How to Paint by Combining Watercolor and Indian Ink

Within the world of painting, there is a fascinating domain called mixed media. This enables the use of two, or even several mediums in the same artwork.

Today, I'm going to introduce you to the subtle alliance between watercolor and Indian ink, two incredibly expressive materials which, when combined, evoke delicacy, elegance, and simplicity.

Characteristics of watercolor and Indian ink 

Let's start by understanding the characteristics of watercolor and Indian ink in order to know how to harmoniously combine them in the same painting.

Composition

A little anecdote: watercolor is made from colored pigments of various origins along with gum arabic as a binder, which gives it its unique properties. Indian ink, on the other hand, is made from soot (or carbon black), hence its deep black color, and uses shellac as a binding agent.

Application

To paint with watercolor, we use brushes and water to dilute the pigments and apply them to the paper. Indian ink can be applied with a brush or pen, depending on whether you want to paint or draw precise lines.

Consistency

Watercolor is, by nature, transparent. This enables the paint to be added in layers or washes. Indian ink, on the other hand, is dense and concentrated, but water-soluble: by diluting it, beautiful transparent effects can be achieved.

Sumi-e and the Asian tradition

In China and Japan, a technique called Sumi-e was developed around Indian ink. It was used to create landscapes and minimalist compositions of great expressiveness. Artists made several ink washes at different concentrations to achieve a multitude of shades of black, and sometimes added symbolic touches of color such as a flower or a red sun to enhance the meaning of the painting.

Tips for combining watercolor and Indian ink

Here are some recommendations for integrating these two techniques without any mishaps and achieving a harmonious composition:

- Use them at different times: finish everything you want to accomplish with one of the two mediums before moving on to the other.
- Transparency and opacity: the contrast between the colorful lightness of watercolor and the deep black of Indian ink creates a very strong visual effect.
- Work with washes: dilute both Indian ink and watercolor to achieve a wide range of subtle and consistent tones.

Painting with watercolor and Indian ink step by step

Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary materials. Here is a small checklist:

- Brushes of different sizes and shapes.
- Watercolors (in pans or tubes).
- Indian ink.
- Dedicated pen or brush.
- Palette for mixing.
- Thick paper (weight of 250 g/m² or more).
- Adhesive tape to secure the edges of the paper.
- One or two water containers.
- Graphite pencil and kneaded eraser.
- Tissue, towel, or rag to absorb excess water.

Draw the sketch

We will apply this technique to a drawing that appears simple yet is visually powerful. You will see how the interplay between ink and white spaces can create a captivating effect.

First layer of watercolor

To start, you can use a brush soaked in water to paint a petal, then another brush loaded with pink pigment to let the color diffuse on the wet surface. Then add some touches of other similar shades to create beautiful gradients and smooth transitions between colors.

Switch to the bird: apply a blue watercolor splotch, paint only a few details, and intentionally leave a lot of white spaces. By adjusting the amount of pigment in your mix, you can achieve lighter tones simply by diluting your brush more.

Details of flowers and buds

Take your base shade (pink) and add a hint of purple to obtain a slightly darker tone. Use it to paint some details. Make sure that the first layer is completely dry before adding new colors in order to prevent the pigments from spreading.

To create gradients on an already dry surface, apply the new color, then soften it with a clean, damp brush. This method will give volume and depth to your little buds.

How to apply Indian ink

Before moving on to the final composition, take the time to familiarize yourself with the ink. Take a new sheet of paper, a different brush, load it generously with ink, and then observe the paper closely. Start drawing freely: long or short lines, straight or curved, dots and varied strokes.

Explore the effects you have created according to whether the brush was full of ink or almost dry, and also try applying diluted ink to assess its texture and fluidity.

Once comfortable, move on to your final painting: sketch the branches of the cherry tree, intentionally leaving some white spaces.

Then draw the bird in the center of the composition: the wings, the head with a small rounded beak, and paint the tail feathers totally black.

Create a wash by diluting the ink in an equal or greater amount of water. With this new mixture, add secondary details, such as a few leaves and small branches.

This diluted ink can also be used as a watercolor to enrich the bird's feathers with subtle gradients, or to overlay layers and achieve darker shades from the same ink.

Here is the result of today's creation: a painting balanced between softness and contrast, expressive without being overloaded with details. Now, it's your turn to play around! Experiment, have fun, and let your artistic flair guide you.

Writer and illustrator: Bryam Nopia