[Tips] How to Transfer a Drawing using Tracing Paper

The idea is simple. The transparency of tracing paper allows me to precisely copy a sketch to the "real" paper.

By keeping the watercolour paper clean, I can sketch and revise as many as I want, for example, to accommodate the client's requests. Sketching directly on the "real" paper will leave too many erases and pencil scratches on the otherwise good watercolour paper. The other advantage is that I can transfer the sketch already coloured, or only necessary lines.

Here are the tools I need:
1. Tracing papers
2. Pencils or water soluble colour pencils to coat the other side of paper
3. A very pointy and hard pencil (e.g. 2H - 4H) to trace the drawing
4. (Optional) Eraser, pencil sharpener, kitchen towel, sandpaper.

And here are the steps:
1. Once a sketch was approved by client, I scanned and then printed it on a tracing paper. Again, it saved me another time from transferring a drawing twice from sketch pad to a tracing paper then to a watercolour paper. It was also less messy because it prevented me from smearing the watercolour paper with pencil dust that clings on my palm. Another tips to avoid pencil dust: Place clean paper between your hand and tracing paper if you aren't going the scan-print route. 

2. To coat the blank side of the tracing paper quickly, I held the pencil almost completely sideways then spread the mark with a kitchen towel. This helped me to gain an even outline like I draw directly on the watercolour paper with 2H pencil. 
My tips: For delicate botanical illustration or light coloured object, use water-soluble colour pencils with similar colours to those of the final paints to coat the backside of the tracing paper. This would save you some time from erasing it as it leaves no trace of pencil. On the other hand, when I paint less detailed or dark coloured object, I use graphite pencil to coat the backside as I did in this Asian palm civet illustration.

3. I placed the tracing paper on top of a watercolour paper and secured it with masking tape before I traced the image with very pointy 4H pencil. I trace only necessary outline to the watercolour paper and I did it with a steady pressure.
My tips: Grind the pencil to sandpaper almost completely sideways to keep it very sharp/pointy.

4. After I had completed tracing the drawing, I gently removed the tracing paper and drew necessary line for the missing part. And the watercolour paints were ready to GO!

[ORCHIDS] Study sketch of Vanda arcuata

Vanda arcuata from Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. I made the sketch bigger than the life size, easier for me to paint the pattern.

[ORCHIDS] Study sketch of Bulbophyllum lobbii

My new favorite specimen, Bulbophyllum lobbii from Berastagi, Northern Sumatra.
 

[ORCHIDS] Study sketch of Coelogyne pandurata

A few days before I delivered baby Nawang, I made a colour test of the black orchids (Coelogyne pandurata) from Borneo, whose flowers blossomed less than 5 days. It has no flower anymore but the colour test will help me to paint the illustration later. I already made the sketch while it bloomed and took some photographs of it.

The green petals were quite simple, whereas the black lips were the real challenge! And I am afraid I can't capture its intricacy well in the real life size illustration :p

[SKETCHBOOK] Gembira Loka Zoo

Yesterday, I had fun with some friends of Indonesia's Sketcher for visiting a local zoo in Yogyakarta and having live sketches of animals and plant. It was great to practise drawing live animals that kept moving and changing, a good challenge for someone who usually paint a still plant indoor.

   

[ORCHIDS] Study sketch of Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

Trying to capture the colours of Tropical Ladys-Slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum) before the flower flop. This species is endangered and endemic to East and Southwest Java (Mount Semeru) and in Central Sumatra, Indonesia.

[SKETCHBOOK] Wet into wet Watercolour for Fluffy Babies

Playing with wet on wet watercolour washes to capture the fluffiness of these cute babies. Enjoy!

 

[SKETCHBOOK] First Sketches in Yogyakarta

Invited to join Sketching & Sharing' with Indonesia's Sketcher (IS) - Yogyakarta, finally I was motivated to unpack

my baggage and start sketching again! :)

First sketch was a warming up I did at home and the last two were drawn at Bringharjo market. It was my first time

to meet these sketching enthusiasts and to explore the biggest traditional market in Yogyakarta. And it was FUN!

[SKETCHBOOK] Colours of Beetles

Yesterday I stumbled upon amazing photographs of colourful beetles by Christopher Marley. They were such pleasure in my eyes and I thought I want those beetles leave their colours in my moleskine sketchbook as well. Happy Sunday! :)

"Sometimes, somehow, I love the look of a messy pile of tracing papers I drew on."

[SKETCHBOOK] Esterbrook Fountain Pen

For a few weeks, I was quite obsessed with fountain pens. After struggling with my own reason, finally I bought a new Noodler's Ahab and an old Esterbrook fountain pen (unfortunately the ahab pen came with a broken o-ring, so I am still waiting for the replacing part to try it). Yesterday I started playing with the 'vintage' Esterbrook pen and enjoyed it much! Done without pencil, just the fine nib pen.

[WIP] Japanese Chrysanthemum

Autumn is coming and I just met its lovely and delicate flower, Japanese Crysanthemum. Just settled down the sketch, I hope I will have time to paint on it soon.

[Sketchbook] Manchester Museum

Waiting for my husband to met his professor, I killed an hour or two in Manchester Museum with my new sketchbook with me. The museum has a huge collection but I only saw some part of it. The most interesting sections for me were the living animals and Zoology. I never get bored with animal, love the visit.