Benefit #01: Less Erasing/Extra Marks on the Paper
For me – the main reason is that I use higher quality watercolor paper – meaning when I transfer a drawing onto my watercolor paper I want the least amount of damage, indents, or rough patches as possible during the drawing process. So by tracing, I’m alone transferring my final sketch onto my watercolor paper.
Benefit #02: Sizing
The second benefit of tracing is that I can digitize my sketches and then change the proportions of my drawings on my computer to whatever size I desire. Which can then be traced easily to watercolor paper.
Benefit #03: Warm-Up Activity
Next, I like to think of tracing as the warm-up stage of an exercise class. It’s usually a very easy task to do – and gets your body loose and into the mindset of creating. And like I said earlier – sometimes the hardest task to do is just start. For me, tracing helps ease me into the creative process and gets me thinking about how I want to work on the upcoming painting or even what supplies I might want to use.
Benefit #04: Think In Color:
And finally, tracing gives me the opportunity to think in color. Instead of using the standard gray or black lines for a drawing – I can opt for colors that will closely align with my painting – such as using an orange watercolor pencil line for my reddish-orange fox. By using lines that are close in color to what you will be painting – the final illustration with appear more cohesive as a whole in color hues. This little trick is an excellent way to elevate the appearance of your paintings in a simple and easy hack.
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