Baby oil dissolves the binding of the pencils, which allows the pigment to be spread easily over the surface. Since blending is a major part with colored pencils, there are many ways to get it right. She blogs about adult coloring on her popular website, Colour With Claire. Pros to this blending method: Blends colors really well without streaking, leaves a soft, muted finish. Find the perfect color combination for your next project. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Colored pencil blending techniques help smooth out colors and give a finished coloring page depth and a softer, more finished look. I’m using Stonehenge paper by Legion, and it is AMAZING. In this project, I chose a different color family for each set of pages (matching the colors of the frames). There’s no getting around it. You can blend wax-based pencils in a number of ways, four of which I’ll be showing you today. Collage style with ornate hankie parts, rice paper I’ve horded for years, little shadow boxes cut into the journal to hold handmade miniatures. Smudge Colors Learn more... Blending with color pencils may seem hard or time consuming, but luckily, we have an effective way to blend color pencils right here! Blending my pencils is something I have worked at often so this tutorial is timed perfectly. Press hard over your colored section with the blender to blend in the colors. Practice keeping each stroke relatively straight. I do not use the blender because I prefer to blend colored pencils using only the colored pencils as described so far. And you don’t get wax bloom! Colored Pencil. Broken pencil tips may be harmful if left on the floor. With these basic colored pencil drawing techniques & tips, you’ll be ready to start drawing right away. The second blending method I use is applying odorless mineral spirits, otherwise known as blending solution or Gamsol. It’s also wonderful for restoring the paper’s tooth. Of course! If you are attempting this for the first time, use two colored pencils that are within the same group, such as blue and green, to practice and work up to two completely different colored pencils as you practice more and more. When you burnish, you use very heavy pressure to “grind” layers of color together. Unlike graphite or charcoal, colored pencils … Is it possible? You must keep your pencils sharp to better fill in the tooth, seeing as we can’t do it with heavy pressure. How to Blend Colored Pencils with Solvent. How To Color Skin with Alcohol Markers | Skin Tutorial | Ohuhu, How to color with cheap colored pencils (and still get good results! For this technique you will need some practice to master it, it is a very demanding way of blending. As I move further into the oval, I ease up on the pressure gradually until I’m barely touching pencil to paper at all. Pencil layering. Layering is most commonly done with the back and forth stroke. A sharp colored pencil will allow you to make finer lines as well as more vibrant colors. Next, use a colorless blender to blend the layers of colored pencils together to create smooth, vibrant, and dark tones. Anyway, if you wish, you can use the blender, that is a colorless pencil used to mix colors. She reviews adult coloring books and art supplies, and creates video tutorials to help others learn to color and choose the right books and colouring materials. Rub this tool firmly upon the colors you are trying to blend and pass it back and forth until the desired level of … If you’ve already used one of these methods like I have, now is a great time to stretch your skills and try some of these other methods. Blending is really part and parcel in using this medium. Sarah, this is so timely for me. The easiest and fastest way to blend colored pencils is by layering your pencils. This is called Burnishing. Valuable and fragile pencils may break! The main two methods used are either with a solvent of sorts (I use Mona Lisa Odorless paint thinner), or by burnishing. Themes are next on my mind. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Essentially, you’re filling in the rest of the tooth that the red only skimmed the top of. Blending With Colored Pencils. Review to come shortly. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. 1. Prismacolor make one, as do Derwent and other brands. This approach is precise and straightforward because it involves only the use of your pencils and no additional supplies. colored pencils) -----See the last step OR step no. To use the back and forth stroke, angle your colored pencil towards your paper at 45 degrees and apply pressure evenly while drawing continuously over an area. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Today we’re talking about how to layer in colored pencil. First of all, there are solvents to help smoothen out the texture of the colored pencils. Blending with colored pencils can be a very rewarding and fun experience, allowing you to achieve colors and depths that you might not be able to achieve from a single pencil. 6 for choosing the brand of Prismacolor *Matting Board *The matting board comes in a very large size. Paper surfaces are all different but none of them are completely flat (unless you’re using glossy, photo-type paper which is useless for coloring on anyway). Rubbing alcohol is a great solvent for colored pencils. These pencils are the best choice for all styles of drawing. Use this colorless pencil to prime the area prior to adding any colors in your drawing. Burnishing involves layering different shades of colored pencils using heavy pressure. I’m using Stonehenge paper by Legion, and it is AMAZING. The solution instantly breaks down the wax binder, leaving only the pigment, so the colors merge together easily. If you looked at it under a microscope, you’d see that the paper surface is very jagged- like peaks and valleys. My final method of wax pencil blending is using a colorless blender pencil. I am bubbling with ideas. Many artists prefer oil-based pencils as they are known for being superior in their finish and blending capabilites. Creating dark and vibrant colored pencils isn’t tricky once you get the hang of it. So, please throw out your broken pencil tips in the garbage can. It breaks down the wax binder in most colored pencils and allows the pigments to blend more like paint. A colorless blender is a colored pencil without any pigment. Make sure the color pencils you are using are either inexpensive or firm. Because of copywrite laws doubt I can use much of the actual pages I have now but they are great learning tools. This tool looks like a clear colored pencil and it is intended specifically for blending colored pencils. colored pencils) -----See the last step OR step no. I create coloring books, color palettes, printables and tutorials to help you release your inner artist and improve your coloring. How To Blend Colors With Colored Pencils: Today I’m just going to share with you how to get started blending colored pencils. When it comes how to blend colored pencils there are many useful blending options, the difference between them is what you will like more. Articles to help your creative business thrive. By using our site, you agree to our. Be careful not to press too hard. Each method has pros and cons which I’ll go into, but first of all it’s handy to point out the process that happens when you apply colored pencil to paper, and how things like pressure make all the difference. There’s no getting around it. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Coloured pencil can only be mixed by layering one colour over another. It’s relatively simple. 6 for choosing the brand of Prismacolor *Matting Board *The matting board comes in a very large size. Utilize a blender pencil. As you can see in the picture below, I start off by using hard pressure at the edge of the oval to fill all the tooth, so I have a nice smooth Crimson Red to begin. Instead you have to work in a series of VERY light layers to create depth, then blend with your choice of several methods. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. ), How to Make Any Color From 12 Colored Pencils (+ FREE Color Mixing Chart! Take your coloring pages from OK to amazing with these coloring tips. 2019-03-06. When compared to other available solvents, it’s … Prismacolor users who find they ‘can’t get on’ with oil based pencils like Faber Castell Polychromos are likely using the wrong method of application. Just notice that if you use the blender, it will be impossible to add more layers of color … The best way to start blending your colors is to pick out a few colors in the same color family and practice a gradient/ombre effect. I challenge you to apply one of these techniques to your next coloring page! Use a blender pencil, which resembles a plain wooden pencil. Baby oil is the choice of solvent for plenty of people and has always been a popular choice for blending colored pencils. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. I have personally never tried most of these methods – I have always just used pressure to create the right blend between colors, as you’ll see Claire demonstrate in her first example below. So two days ago I dug up my collection of coloring pages & materials. See the link at the bottom of this page for tips on how to mix colors using colored pencil. There are two colored pencil technique secrets to building up layers of colors. My first and favourite method of blending is the burnish blend. You can use any color over any color, but it’s most common to burnish with a color lighter than the color you’re burnishing. The blender pencil creates a rougher blended look, which works well for … The third blending method I use is the white pencil blend. You can use any color over any color, but it’s most common to burnish with a color lighter than the color you’re burnishing. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,172 times. ), 5 Easy Tips to Instantly Improve your Adult Coloring Pages. This can be applied with a tortillon (paper stump) or a paintbrush. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); That Creative Couple Pty Ltd (ACN: 635 193 574) | All Rights ReservedPrivacy Policy | Terms of Use | Affiliates. I thank you very much for your inspiration. Blending Rules! Today, as promised, I’m going to show you how I layer in colored pencil. Fret not! Another method is blending colors together with the stiff painting brush. Keep coloring with this bold color and near the middle of the paper. This rough texture is called Tooth. So get the right colored pencils and use any of the above-mentioned techniques to blend your colors effectively. The easiest way to blend colored pencils is to use the pencils alone. This article has been viewed 3,172 times. Blending is really part and parcel in using this medium. It just takes longer to get there! Do try some (or all!) When you build up layers, you start to fill those valleys with pigment, like filling cracks in a wall. Whether that be pencil drawing or adult coloring, these tips are universal.1. This is where I use only the pencils and pressure to blend. Blending coloured pencils can be tricky, but this is an easy and cheap way to get smooth and vibrant colours with your coloured pencils. 1. When burnishing, try layering a color that is lighter on top of a darker color in order to achieve optimal results. You can also learn more about creating textures in your colored pencil drawings with Painting Textures in Colored Pencil with Gary Greene. Check it out below! Once the colors become malleable, you can adjust the blending as you want. If you look up close at paper, and feel the texture of it with your fingers, you’ll find some paper is rougher than others. I thought I might try my hand at them. Sharpen all of your colored pencils using a pencil sharpener each time you go to use them, creating a fine point. As I assessed my stuff and started a page I got an idea. And different techniques gives a different look, with some of them you will … Light layers, one on top of the other, has the color slowly building into a bold, saturated, smooth finish. You may notice what looks like a grease mark on the underside of your paper but don’t worry, this disappears within minutes when the solution evaporates. Blending is not to be confused with mixing. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. I’d love to hear how you go in the comments section at the end of this post. When you are coloring, you can either use a light hand to build up color in layers, or go in with a medium-hard pressure which applies more pigment to the paper in one go. Instead of just coloring with a single color in each area, try a nice blend of a few colors, or a lighter/darker tone of the main color you want to use. Pros to this blending method: Quick, doesn’t require extra blending tools, retains vibrancy of color. 6.00K Likes. It’s so much easier to blend with odorless mineral spirits of solvent when working on paper like this. The most familiar way of blending colored pencil with colored pencil is burnishing. Today, as promised, I’m going to show you how I layer in colored pencil. Sharpen your colored pencils before using them for the best color. Discover these colored pencil shading and blending techniques. I then do exactly the same as I did with the red: hard pressure at first to fill in the tooth completely, then gradually get lighter to set the foundation for the next color to blend in. It does tend to dull the colors a bit, but it doesn’t matter because you can continue layering pencil between applying the solution. When you use hard pressure, you’re essentially filling in and flattening all those peaks and valleys into one smooth surface without layering. Blend colored pencils by overlaying lightly applied layers of each color. From Prisma colored pencils to Crayola colored pencils, you get a wide variety of options to choose from. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. I show an easy way to blend coloured pencils in this video. You can get colorless blender pencils with oil binders (Lyra Splender Blender being one) and odourless mineral spirits work with oil based pencils too, but my favourite method of blending oil based pencils is to LAYER, LAYER, LAYER. The first thing you’ll need is a colorless blending pencil. Learn how to blend colored pencils with 4 popular blending methods: burnishing with pencils, blending solution, a white pencil or a blending pencil. Use A Colorless Blender Pencil You can use this method if you want to blend any small particular spot. The speckles disappear the more you do this, and depending on the pencils and the paper it can take many, many layers to completely fill in the tooth. To color with colored pencils like a professional we need to be able to blend well. Drawing with colored pencils can be a lot of fun, but blending sometimes can be a not-so-fun process. Painting by Manikraj Bhambure Cons to this blending method: Can be taxing on the hand as you’re using a lot of hard pressure, not much layering can be done as you’re  filling all the tooth right off the bat, wax bloom can occur when you burnish (a milky film that appears over your work but can be wiped off). Using medium pressure you can scumble (small circles) over the pencil layer you’ve put down, smushing the color together. Choose a category below and let's get started! On the second picture above, I used Orange as my next color, but instead of applying it *after* the red, I begin just at the point speckles started to appear when I lessened pressure on the red. Enjoy these free printables, crafts and coloring pages from my shop. So let’s jump right in… take it away, Claire! 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