Inspiring examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums

Real-world examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums

Let’s start where most artists actually start: with real examples, not theory.

Imagine this: you sketch a loose city street in waterproof fineliner, add soft watercolor pencil skies and building shadows, activate just parts of it with water, then finish with opaque white gel pen for streetlights and reflections. That’s one concrete example of how combining watercolor pencils with other mediums turns a flat drawing into something layered and alive.

Here are several of the best examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums that artists are using right now, especially in 2024–2025 sketchbook and urban sketching communities:

• Urban sketchers using waterproof ink outlines, watercolor pencil washes, and a touch of colored pencil for crisp details.
• Illustrators layering alcohol markers underneath, then softening edges and textures with watercolor pencils on top.
• Nature journalers mixing watercolor pencils with graphite, white gel pen, and colored pencil for birds, leaves, and insects.
• Lettering artists combining brush pens, watercolor pencil backgrounds, and metallic markers for titles and quotes.

We’ll break these down into specific, repeatable setups you can try, with lots of examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums sprinkled throughout.

Ink and watercolor pencils: Classic sketchbook examples

If you’re looking for the easiest examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums, start with ink. The combo of waterproof ink + watercolor pencil is everywhere in urban sketching and travel journals.

How to try it

Begin with a waterproof fineliner or fountain pen ink (look for labels that say “waterproof” or “water-resistant”). Brands like Sakura Pigma Micron and many pigment-based fountain pen inks are popular in sketching communities and are widely recommended in art education resources from museums and universities.

1. Draw your line art first. Think of simple subjects: a coffee mug, a houseplant, your shoes.
2. Add dry watercolor pencil color. Keep it light at first. Block in big shapes: shadows, background, clothing, sky.
3. Activate selected areas with a damp brush. Leave some pencil texture showing for interest.
4. Optional: When dry, go back in with ink to restate or add details.

Real examples include

• A city street: ink outlines for buildings and cars, blue-gray watercolor pencil shadows, only partially activated so some pencil grain remains on the sidewalk.
• A portrait sketch: ink for facial features, soft watercolor pencil blush on cheeks and nose, activated gently so the skin looks luminous but not overworked.
• A plant study: ink contours, layered greens and yellows in watercolor pencil, activated around the leaves but left dry in the veins for texture.

This is one of the best examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums because it’s forgiving. The ink gives structure; the watercolor pencils add mood.

Colored pencils and watercolor pencils: Soft-to-sharp detail

Another very practical example of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums is pairing them with traditional wax- or oil-based colored pencils. This is especially popular for illustrators and nature artists who want both painterly blends and razor-sharp details.

A simple layering approach

• First layer: Lay in broad areas of color with watercolor pencils.
• Activate with water: Smooth out streaks and create soft gradients.
• Dry completely: This matters if you don’t want to damage your colored pencil tips or the paper surface.
• Finish with colored pencils: Use them for crisp edges, fur, feathers, lettering, or tiny highlights.

Real examples of this combo

• A bird illustration: watercolor pencils for the sky and base feather colors, then colored pencils on top for individual feather edges and eye details.
• Food art: watercolor pencil washes for a slice of cake or fruit, then colored pencil on top to sharpen crumbs, seeds, and highlights.
• Botanical pages: watercolor pencil underpainting for petals and leaves, colored pencil veins and tiny imperfections added after everything is dry.

If you’re curious about how layering different pigments affects lightfastness and longevity, many art departments and museums share guidance on archival materials (for example, general conservation resources from the Smithsonian). Those can help you choose higher-quality pencils if you want your mixed-media work to last.

Markers and watercolor pencils: Bold color, subtle texture

Markers give you fast, flat color; watercolor pencils bring texture and nuance. Together, they’re a powerful mixed-media pair.

Alcohol markers + watercolor pencils

With alcohol markers, you generally want the markers first, watercolor pencils second:

• Lay down broad areas with markers.
• Let them dry thoroughly (they usually dry fast).
• Add watercolor pencil on top for texture, shading, or color shifts.
• Activate just the watercolor pencil with a small, damp brush.

Because alcohol markers are not water-based, they won’t reactivate with water. That makes them a stable underlayer.

Real examples include:

• Comic-style characters: flat skin tones and clothing with markers, then watercolor pencil shadows around the nose, under the chin, and in folds of fabric.
• Landscapes: marker gradients for sky and grass, then watercolor pencil textures for distant trees, rocks, and clouds.
• Product sketches: marker blocks of color for packaging, then watercolor pencil for reflections, shadows, and label emphasis.

Water-based markers + watercolor pencils

With water-based markers, you can get interesting blends by mixing them directly with watercolor pencils. Because both are water-reactive, they can bleed into each other in expressive ways.

Try this example of a quick experiment:

• Use a water-based brush pen to draw loose flowers.
• Add watercolor pencil in the petals and leaves.
• Hit just the edges with water so the marker lines soften into the pencil color.

This combo is popular in modern lettering and bullet journaling trends that continue to grow in 2024–2025, especially among artists who share process videos on social platforms.

Gouache, acrylic, and watercolor pencils: Opaque meets transparent

If you like the look of mixed-media sketchbooks and art journals, you’ll love pairing watercolor pencils with gouache or acrylic.

Gouache + watercolor pencils

Gouache is an opaque, matte paint that works beautifully with the transparency of watercolor pencils.

One of the most striking examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums is this sequence:

• Start with a light watercolor pencil sketch and soft wash for the background.
• Add shapes and focal points in gouache (for example, a figure, house, or bouquet).
• When the gouache is fully dry, use watercolor pencils on top without water for shading and line work.

Real examples include:

• Portraits: flat, graphic skin tones in gouache, then dry watercolor pencil lines for hair strands, clothing folds, and subtle cheek shading.
• Still lifes: gouache for bold shapes of fruit or ceramics, watercolor pencil for surface texture, patterns, and cast shadows.
• Art journaling spreads: watercolor pencil backgrounds activated with water, layered with text and shapes in gouache, then dry pencil scribbles and doodles over everything.

Acrylic + watercolor pencils

Acrylic paint creates a tough, water-resistant surface once dry. That means you’ll usually:

• Paint with acrylic first.
• Let it dry fully.
• Draw on top with watercolor pencils as a dry drawing medium.

You can’t really activate the watercolor pencil with water over most acrylic surfaces, but you get a colored-pencil-like effect with a different feel.

Real examples include:

• Abstract pieces: big acrylic shapes and color fields, then dry watercolor pencil marks for line work and texture.
• Mixed-media portraits: acrylic underpainting for structure, watercolor pencils for expressive linework on top.

If you’re concerned about ventilation and safety when using acrylics or other paints, organizations like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provide guidance on safe art material use in studios and classrooms.

Pastels, graphite, and watercolor pencils: Texture heaven

For artists who love texture, mixing watercolor pencils with soft pastels, pastel pencils, or graphite can be incredibly satisfying.

Watercolor pencils under soft pastels

This is a favorite among landscape and floral artists.

Try this example of a layered approach:

• Sketch your scene lightly in watercolor pencil.
• Add color in watercolor pencil where you want strong undertones.
• Activate with water to unify the base.
• Let it dry completely.
• Layer soft pastels or pastel pencils on top for rich, velvety color.

Real examples include:

• Sunsets: watercolor pencil gradients in the sky, then soft pastels on top to intensify the glow.
• Meadows: watercolor pencil greens and browns for the base, soft pastel strokes for wildflowers and tall grasses.

Graphite and watercolor pencil combinations

Graphite plus watercolor pencils show up often in sketchbooks and figure studies.

A popular example of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums in life drawing classes is:

• Block in the figure with graphite.
• Add watercolor pencil accents for warmth in skin, cool tones in shadows, or color in clothing.
• Activate some of the watercolor pencil to soften transitions, leaving some dry pencil and graphite visible.

This gives you a mix of loose, expressive lines and gentle color that’s perfect for studies and warm-ups.

For best results, use heavier paper (often labeled 140 lb / 300 gsm or higher) to handle both wet and dry media. Many art education programs and museums note paper weight and quality as a key factor in successful mixed-media work; you can find general guidance on paper and conservation through resources like the Library of Congress conservation FAQs.

Digital + traditional: Scanning your watercolor pencil mixed media

Here’s a newer direction that’s gaining traction in 2024–2025: mixing traditional watercolor pencils with digital tools.

A common workflow looks like this:

• Create an ink and watercolor pencil piece on paper.
• Scan or photograph it.
• Bring it into a digital program (Procreate, Photoshop, etc.).
• Add digital color tweaks, text, or extra layers.

Real examples include:

• Children’s book illustrations: soft, traditional watercolor pencil textures scanned in, then cleaned up and finished digitally.
• Social media content: hand-drawn lettering with watercolor pencil backgrounds, enhanced digitally with overlays and color adjustments.
• Surface design: floral motifs drawn with ink and watercolor pencils, then repeated and recolored digitally for fabric or stationery.

These hybrid workflows show that the best examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums don’t have to stay purely analog. You can let the tactile feel of pencil and paper lead, then let digital tools handle polish and repetition.

Tips to avoid muddy color when you combine mediums

When you start exploring more examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums, you’ll eventually hit the “mud” problem—colors getting dull or overworked.

A few simple habits help:

• Work from light to dark. It’s easier to darken than to recover lost highlights.
• Let layers dry. Especially when mixing watercolor pencils with markers, gouache, or pastels.
• Test combos in the margins. Before you commit to a major area, test on scrap paper or the edge of your page.
• Limit your palette. Fewer colors often means cleaner mixes, especially when you’re stacking multiple mediums.

Think of each mixed-media piece as an experiment. The more you collect your own real examples of what works and what doesn’t, the more confident you’ll feel.

FAQ: common questions about combining watercolor pencils

What are some easy examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums for beginners?

Start with waterproof ink + watercolor pencils in a sketchbook. Draw a simple object in fineliner, add watercolor pencil color, and activate parts with water. Another easy example of a beginner-friendly combo is watercolor pencils + colored pencils: lay down a watercolor pencil wash, let it dry, then refine with regular colored pencils.

Can I use watercolor pencils with alcohol markers?

Yes. Many artists use alcohol markers for flat base colors and then add watercolor pencil on top for texture and shading. Activate only the watercolor pencil with a damp brush; the alcohol marker layer will usually stay put. This is one of the best examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums if you like bold, graphic color.

Do I use watercolor pencils before or after gouache?

You can do both, but a common approach is watercolor pencils first (for background and underpainting), then gouache for opaque shapes, and dry watercolor pencil marks on top for texture. That layered stack creates some of the nicest examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums in sketchbooks and illustration.

Is it safe to mix all these art supplies together?

For most home and classroom use, typical watercolor pencils, markers, and student-grade paints are considered safe when used as directed. If you’re working in a small or poorly ventilated space, or using sprays, solvents, or certain paints, it’s smart to review safety tips from reputable sources like the CDC’s NIOSH arts and crafts page. They offer guidance on ventilation, labeling, and protective gear.

What is one advanced example of mixing watercolor pencils with other mediums?

An advanced mixed-media example of a workflow is: alcohol marker underpainting, watercolor pencil shading activated in selected areas, gouache highlights, and final dry watercolor pencil line work on top. This kind of layered approach shows up in professional illustration and concept art, and it’s a great way to see how far you can push examples of combine watercolor pencils with other mediums once you’re comfortable with the basics.