Michele Webber

Michele Webber (one "L", two "B's")

Michele Webber is what I would call a self-made artist. She is an example of a woman who has been told she "couldn't be an artist," but she did it anyway, all while being a single mom.

For over 20 years she has been illustrating and teaching. She discusses a wide variety of subjects, including marketing your work. Her YouTubes cover drawing, watercolor, and most media except for oils.

She lives in the Sulfolk area of the UK.

You can find out more information about Michele here:

https://www.michelewebber.com/about-me

One important reason I include her is that I can find an answer to so many questions on a variety of topics: color theory, drawing, media, etc. She has a series on watercolor pencils that is super helpful for someone wanting to learn how to use them.

Michele DID have a Patreon. She has switched to YouTube "membership" instead.  She also has online courses that you can purchase that give you lifetime access. She has Youtube "Membership Perks" for 2.99 pounds (about $3.50 in dollars) or 8.99 pounds (about $10 American). The 8.99 version is Color Academy, where she emphasizes color mixes and drawing. 

Here she explains why she left Patreon and went to Membership. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdsTcvdOxhw

Here is a video on a simple watercolor pencil butterfly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OFjO6uIAtI

Using watercolor pencils--flower

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDBML3f5nNI&list=PL47l9lPVgZdCef0KkGi_Vpw-SS71RB8Vx

calla lily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C-1IUWh0As&list=PL47l9lPVgZdCef0KkGi_Vpw-SS71RB8Vx&index=4

my post on watercolor pencils from 2018. This has the practices we went over in class.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/3535152390433130050

In class we did a baby sun conure in watercolor pencils. Here is the reference from Pixabay.

Tip #1 is to outline/draw your sketch in watercolor pencil rather than graphite. This is especially nice if you are working in light colors, like yellow.

Use a decent cold press paper as a general rule. The paper I used for this was not great paper, so the results were not as brilliant as I would normally get. Hot press paper can be used, but it can be a little tricky to avoid blossoms. Rough paper is hard on the pencils, but if you like the effect, it's OK. 

The next step is to color in GENTLY with the wc pencils. You don't want to score the paper by pressing too hard. Try to use more than one color as you go...two colors of yellow, for example, or two shades of orange. You can color just about all of the picture with pencil. 

The next step is to add the water. I gave out water brushes for everyone to try.

The trick for adding water is to work from white or lightest color into the darker color.

On the head, I wet the yellow, then worked into the orange, blending it as I went. 

Just as in regular watercolor, don't try to add water to an area that is next to a wet area. 

Wait for it to dry. 

To make the dark eye, I wet a dark blue pencil AT THE POINT (not on the wood) and colored it in. This makes a very dark mark that is more controlled. I often use this for tiny details in my regular watercolor paintings. 

I finished the bird before I added pencil on the background. (many people prefer to use a regular watercolor wash for backgrounds)

I wet the background. This is not very good paper, so it was a bit disappointing. For the tree limb, I colored in with two different browns and a gray. I wet the branch, then used pencil to indicate lines of bark. Then, while still wet, I shaved the pencil with a razor blade (exacto knife) to get a spattered effect.