May 2, 2024

Many artists prefer color pencil for drawing. Drawing is a skill that helps you to move on to the next level. The primary kids once used colored pencils. Throughout the year, colored pencils have considered by artists, art collectors, enthusiast, and many artists who are exploring their art. Best colored pencils are inexpensive, but the colour is pure, clean, and bright, and even they are light and portable. Here are some tips to improve drawing by using colored pencils:

Choose a paper for drawing using colored pencils

A durable paper is best for extensive layering and burnishing. Experiment with different papers until you find the one best for you. Here is the list of good surfaces to begin with:

Hot pressed watercolour paper

It has a smooth surface and is suitable for drawing, which gives good results when the deposit of the best colored pencil is blended.

Bristol board

The board is lightweight and gives good finishing. There are two types of surfaces: one is plate, which is very smooth and used for excellent layering and burnishing. Another type is vellum which has a more textured surface but is not suitable for blending and burnishing.

Tips and techniques using colored pencils

Here are some tips and techniques for drawing by using colored pencils:

Use the right grip

Always hold a pencil and draw using the side of the lead than the point. It helps to keep the pencil sharper for longer.

Consider your lines

It is important to draw a line before starting to draw because how fast you draw a line and the weight you put into a stroke will change the look of the line. You can use a mechanical pencil for a fine line, which gives a perfect structure, and it has many features to use.

Hatching 

It is a technique that creates tonal and shading effects. It engraves the fine lines in close proximity to give an effect of shading, and hatching in colored pencil adds texture to your compositions.

Burnishing 

Burnishing is to polish or shine by rubbing with high pressure. The purpose of burnishing is to put so much pressure on the color layers already on the paper sheet that you mix them and grind them on the paper’s tooth.

Blending 

This process can help to add depth to your colored pencil drawings. It is also applied with heavy pressure by using a pigment less blending pencil or a light-coloured pencil. You can also use a permanent marker and colourless marker to blend layers of color. 

Scumbling 

It is a broken deposit of one color over another that underlies color to be visible through the top layer.

Tools must have for drawing

  • Good sharpener
  • Colourless blender
  • Eraser shields
  • Cotton swabs
  • Knives
  • Spray workable fixative
  • Sturdy storage box

Bottom line

Follow the tips and techniques by using colored pencils and mechanical pencils to get the best result. Colored pencils are always stable and permanent because it is made up of ground pigment with hard wax and some colored pencils are made up of woods.