Acrylic Painting Tip #1 -- How to Make Removable Marks

 Sometimes you want to make guide lines or a preliminary sketch on a painting but don't want the marks to show in the finished work. Some sources suggest using charcoal or graphite, but these can leave permanent marks. Here's where a pastel pencil really comes in handy if you're painting with acrylics and want to make removable, temporary marks or sketches on your work. You can draw right onto gessoed canvas or gessoed watercolor paper before you paint. Or, use it directly over acrylic paint, as long as the paint is dry. (Don't be heavy handed -- use a light touch!) When you're ready to "erase" the pastel marks, blot them gently with a damp paper towel. All traces of the pastel will disappear. 

An outline sketched on painted watercolor paper with a white Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencil.

Blotting with a dampened paper towel "erases" the pastel marks.

Text and images ©2015 Lynn Edwards