Success with Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are one of the most rewarding mediums to work with. A finished colored pencil drawing, when done correctly, can resemble a painting. But colored pencils are perhaps the most misused medium on the planet. In this lesson, I’ll share 7 secrets to success with colored pencils that you can apply to your own colored pencil drawings.

Secret # 1 – Layer and Mix Colors

Colored pencils are designed to be layered. When they are layered, mixing naturally occurs. Mixed colors have a more realistic appearance. When colors are mixed and layered, the complexity of the resulting color has more depth and interest.

This means that when you layer and mix colors, your colored pencil drawing is more realistic and more interesting. So instead of trying to find a pencil that is a perfect match, consider creating this color by layering and mixing.

Secret # 2 – Work on a Slightly Textured Paper

Because layering is so important with colored pencils, we need to work on papers that will allow multiple layered applications. This means that papers with a slightly heavier tooth will perform better. Avoid papers with a super heavy texture and look for papers that have a medium texture.

Papers such as Canson Mi-Tientes paper, PastelMat paper, and Stonehenge papers are all wonderful surfaces for colored pencils. Also consider papers that have a tone or color. While most of us assume that colored pencil drawings must be created on a white surface, colored papers are sometimes a better choice.

See also: Best Papers for Colored Pencils

Secret # 3 – Build Up Solid Applications

Colored pencils are at their best when the applications are solid. When colored pencils are layered, more of the material is applied to the surface. Our goal should be focused on filling the tooth of the paper completely with the colored pencil medium. This leads to an appearance more like a painting instead of a drawing.

Most people who are new to colored pencils assume that they should be used in the same way as a graphite pencils. But colored pencils are a completely different medium and look their best when most, if not all, of the paper is covered.

Secret #4 – Burnish and Blend Applications

Burnishing with colored pencils is the process of smoothing or blending applications with a tool or solvent. By burnishing, we create smooth transitions between colors and values. This is an essential part of drawing with colored pencils.

Burnishing can be accomplished by using a special pencil, called a colorless blender. This pencil has a core of colorless colored pencil medium. When applied over areas of color, the wax of the pencil works to blend and smooth applications, working the material into the tooth of the paper. The result is a more consistent application with smoother transitions.

Burnishing can also be accomplished using a light colored pencil. Lighter grays, Creams, and White can be used to burnish applications. Keep in mind, however, that burnishing with a light pencil will also lighten the values of the colors in that area.

You can also burnish areas using a solvent. Gamsol, mineral spirits, and baby oil are all acceptable solvents for burnishing. These solvents can be lightly applied with a brush over areas of color, producing similar results as a colorless blender.

See also: How to Blend Colored Pencils

Secret #5 – More Colors are Better

With traditional painting mediums, like oils, acrylics, and watercolor, we can mix almost any color with just a handful of pigments. With colored pencils, mixing is more difficult. This means that we are limited in the colors we can create through mixing. Because of this, it’s better to have more choices when we create our drawings.

Having more colors at your disposable means that you have a better chance of matching and mixing colors that you need to complete a drawing. With just a few colors, your options are limited. So unlike other mediums, having more colors is better.

See also: The Best Colored Pencils

Secret #6 – Be Careful with White and Black

The colors white and black are neutral colors. These colors are essential for mixing different values of colors. But, when white or black is used on its own in a colored pencil drawing, the result can look unnatural. Instead, consider lighter or darker values of colors. For example, you may consider using 90% Cool Gray instead of black – or 10% Cool Gray instead of white. These colors result in a more natural appearance and keep your drawing from looking flat.

If you need a black in an area within a drawing, you can mix your own. By layering Indigo Blue and Dark Umber, the result is a more colorful black. You can control the temperature of the black as well. By adding more brown, you create a warmer black. By adding more blue, you create a cooler black. Make sure your blacks and whites have a little color in them in order to create more natural looking colored pencil drawing.

Secret #7 – Work Slowly

When used correctly, colored pencils are one of the slowest mediums available to artists. Layering and mixing takes time to develop. Filling the tooth completely is also a slow process. Burnishing also requires time. Be prepared to work slowly when working with colored pencils. I like to work in small areas within a drawing, completing these areas as I go. This gives me small wins along the way and encourages me to continue.

If you hurry through a colored pencil drawing, your results will reflect this. Instead work slowly, take your time, and let your drawing develop at its own pace. While it will take more time to complete a colored pencil drawing, your time will be well spent in the end – if you work slowly.

Success with Pen and Ink Drawing

Pen and ink is a wonderful medium for creating impactful drawings. The use of black ink on white paper results in maximum contrast. However, some people are intimidated by the permanence of ink and are afraid to push the medium to its fullest potential. But pen and ink should not be scary. If you know a few secrets, which I’m going to share with you, you can find success with pen and ink.

Secret # 1 – Work on Papers with a Smooth Tooth

The texture of the paper that you work on is commonly referred to as tooth. For pen and ink drawing, smoother papers typically perform better than those with a heavier tooth. Heavily textured papers produce inconsistent, broken lines and can wear out your pen quickly.

Smoother papers, however, allow your pen to glide over the surface – resulting in more controlled, clean lines. For cleaner pen and ink drawings, consider working on papers such as Bristol Smooth or papers specifically designed for pen and ink – like pen and ink paper.

See also: All About Drawing Papers

Secret # 2 – Start with a Light Pencil Drawing

Some people believe that you should never create a pencil drawing prior to adding ink. They argue that a pen and ink drawing should be purely pen and ink. However, most accomplished pen and ink artists always start with a pencil underdrawing.

Starting with a pencil drawing ensures accuracy and allows you study the subject prior to making permanent marks with ink. You can work out in your mind how you plan to address certain areas of the drawing before committing to marks that are impossible to erase. A pencil is more forgiving and allows you to make mistakes in the early stages of the drawing.

Just be sure to create your pencil drawing with a light pencil – like an H or 2H and use a light touch when making marks. Avoid shading with the pencil and keep as little graphite on the surface as possible. Any remaining pencil marks can easily be erased after the ink has dried.

Secret # 3 – Practice with Line

Line is one of the 7 elements of art. In fact, it is the most foundational of the elements. Line is arguably the most important element of art when it comes to pen and ink. We use line to define the edges of subjects – but it does more than that.

We also use line to develop value relationships in a pen and ink drawing. This means that when hatching and cross hatching are used – line is the main element used to develop value. And value tells the viewer about the light within the scene, the form of the subjects, and the texture.

This is why line is so important in pen and ink drawing. If you want to improve your pen and ink drawing, then you must focus on practicing drawing with line.

Secret #4 – Use Directional Stroking

The direction that you push or pull your strokes plays a role in the success of a pen and ink drawing. When developing values on the subject, you should consider the form and texture of the subject. This will help determine the direction that you make your strokes with the pen.

Strokes should be pulled over the form of the subject, changing direction according to the specific plane of the form. This type of line is called a cross contour line – since it flows over the contour of the subject.

Use cross contour lines when developing the shading with hatching and cross hatching. Avoid using flat lines since this will make your drawing appear flat as well. By pulling lines over the form of the subject, we not only develop the values, but also the form of the subject.

Secret #5 – Vary Line Quality

I like to think of line quality as the thickness or thinness of a line. Instead of using just one thickness of line, be sure to vary the line – especially around the outer contours of the subject. Allow your line to get thicker in areas of shadow or where the subject gets thicker.

Create variety. It can be subtle – but even subtle changes in line can go a long way in creating a more interesting drawing. Your lines don’t have to be complete lines either. Including broken lines can help indicate highlights or areas of lighter value. Variety is the spice of life, but it’s also a principle of art. By varying the line quality we create more communicative and interesting pen and ink drawings.

Secret #6 – Be Consistent with Your Applications

There are lots of different ways to mark marks with pen and ink. There’s hatching, crosshatching, random lines, stippling and more. While it may be tempting to incorporate every technique you know into one drawing – it’s better to stay consistent with just one technique.

While we need variety in our drawings, we also need harmony – another principle of art. To ensure harmony in a pen and ink drawing, pick an application technique suitable for the subject and stick with it. If you start with cross hatching – stick with cross hatching. If you start with stippling – stick with stippling. Try not to mix methods. In other words, don’t use stippling with hatching and vice versa.

Secret #7 – Experiment

There are many different ways to apply ink to the drawing surface. Most of us simply use a technical drawing pen. However, you can create a broader variety of marks by experimenting with different techniques. While I love my technical drawing pens, I also love using dips pens. While this technique is more labor insensitive, I find that I have more control over my marks and can create more variety when ink is applied in this manner.

You can apply ink using just about anything – from a brush to a stick. If you’ve never tried a different way to apply ink, experiment to discover new ways to create marks.

Success with Pencil Drawing

Graphite pencils are usually the very first medium we reach for when we first begin drawing. This makes this medium a comfortable choice for many artists. But if you want to use the medium to its fullest potential, there are few secrets to keep in mind. Implementing the strategies that I’m going to share in this video will greatly improve your pencil drawings. Let’s dive in.

Secret #1 – Use a Variety of Grades of Graphite

Graphite comes in many forms, but most of use are most familiar with graphite pencils. The graphite in each pencil is graded based on the softness or hardness of the pencil. Pencils with an H are harder and thus produce a lighter mark. B pencils are softer and produce a darker mark. The higher the first number on the pencil, the more intense the hardness or softness.

Accomplished graphite artists use a range of pencils to create their drawings. H pencils are mostly used for preliminary sketching, while B pencils are mostly used for shading. In order to create a full range of tone and value in our drawings, we must use pencils that are dark enough to create dark tones.

You don’t need every pencil ever made. I recommend having just 3-4 grades. Typically I work with an H pencil, a 2B, a 4B, and a 6B. This usually gives me the range I need to create a fully developed graphite drawing. Using just one pencil limits the range of value that you can create, so use several grades for better pencil drawings.

Secret #2 – Work on Paper that Has a Slight Tooth

The paper that you use to create your drawings plays a major role in your success. All papers have a texture associated with them that is usually referred to as “tooth”. Papers with a heavy tooth produce a grainy effect, while smoother papers produce a smoother texture.

See Also: All About Drawing Papers

With graphite drawing, smooth papers have a limited amount of material they can receive. Working on a smoother surface can enhance graphite shine, which is something we want to avoid. Heavily textured papers have too much tooth and result in an overly-textured appearance.

To be successful, we should strive to work on papers that feature a light tooth. Papers such as Stonehenge paper, provide a soft touch with ample texture – suitable for blending and controlled applications. Other papers suitable for graphite drawing include Bristol Paper with a vellum surface and many hot press watercolor papers.

Secret #3 – Use A Blending Stump

Many beginning artists use a finger for blending and smudging. While this can create a smoother appearance, it does more to mar the surface. When you blend with your finger, you introduce the oils produced by your hand to the graphite material. This makes erasing and controlling the graphite more difficult.

Instead, use a blending stump. A blending stump provides precise control over the material and prevents the oils of your hand from mixing with the graphite. Blended areas can be erased easily when a bending stump is used and you have considerably more control over the material.

Secret #4 – Use the Circling Technique

You don’t have to use a blending stump to create soft, smooth transitions with graphite. Once technique I like to use, that I call “circling”, is one in which you make small circular strokes with the graphite pencil. You’re not making circles per se, but instead moving the pencil in a circular motion. With a slightly duller pencil, you can create smooth applications of the graphite, without visible pencil strokes. You have to work very slowly to make this work, but with some practice, you can control the graphite even more so that with a blending stump.

Secret #5 – Gradually Build up Applications to Avoid Graphite Shine

Graphite is a shiny medium. There’s no getting around this. But we can minimize graphite shine by carefully thinking about our applications. Graphite shine is more pronounced when the tooth of the paper is flattened. New artists have a tendency to reach for a 6B pencil when an area is dark and put heavy pressure on the pencil. When you do this, you flatten the tooth of the paper which results in a shiny appearance.

Instead, work your way up to your darkest pencil. In dark areas, start with a 2B pencil and use medium pressure. Then, go over this section with a darker pencil, like a 4B, again using medium pressure. Lastly, add the 6B, again with a medium pressure. By working up to the darkest application, we preserve more of the tooth of the paper, while still achieving a dark value – just without as much shine.

Secret #6 – Use Your Eraser as a Mark Making Tool

Many people believe that the eraser is just for fixing mistakes. While the eraser is obviously great for this, it’s not its only function. The eraser can be used for mark making as well. Use your eraser to remove portions of graphite to create texture and details. By adding and subtracting the graphite material, we have full control over the drawing. I like to use an electric eraser for extra power to remove the graphite completely when needed. For a lighter touch, consider using a kneaded eraser to lift the graphite from the surface without sacrificing texture.

See Also: Erasers For Drawing

Secret #7 – Work Slowly

When we start a new drawing, we can’t wait to see the finished result. If we are too impatient, then we tend to rush through drawing. Not only can this lead to mistakes, but it can also lead to drawings that are below our potential. Slow down and take your time. Be patient and take breaks often. Draw much slower than you usually do and see what happens. Take the time to closely analyze the shapes and values that you see. Often, when you work much slower than you usually do, you’ll find that you’re more skilled than you thought.

See Also: Realistic Drawing Hack

How to Get Better at Drawing

Drawing got you frustrated? You’re not alone. Any new skill is a challenge to learn and develop, but the good news is that any skill – including the skill of drawing, can be mastered by anyone. In this lesson, we’ll look at 6 basic principles that will help you get better at drawing plus a bonus tip. Let’s dive in…

Principle #1 – Practice Daily – Make Drawing a Habit

Developing any skill requires practice. The more that time that you devote to practice, the faster you’ll see results. This seems pretty simple, but the fact is our practice needs to be focused practice. Just doodling in your sketchbook will not get the results that you want.

We need to practice with a goal in mind. This means that you need to draw with a purpose. If you are struggling with values, practice drawing subjects with a value scale as a reference and ensure that you use every value in your sketch. If you’re struggling with textures, practice drawing various different textures and make notes on how you accomplished the illusion.

If you want to get better at figure drawing, practice drawing figures from life – at the park or from reference photos. You get the idea – practice every day – but make sure that practice is something that can be measured and not just mindless doodling.

Principle #2 – Draw Simple and Difficult Subjects

When choosing subjects to draw – don’t get stuck drawing the same subjects over and over again. Diversify what you practice. Simple, everyday objects make great subjects for practice in your sketchbook, but don’t be afraid to try challenging subjects as well. Don’t fall into the trap of reserving more difficult subjects for “when you get better”. Draw the difficult subjects along with the easier ones.

Often, when we challenge ourselves, we improve faster. Lifting heavier weights in the gym, make us stronger – faster. But those lighter weights help to build tone. So both the heavier weights and the lighter ones are important. With drawing, draw both easy subjects and more difficult ones consistently to see noticeable improvement in your drawing skills.

Principle #3 – Take the Time to Learn

You don’t know what you don’t know. If you don’t take the time to learn techniques or basic foundational principles, then developing the skill of drawing will take longer to achieve. Teachers and experts have spent countless hours learning and developing. Along the way, they have acquired knowledge that they share with students. This knowledge can be passed on to you, saving you those countless hours in experimentation. Take advantage of this.

Take structured classes – online or in person – instead of just watching countless YouTube videos. While these videos may be great for inspiration, without an ordered and structured approach to teaching, you’re only getting random pieces of the puzzle. Online classes or in person classes are mostly taught in a progression, ensuring that the information that you receive builds on what you’ve learned. You get the whole puzzle with all of the pieces and a plan for how to put it all together. And if you don’t want to invest in a course or a class, then learning how to draw really just isn’t that important to you.

The Virtual Instructor offers a ton of classes for drawing – View Our Library of Courses and Classes

Principle #4 – Draw From Life or Photos – Not From Other Drawings

It can be tempting to draw from other people’s drawings – especially simple cartoons. But this is somewhat a trap to your development as an artist. While it’s encouraged to study other people’s drawings, I wouldn’t recommend copying them. The artist has already interpreted the subject through their eyes with their hand.

It’s better to draw from your own photo references or better – from life. This forces you to make the decisions and for you to interpret the subject in your own way and then make marks with your own hand. Although it may be gratifying to finish a drawing of your favorite anime character, it doesn’t help you get better at developing your drawing skill – you’re just get better at copying someone else’s style.

Principle #5 – Explore Different Drawing Mediums

When most of us get serious about drawing, our tool of choice is usually a graphite pencil. It’s a comfortable choice since its so familiar to us. But the world of drawing features many mediums, and graphite is not your only choice. Colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, and pen and ink all have their own unique characteristics.

Some artists gravitate to ink and its ability to communicate through line. Others prefer charcoal for its forgiveness and rich blacks. Some prefer colored pencils for its ability to develop precise details. But if you’re just using a graphite pencil, you may be missing out on a medium that suits you better.

Try different mediums without judging the results. Learn how these mediums work and practice with them. I didn’t use pastels until I was in college – now its one of my favorite mediums. I missed out on years of development because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Don’t be afraid to try new things – don’t let fear of failure stop you from experiencing all that’s available to you.

Principle #6 – Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

In today’s age with social media and the internet, a countless number of incredible artworks are shoved in our faces everyday. My instagram feed is filled with stunning works of art that seem endless. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel deflated when we compare ourselves to these artists. We may tell ourselves, “I’ll never be that good, why bother.” This is a trap! Don’t fall for it.

See also: Dealing with Artistic Frustration

You are on your own art journey and we travel that journey at different paces. Focus on your own development and not on what others have done. When we compare ourselves to others, we never win. But when we compare ourselves to ourselves, then we can see how far we’ve come. There will always be someone better than you at drawing – but this is not where we find gratification from making art. Drawing isn’t a sport – there isn’t a champion.

There is merit in everything you create. Your journey is yours alone. Stay focused on this and you’ll continue to practice and improve. If you let doubt creep in, your art materials will start to get dusty because you’ll stop using them.

Bonus Principle – Drawing Well Doesn’t Require Talent

We’ve all been conditioned to believe that skills are talents. They’re not. Skills are learned. Drawing is a skill – not a talent. Some of us acquire these skills quicker than others. Some of us are programmed to develop faster than others. But all of us can learn any skill that we wish. It simply requires desire, knowledge and practice.

See also: The #1 Secret to Drawing

If you think it requires talent, then you’re doomed to fail from the start. Once you encounter a challenge, you’ll blame your lack of talent for your failure. Eventually, you’ll give up – believing that you are lacking talent. This belief is stopping countless numbers of people from living their life to the fullest. If drawing well is your desire, then it is attainable. It won’t happen overnight – but talent is not required and it shouldn’t hold you back from what is possible.

Drawing on Pen and Ink Paper

In this pen and ink drawing lesson, we’ll draw an image of an owl with pen and ink on pen and ink paper. Here’s a look at the finished drawing…

A photo reference is used to complete the drawing. Here’s a look at the photo reference…

Pen and Ink Paper

As is the case with any work that we create, the paper plays an important role in your success with the medium. For beginning artists, the surface is often overlooked to the detriment of the art.

When it comes to pen and ink drawing, we have quite few choices when it comes to the surface. There are a variety of papers that are suitable for pen and ink drawing. Bristol paper, hot press watercolor paper, and traditional drawing papers are all suitable surfaces for pen and ink applications.

Many pen and ink artists prefer a surface with a smooth tooth. A smoother paper allows the pen to glide over the surface, creating crisp, defined lines. And while smooth Bristol paper is an excellent choice, some prefer a paper that is even smoother. Enter pen and ink paper.

Pen and Ink Paper I Recommend – Pen and Ink Paper

Pen and ink paper is the smoothest surface I have ever worked on. The lines created by the smooth surface are clean and precise. This is an advantage over the other papers I mentioned.

However, this paper is not perfect. For starters, the paper is quite thin. It will wrinkle easily and care must be taken not to damage the paper inadvertently. Secondly, because of the super smooth surface, it is quite easy to smear wet ink. You must be aware of what portions of your drawing are still wet while drawing to prevent this. A third drawback is that this paper is not suited for ink wash. Some artists like to combine pen and ink with washes of ink. I can see this paper buckling severely if washes are applied. This means that combining watercolor with and ink drawing is out if this paper is used.

But, if your drawing is purely pen and ink, then this surface is a great choice – perhaps the best available.