A watercolor pencil masterpiece

By the time you read this, it will already be Valentine's Day.

So, you have one of two choices: Skip this column and try one of Susan's recipes, or keep reading and learn a trick you can use long after your dozen roses have wilted.

The artists in our family have always been my mother and older brother. Mom has mostly untrained talent, but Bo took his talent to college and gained a degree for it.

In comparison, I'm a talentless hack -- which is why I got so excited when I discovered watercolor pencils. For sure, I'm not the first one to run across these amazing little tools. They've been around quite a long time.

It just occurred to me there may be other folks out there who have been a little too intimidated by the talent around them to step into that section of the store. That's where I was. I hardly stepped foot in the vast expanse of brushes and bottles that make up the fine art section.

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It was while searching for canvases for another project that I ran across the watercolor pencils. Their name is quite literal: they're simply colored pencils that, when wetted, run and smear like a watercolor.

"Now," I thought, "this is something I might be able to get into."

So, I took my box of 12 watercolor pencils home, along with some blank cards I picked up on discount, and gave it a try.

There is a certain technique to it. Supplies, however, are simple: watercolor pencils, jar of water, paint brushes in various sizes and paper.

If you're looking for a Monet, it might do you well to look through a few watercolor technique books. However, if you're looking for a simple interpretation of the style, there are only a few things you'll need to keep in mind.

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First, the more pencil you leave on the paper the brighter your watercolor will be. For example, if you want your red mark to stay red and spread in a wide direction, then you'll want to pound harder. If you want a faint color in a small area, then softer pressure is needed.

Second, the amount of water you use will help determine how your color spreads. If you draw a circle and want color to spread in a large area around the circle, use more water. For a smaller area, use less.

Third, brushes are important. I try to keep three different styles of synthetic brushes on hand: flat and narrow, fine point and small fan. Using these three brushes result in different strokes and varied prints.

Fourth, practice makes perfect -- or at least prettier. For those of us with less natural artistic talent, it's important that we not get frustrated at the outset. Your first few attempts may turn out like colored pencil drawings that have been soaked in water.

But keep at it. Soon you'll figure out the method that works best for you. And, not long after, you'll be making your own works of art.

I got my technique going and wound up with some one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day cards. If you get started after you finish the paper and your morning cup of coffee, you might be able to accomplish the same.

Vanessa Cook is a former copy editor for the Southeast Missourian who dabbles in decorating.