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Colored Pencil Tips

by Fran Saperstein

Using colored pencils can be an art of its own. For many of us, myself included, the pencils can be intimidating. I’ve been coloring all my life, but only in the past five years or so have I really felt comfortable with colored pencils. Colored pencils aren’t difficult to learn; with a little patience and some tips, the secrets of colored pencils will unfold.

There are three primary things to consider: control, layering and blending.

Control is an issue of practice. Practice on scrap paper to control your pressure from light to heavy. Pull the paper away from you and you will see that the color appears different depending upon how much or how little is on the paper.

Follow the lines of the image. The lines of the image will show you the way to move your strokes. I can create textured clothing for example, by moving my pencils in the same way cloth was shaped. If I use vertical and horizontal lines, the clothes won't appear to blend in with the image.

Create depth with several tones of the same color. By using several yellow tones, including orange and raw sienna, I can create the rough texture of sand. Follow the lines of your stamp and use them as your guide for where the pencil should be moving and where deeper, darker color should go.

Focus your deeper colors around the edges to create dimension. To give the look of several layers without having to stamp and cut many times, add shadows. The shadows are often found when you move from one object to the other.

Start with lightly laid layers for realistic blending. By laying the first color down lightly and adding additional layers of color, you create depth that cannot necessarily be obtained with just one color. Think of flowers for a moment. Each petal actually has several different colors in it. By laying down light colors first and working your way to darker colors, adding more color as you go, a petal will appear more realistic and more dimensional.

Blend with a blender pencil. To make sure the color is completely blended, you should use a blender pencil. This is different from a blender pen. Blender pencils are colorless dry pencils that can help you to create that lovely integrated color that looks like it was painted. Look for one that leaves no waxy build-up and no film on the color, providing what appears to be seamless color on the paper.

Colored pencils provide complete control over your work. With a little practice using the tips above, you, too, can become a colored pencil enthusiast.