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The Benefits of Tracing onto Watercolor Paper

By Carrie Luc · Artist and former educator

Personally, I like to trace onto my watercolor paper - because it gives me the freedom to make all my mistakes on cheaper paper before transferring the final sketch onto my higher-quality watercolor paper? But what about you? Do you like to trace? Here are some benefits of why I trace.

You could draw your sketch straight onto your watercolor paper – so why bother tracing it on instead? For me, it comes down to protecting the paper and making the whole process easier. Here are four benefits of tracing onto watercolor paper rather than drawing directly on it.

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 only transferring my final sketch onto my watercolor paper. My sketchbook is where I’m allowed to make mistakes and not worry about the surface of the paper – my watercolor paper only receives that final drawing.

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. Whether I want something very small or blown up large, I can print it at that size on my printer, and then it can be traced easily onto my 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 will 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.