Watercolour pencils differ greatly from non-watercolour pencils. The difference is in the binder that holds the pigment. Whereas normal coloured pencils have a waxy or oil based binder, watercolour pencils have a water-soluble binder offering a wide variety of application from dry to wet. Once the colour has been laid down and water added, the vivid and vibrant hues are released, dissolving into beautiful washes or deep areas of colour.
With museums and galleries closed across the world, many of our arts organisations have moved online, putting together programmes and activities you can access from home, creating communities to share ideas and artwork.
Valerie Ellis, born in the UK, with many years spent in Australia, Valerie is now residing back in the UK. After spending 20 years as a therapist in Australia, Valerie began rediscovering her artistic talents by teaching herself oil painting and developing the skills to make realistic portraits and figurative paintings.