How to Draw a Strawberry in Derwent Inktense

Derwent Inktense watersoluble ink pencils are unique, because they dissolve when dampened but dry to a waterproof rich color. They can only be washed once before they become permanent. Strawberries are an intricate, challenging fruit with their tiny seeds and delicate shading. We'll make it easier to draw the seeds using the Derwent Outliner, a nonsoluble graphite pencil included with the full range set.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 24 color set of Derwent Inktense
• Pad, sheet or block of 140lb watercolor paper.
• Medium size pointed watercolor round (size 4 through 7)
• Water cup
• Hard graphite pencil for marking up (H range)
• Grid ruler
• Optional tracing paper and graphite transfer paper
• Brush conditioner soap such as The Master's Brush Cleaner

1. 
   Photo reference for strawberries

   Use a digital camera, phone cam or webcam to take a photo reference of a strawberry close up, or use this reference. Study it carefully and print it out in color to see the shapes of the fruits, the pale yellow seeds, and the shading on the brilliant red fruit.
   
   Mark up a piece of watercolor paper with a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ACEO size area, using the grid ruler and hard graphite pencil to sketch it out. Leave 1/4" matting space around all edges of your artwork, if you put two next to each other leave a half inch gutter. This is to allow you the choice of matting and framing the small artwork, or trimming it right at the line for an ACEO or ATC (Artist Trading Card).

2. 
   Initial sketch in Derwent Inktense Outliner

   Using the Outliner, sketch the strawberries. Pay attention to where the darkest areas are, the triangular shadows between individual fruits, and place the outlines in those areas. Don't connect the outlines completely. Do them a little thick and thin. If you have trouble getting the sketch to look like mine, then trace and transfer the pattern with graphite transfer paper and go over the sketch with the Outliner in the areas where strong lines show on my sketch.
   
   The Outliner marks are a guideline and they're there to accent the darks in the overall composition. We'll use the Outliner for one more thing in the next step.

3. 
   Seed shadows detailed and signature placed, Outliner sketch finished

   Using the Outliner again, carefully mark a tiny U-shaped shadow for each of the seeds on the strawberries. If this were pure colored pencil realism, these shadows would be marked in a dark red to give a photorealistic purity to the art. However, with Inktense, the Outliner's contrasting graphite accents can make the seeds a little more prominent and interesting, so let's use the Outliner for this project. Each seed will become a strong highlight next to a strong dark, a little accent to the entire drawing.
   
   Scatter the seeds irregularly, ollowing the photo reference. Simplify a little to keep the proportions between the seeds and the areas between them reasonable. Some strawberries are more seedy than others.
   
   Place your signature or monogram at this stage, since it will be most effective in Outliner than with one of the colors in the drawing.

4. 
   Dry shading added to leaves and shadows between strawberries

   Using I14 Apple Green, fill in the majority of the leaflets at the tops of the strawberries, reserving some white highlights for gloss. Shadow those and detail them with I16 Leaf Green. If you are in doubt about the shadowing, follow exactly what I did or follow the reference, it takes some practice to adapt shadowing without making it look unreal. The light is coming from above and to the right if you do adapt the shadowing.
   
   With I06 Shiraz, fill the areas between the strawberries and lightly shadow under the tip of the main strawberry. Do not go over any seeds in this, if the seeds come into the shadow area reserve a space about two line thicknesses above the seed shadow for the light colored seed.

5. 
   Leaves and deepest darks washed with water

   Wet the leaves first, very carefully, using only the point of the brush. Dissolve the pencil work completely and go slowly, staying within the outlines. Then wash over the darkest Shiraz areas, fading some of them up onto the strawberries but working carefully around the seed shapes, to the right and at the top a couple of seeds are visibly white against painted areas around them.
   
   This is the part of the project that will probably be the most difficult, painting around the little seeds on the strawberries. But it will be very effective when it's done. Take your time with this.
   
   Then add a little I18 Baked Earth to the center of the leaf-tuft and wash that, bringing some of it up onto the leaves and letting it flow where it wants. Pick up some Shiraz from the dark areas if they are still wet and loosely flick it around to accent those leaves. It's better to do this after the leaves are done and dried but it can create interesting effects if the reddish-brown mingles with the green while wet.
   
   Where the ink runs over into the border, let it run. This will give the final ACEO a crisp edge when matted. Let everything dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

6. 
   Strawberries shaded with Chili Red

   Shade the strawberries with I05, Chili Red. You can sharpen it to a fine point and lightly complete the circle around the seeds, with an inverted U above the Outliner mark shadowing the seed. Fill in with shaded tonal layers, going entirely over the Shiraz areas hard and darkening toward the edges. Go very lightly on the lighter middles of the strawberries, especially the big one. Inktense will darken when wetted and working over these areas around the little seeds will take careful effort and relatively little water to avoid just washing over all of them.

7. 
   Chili Red layer washed, working around reserved white seeds

   Working carefully around each of the seeds, use the point of your watercolor brush to wash over the Chili Red layer. This will make it a lot darker and more intense. Dissolve all the pencil thoroughly. If an area is too light when wetted, lightly touch the Chili Red pencil to it while it's still wet, then stir it around again with the brush tip. Be sure to wash over the deep darks again to glaze Chili Red over the previous Shiraz layer.
   
   Don't try to get the entire surface of the strawberries bright red in this step, leave broad areas pink for the next layers.
   
   Wait until this layer is completely dry before continuing.

8. 
   Glazed with a thin wash of Mustard for a golden glow

   Using I17 Mustard, scribble a patch on some scrap paper and mix with water to a thin golden wash. Apply over the entire surface of the strawberries with it. This will yellow the seeds slightly and also warm the reds and pinks of the strawberries. Let this wash dry completely before moving on to the next step. Don't worry if the paper bends a little, it will flatten as it dries.

9. 
   Poppy Red layer added dry, Shiraz used to intensify shading

   Shade again with Poppy Red as we did with Chili Red, going a bit stronger in the light areas. Work around the seeds. Refine their shapes carefully using a sharp point on the Poppy Red, go full strength on this layer as this is the bright-red layer that completes the base color of the strawberries.
   
   Before washing this last layer, use I06 Shiraz to strengthen the shading.

10. 
    Finished Inktense drawing of strawberries!

    Carefully wash the poppy red layer and the new shading, working around the seeds one final time to refine their shapes. Let it dry completely and it's finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the Outliner for dark accents if desired in an Inktense artwork. It will not dissolve at all when water is washed over it.
• Use smooth tonal layers when coloring, and test on scrap paper if you want it to be lighter than full intensity.
• If you are comfortable with using masking fluid, try using a toothpick tip to put a tiny drop of masking fluid over each of the seeds after the Outliner shadows are sketched in. This will reserve them all to bright white for toning later.
• Use a magnifier on a stand to help work around details like the small seeds if you have trouble seeing them, or do the project larger.
• Don't let Inktense ink dry in the bristles of a good watercolor brush, it will ruin the brush. Always keep it wet, rinse immediately, and wash with a good brush cleaner after use.

Resources

• Art In Your Pocket -- ATCs (Artist Trading Cards)
• ACEOs -- Art Cards, Editions and Originals for Sale or Trade
• About Derwent Inktense (Derwent's site includes more Inktense lessons)

[ilivetoteach]

on 9/3/2009 Excellent detailed article. I could use it easily to complete this project. *5

[Kandywriter]

on 9/3/2009 I love the Strawberries.
Great work and Great article.
Thanks for sharing.

[Arathi]

on 4/4/2009 Excellent article! 5* from me too.

[ilivetoteach]

on 4/4/2009 This is excellent. Shame on the person who gave you three stars. *5