Transferring a Drawing to Watercolor Paper

In this video I give you an easy hack to get a drawing to watercolor paper. This technique eliminates constant erasures on watercolor paper which changes the surface of the paper.
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• Transferring a Drawing...

[@KyleAnnie]

Thanks for providing such detailed advice. Very helpful. Love that house watercolor! It’s haunting and playful all at once. Just beautiful.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

You’re welcome - and thank you!

[@justrobinplease]

thank you. I transfer primarily by graphite transfer (pencil on the back of my drawing then redrawing it) and with transfer paper. never thought to use architectural tracing paper...

[@suel4269]

Very helpful! Note to self, trace DARK on the tracing paper.

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you, David.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Susan, you’re welcome.

[@brumtaffy]

Nice hack! I used a Sharpie, thinking the tracing would show only weakly, but it was as bold as brass! Thanks :)

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Pete, you’re welcome.

[@letajones8556]

Very helpful...thank you!!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Leta, you’re welcome - thanks for watching!

[@Xanderful209]

Thank you for your wisdom 😃

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

You’re welcome - thanks for watching!

[@yvesharuhi2230]

thanks this helped me so much!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Yves, you’re welcome.

[@barbaraotoole-mcilh6707]

Instead I've used the tracing paper to then trace the drawing onto the water color paper - or any kind of surface (canvas etc) by using a simple sheet of carbon paper like that used for typing copies bought in any office supply store. Move the carbon paper around the final surface to cover the entire drawing. This method doesn't require a light box!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I don’t like carbon paper on the surface of the watercolor paper. I used the lightbox for the demo, but I always tape it to my front door. Your method works great - thanks for sharing.

[@mrmorksstuff]

wow! thanks 🙂

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Mark, you’re welcome

[@treenaknelson2623]

Well, that's smart! Thanks for the tip 👍 😀

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Treena you’re welcome - thanks for watching!

[@susanelliott7728]

TY!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Susan, you’re welcome.

[@PRAKASH-cm1vo]

Hi Mr. David
Great !

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

😊

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching "Transferring a Drawing to Watercolor Paper. I hope this video saves you time and energy (and erasures) getting your compositions onto watercolor paper. Try it and let me know how it works for you.

[@Pebblesmas]

Thx!!

[@bushrasew]

Man I wish I can draw like this

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

You can - it just takes practice. Thanks for watching.

[@leslieharris9088]

Would love to know how you enlarged your original sketch as well.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I just eyeballed it because I’m good at drawing, but using a grid method works. You lay out a grid on the sketch and on the tracing paper (need to be the same proportions) and transfer it grid by grid.

[@jantaylor4282]

I noticed this ran on you tube a while ago, so Inunderstandnif younno.longer answer. Do you think going over your tracing paper with permanent ink would allow you to see it through the 300 press watercolor paper? THANKS FOR YOUR INFO. I AM A BEGINNER!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

300 lb paper is like cardboard, so even using ink you can’t see through it.

[@edruceross]

Dang it i tot this could be for already stretched paper.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I haven’t stretched watercolor paper since 1991. No one does that anymore.

[@chiefwaz]

I've watched 4 videos on this topic and still can't do it because UA-cam ers just can't seem to get to the task, they just ramble on and on about the classes the took or taught ...... Just show us

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I told you to tape the drawing to a window or glass door then put the WC paper over it and trace it - you can’t do it from that description? Pretty simple stuff - not sure how much easier it could be - how about showing some initiative and just do it!

[@MoonSpinners]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 …😂 that told him! I wouldn’t have been so polite 😆