Why I Started Smashing My Watercolor Pencils Through a Strainer.

Why I Started Smashing My Watercolor Pencils Through a Strainer. Learn a unique abstract watercolor painting technique using watercolor pencils and a cola pen to create rich, layered textures. See how combining wet paper application with unconventional tools adds depth to your next piece. This tutorial guides you through the process of applying manganese blue and Payne's gray to wet paper, building a moody and expressive sky base. You will see exactly how to use a strainer to grind watercolor pencils directly onto the surface for organic color distribution. This abstract watercolor method is perfect for artists looking to break away from traditional representational styles and experiment with mixed media. Subscribe for weekly painting technique breakdowns, and comment below if you prefer working with watercolor pencils or traditional pan sets. 📽️ Here's how I made the Cola Pen:    • I Used a DIY Cola Pen to Start a Mixed Med...   Supplies: Waterproof India Ink: https://amzn.to/3SrkJRk Haiya Oil Pastels: https://amzn.to/43Q6eJj ArrtX Watercolor Pencils: https://amzn.to/4eErWou Jumbo Charcoal Pencil: https://amzn.to/4vtYuZv Timestamps: 00:00 Breaking the Watercolor Rules 00:17 Building a Frictional First Wash 01:37 The Failed Stamp Experiment 03:01 Grating Pencils Like Cheese 04:23 Wet vs. Dry Pencil Marks 05:52 Making It Bold With Ink 07:04 Adding Drama to Kansas Skies 09:27 Scratching Back into the Layers 11:17 The Real-Time Studio Reveal Learn how to create abstract mixed media watercolor landscapes using a kitchen strainer to grate watercolor pencils directly into wet paint washes. This video demonstrates a complete studio process that combines fluid watercolor techniques with physical texture experiments and bold mark-making. The demonstration transitions from an initial watercolor wash into experimental pencil grating, thick ink linework, and heavy oil pastel layers. By balancing fluid control with unpredictable textures, the process shows how to build complex, organic depth on paper without overcomplicating the composition. What's covered in this video The process begins with a fluid first wash using manganese blue, Payne's gray, and sanguine to lay down a soft sky area before scratching textures into the damp paper with a stylus. An initial landscape base is established using a green mixture of Daniel Smith undersea green and ochre alongside an orange-brown mix of quinacridone burnt orange and sepia. A textured mark-making section utilizes an Inktense Baked Earth pencil directly on the damp paper followed by an experimental stamping technique. The main texture hack involves using a metal kitchen strainer to grate a teal Artex watercolor pencil directly over the wet watercolor wash to mimic the texture of Brusho. A second layering phase introduces a purple-maroon watercolor pencil to create a mix of wet and dry marks that define the abstract landscape shapes. Bold focal lines are added across the dried watercolor using black velvet waterproof India ink applied with a handmade custom cola pen. Soft sky details and warm sunset tones are layered over the ink using white, turquoise, orange, and pink oil pastels to mimic the wispy summer clouds seen in Kansas. The artist uses a palette knife to scratch back into the heavy Paul Rubens Haya oil pastel layers, revealing the black ink and watercolor underneath. A final layer of structural depth is added to the composition using a charcoal big jumbo pencil to draw fine accent lines that define the abstract spaces. The video concludes with a real-time artwork review inside a white mat board to analyze how the watercolor, ink, and pastel textures interact. Mentioned in this video: Manganese blue, Payne's gray, Sanguine, Stylus, Daniel Smith undersea green, Ochre, Quinacridone burnt orange, Sepia, Inktense Baked Earth pencil, Stamp, Artex watercolor pencil, Kitchen strainer, Teal, Brusho, Black velvet waterproof India ink, Amazon, Cola pen, White oil pastel, Turquoise oil pastel, Orange oil pastel, Pink oil pastel, Summer clouds, Kansas, Haya oil pastels, Paul Rubens, Palette knife, Charcoal big jumbo pencil, Mat board. #art #watercolor #mixedmedia #watercolorpainting #mixedmediawatercolor #artonpaper