Waxed-based Colored Pencil Washes

• 1). Sketch your composition on a water-absorbent surface, such as stretched watercolor paper, or a watercolor board or block.
  
  
• 2). Using your waxed-based colored pencils, apply a thick layer of wax-based lead to the areas intended for color-washing.
  
  
• 3). Use medium-sized watercolor brushes wet with solvent, such as paint thinner to your layer of color to distribute the pigment of the lead into a wet wash. Blend washes together on the paper to create overlapping areas of color.
  
  
• 4). Allow your underpainting to dry and then apply another layer of detail, shadow and color.
  
  
• 5). Carefully smooth your next layer of color with a detail brush. Wet with solvent to lightly spread the lead of the marks over the first layer of color. Create new tones, patterns and details with smaller brushes to complete your composition.
  
  

Ink-based Washes

• 1). Lightly sketch your composition on a water-absorbent paper such as stretched watercolor paper, or a watercolor block or board.
  
  
• 2). Place several drops of colored India ink in a watercolor palette and dilute the pigment with water. The more the ink is diluted, the lighter your wash will be.
  
  
• 3). Use medium-sized watercolor brushes to distribute the diluted India ink pigment onto your watercolor paper in the areas intended for color washing.
  
  
• 4). Once dry, use smaller detail brushes to apply details, patterns and texture to your composition with slightly diluted to full-strength India ink. This darker, more detailed layer will dry over your colored washes to complete your composition.