ArtGraf is a renowned Portuguese brand that offers unique graphite watercolor mediums. These versatile products allow artists to blend the smoothness of graphite with the expressive qualities of watercolor, creating rich textures and deep tonal variations.
Viarco
ArtGraf is a Portuguese brand produced by Viarco, the country’s only pencil factory. Founded in 2007, ArtGraf began by creating innovative graphite watercolor products. Since its inception, the brand has expanded to offer various related products, including watercolor graphite powder and drawing graphite sticks, allowing artists to experiment with new mediums and textures.
照片來源 photo credit: Viarco
ArtGraf graphite watercolour
Using ArtGraf graphite watercolor is simple: just wet a watercolor brush and dip it into the graphite to start painting, much like traditional watercolor. The medium easily allows for rich, dark tones, making it perfect for creating deep contrasts and textures in your artwork.
When using the wet-on-wet technique, ArtGraf graphite watercolor creates a noticeable granular texture.
With minimal water, it mimics a pencil drawing effect. It’s also easy to correct: before it dries, simply clean the brush, absorb excess water, and gently lift the pigment.
Once dry, the color remains deep, and you can use a soft eraser for highlights or a regular eraser for more defined shapes, though some gray marks may remain. Like pencil sketches, a paper stump can be used for fine detailing.
When using this graphite watercolor, you might notice a distinctive characteristic: unlike traditional watercolor, it doesn’t easily produce smooth surfaces. With more water, each brushstroke often leaves a visible dot due to the larger or heavier graphite particles. However, it offers unique textures that blend graphite’s detail with watercolor’s fluidity. For backgrounds, using plenty of water and pigment can create intriguing textures unique to this medium, unlike the uniform shading of pencil drawings.
Remember to apply a fixative spray after completing your artwork to protect it from smudging and accidental damage. This precaution keeps your hands, other papers, and your masterpiece safe from unintended marks.
You can watch my process of painting a bird using graphite watercolor here.
I hope you enjoyed this share on tools and painting techniques.
Would you like to try graphite watercolor? If you’ve used it before, what are your thoughts?
Feel free to leave a comment and share your experiences. Thank you for reading!
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