The end of the Watercolour Paint Journey

For now, this (see below) is the last watercolour painting I have done. I doubt that I have the necessary skills yet. I have noticed that there are many different ways to use watercolour and yes, it is easier to carry around than acrylic paint and there are many different ways to use it.
Some people paint in the old-fashioned way (light colours and no use of white or other types of paint/mediums), while more and more people are using it for their doodles or to paint in thick layers. In the latter case, it may be cheaper than acrylic paint (I haven't really tried that). Painting on canvas with watercolour didn't work for me. I think it's because of the gesso, because watercolour does stain the cloths I use and it doesn't wash out. So painting on canvas with watercolour must be possible.

The portrait below was first sketched in pencil and then I traced the lines with a fineliner. According to the Dutch artist Lineke Lijn, it would not rub off if it got wet.
After tracing the lines with the fineliner, I erased the pencil. Incidentally, I only have Ikea coloured pencils, which are also suitable as watercolour pencils. In practice, I find this very disappointing.
Perhaps a grey watercolour pencil would be better.

Then I coloured everything in with a very cheap box of watercolours (bought years ago at Action?). The paper seems suitable for watercolours, but there is no information on the pad, not even about the thickness. To be honest, I have no idea what this is suitable for.
Of course, the black fineliner did bleed!

Let's say I've at least drawn a portrait.

Because I am absolutely hopeless at sketching, especially in detail, I am going to focus more on that now. I have no idea whether I need to, but who knows, a basic grounding might come in handy, and @aellly is right about that. A pencil is easier to carry around (and cheaper) than a rucksack or suitcase full of painting equipment. So, back to basics.

Now I'm faced with the dilemma of what to draw. It will be something with hair (or fur or feathers). I've since realised that the paper I'm using isn't suitable for this, but I'm going to use it up anyway. It's not for nothing that it's an ugly sketchbook or just something for studies. Those drawings I never used to do because a piece of clay and a camera are one and the same.

I didn't take the time to record all the steps. I just wanted to go to bed early.

_{21-1-2026
Painting: watercolour - some thicker paper (no name on it - Pepco?) - fineliner - HB pencil
Drawings: some ordinary pencil I assume HB since it's the most sold pencil we have.}

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