The aim of the beginners course is to give you a solid foundation in using your pens and introduce you to the most common techniques for using them. No previous experience is required but you will need patience, time and a genuine desire to learn.

If you are new to watercolor then it is important to remember:

The Mistakes: There will be a lot of them. Don't abandon a painting half way through because of a small mistake. Complete the tutorial the best you can. You have two copies of each design to practice on. Next time you will do better!

Watercolor is not easy, even with this course. It will require real patience and dedication to progress. If you follow these tutorials you will achieve great results, but the hard work will come from you. Remember to relax, have fun, don't be too hard on yourself and don't sweat the mistakes.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

DRY PENS, NOT PIGMENTED ENOUGH?:

These are not coloring pens. They should not be used like coloring pens to color in large areas. You should use a small amount of paint and then blend them using the water blending brush. To see exactly how they should function please make sure you check out the introductory video below.

For this reason they may appear dry. Slow down speed racer. Try applying a little paint and then blending it as shown in the video. If no paint is coming out of the brush at all then shake the pen and leave it upright with the brush tip down for 10 minutes. If it is still dry after this then contact us.

WATER PENS:

They open the opposite way from normal! Yes you read that right these pens unscrew the opposite way than you are used to. Easier to open now right?

WATER IN BLENDING PENS:

If your pens arrive with a little water or moisture in them this is perfectly normal. They have NOT been used before. Condensation can form in transit, and also spot checks are carried out at our factory as part of our QC process to make sure your product arrives in full working order.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Read the instructions on each lesson before playing the video. We know you are eager to get started but to get the most out of the course it is vital to follow it accurately and in the correct order. Each lesson is designed to build on skills learned in the previous one.

PAPER:

Using the right paper is essential. If you are not using the right paper then you will not be able to get the same results shown in the videos. We have included a free pad for your use. This paper works perfectly with the pens. When you move on to using other watercolor paper try to find a similar paper to the one we have used in our pad.

PRODUCT INFORMATION:

All product information in this course refers to Chromatek products. If you are using any other brand (which of course, you are welcome to do) then this information may not apply :)

Before moving on to Lesson 01 take a few moments to practice the following techniques on one of the sheets of blank paper from your pad.

Make sure you have filled your blending pen with water before you start. It unscrews the opposite way from normal.

TECHNIQUE 01: WET ON DRY BLENDING

1: Using a dark color, sketch a small line on the paper.

2: Squeeze the water pen until a small drip of water forms at the end of the brush.

3: Using the water activate the paint and blend it across the paper.

1: Select one dark color and one light color.

2: Paint a small patch of the dark color.

3: Using the lighter color, brush over the dark color and blend across the paper.

Practice both of these techniques until you are comfortable producing a good blend.

And if, at any time during this course, you need additional help then please don't hesitate to get in touch with us here: CONTACT

Now you are ready for lesson 01!