor & Newton a4 gummed watercolour paper pad.
I love sketching whilst travelling and visiting new cities,
I’m going to roughly draw out 3 rectangles using a soft 2B graphite pencil, I’m gently sketching out 3 different Portuguese window compositions with shutters, tiling and balconies.
Now that I’m happy with the initial sketches, I’m going to loosely draw each outline with a 1mm Winsor & Newton fineliner.
I’m drawing each windowpane and balcony bar quickly, without too much concern for overlapping or slightly wobbly lines! I’m focusing on pretty details like tiles, stone, scrolling shutters and plants.
Now that I’m happy with the fineliner outlines, I’m going to bring the sketches to life with the watercolour markers. I’m using Cerulean Blue around the edges of each window and then using a size 5 round watercolour brush with water I’ll carefully wash out the pigment.
Watercolour Promarkers are vibrant and portable, making them perfect for travel.
I’m using Pale Rose and Yellow Oche to colour the mortar. And Gamboge hue on the washing line.
I’m now colouring the shutters.
Now I’m picking out the tiles with Turquoise, Cadmium Red and Burnt Sienna – using the fine bullet tip of the watercolour marker.
For the plants and flowers, I’m using a round brush with water, and just dabbing it onto the marker tip like traditional watercolour pans.
I’m adding a very thin light blue wash to the windows.
As you can see, these could look so striking when scanned and added to print collections or postcards.
I hope you enjoyed this video and try this technique yourself.