Using colored background for drawing and painting

Watercolor wet-on-wet technique can create a soft and layered dimension to a drawing or painting.   First choose a piece of colored paper to work on and then find an inspiring object to draw.  I love nature because it's forgiving and its nature!

Even if I don't get exactly the details of what I am looking at, the impression of a plant or tree is always enough to spark the mood of being outdoors, breathing fresh air and touching the fibers of growing and living things.  

Drawing of a plant on watercolor paper with colored background.

After choosing the watercolor paper, make a few lightly colored splatters.  I painted stems and leaves with a thin wash in the background of this work of art.  

After this was dry I took a permanent marker and a pen and drew loosely from nature.  Using two different widths of pen makes the drawing lines interesting and varied.  

I filled the paper to have the drawing touch all four edges because this is what I teach to children and this was a sample.  After the drawing was complete, I mixed a variety of greens from my pallet to fill in the drawing.  

This sketch was fun to do and it all began with a wet-on-wet watercolor background.

Wet-on-wet techniques that have been executed in light and soft colors are ideal for the backgrounds in a variety of works of paintings and drawings like these.  Stayings loose and free while drawing is a key.  If it's difficult to do stay loose try drawing quickly completing the entire drawing in two to three minutes.  Begin with the largest things and fill in with smaller details.  Don't worry about being correct.  It's not about accuracy.

Above all else try enjoy what you are doing and then you are certain to be successful.