Essentially, you’re filling in the rest of the tooth that the red only skimmed the top of. There come a plethora of pencil colors for drawing enthusiasts out there. For this technique you will need some practice to master it, it is a very demanding way of blending. My first and favourite method of blending is the burnish blend. Practice keeping each stroke relatively straight. It breaks down the wax binder in most colored pencils and allows the pigments to blend more like paint. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. When compared to other available solvents, it’s … Blending With Colored Pencils. The second blending method I use is applying odorless mineral spirits, otherwise known as blending solution or Gamsol. Rub this tool firmly upon the colors you are trying to blend and pass it back and forth until the desired level of … When burnishing, try layering a color that is lighter on top of a darker color in order to achieve optimal results. And different techniques gives a different look, with some of them you will … % of people told us that this article helped them. While your average set of colored pencils will likely have some “skin-colored” pencils, the odds of that particular color perfectly matching the skin tone of the person you are wanting to draw is slim to none. Unlike graphite or charcoal, colored pencils … It does tend to dull the colors a bit, but it doesn’t matter because you can continue layering pencil between applying the solution. Your finer will not smudge the colors together. Blending is not to be confused with mixing. It is sometimes referred to as a colorless blender. It's often helpful to lightly repeatedly color at the middle with the colors so the blending has a better effect. Instead you have to work in a series of VERY light layers to create depth, then blend with your choice of several methods. Check it out below! Press hard over your colored section with the blender to blend in the colors. We suggest mixing the colors with odorless mineral spirits because they work best when used with oil or wax-based pencils. Because of copywrite laws doubt I can use much of the actual pages I have now but they are great learning tools. Painting by Manikraj Bhambure Blending is really part and parcel in using this medium. Just notice that if you use the blender, it will be impossible to add more layers of color … So get the right colored pencils and use any of the above-mentioned techniques to blend your colors effectively. Utilize a blender pencil. Use the back and forth stroke to evenly fill in color. However, for this technique, the waxy colors have to be liquid. Choose a category below and let's get started! You cannot apply oil-based pencils in the same manner as you would wax-based. Pros to this blending method: Blends colors really well without streaking, leaves a soft, muted finish. Honestly, I just don’t think the medium of colored pencils requires the use of harsh chemicals when there are so many other products and techniques to blend them. How To Blend Colors With Colored Pencils: Today I’m just going to share with you how to get started blending colored pencils. How to blend colored pencils with colored pencils Now you are maybe little confused, but actually this is very often the technique of blending among artists. Keep coloring with this bold color and near the middle of the paper. A couple of days ago I showed you how much more saturation and depth you can get by spending more time on your cp work. We go over 6 essential techniques to use with your colored pencil work! Coloured pencil can only be mixed by layering one colour over another. Anyway, if you wish, you can use the blender, that is a colorless pencil used to mix colors. There are two colored pencil technique secrets to building up layers of colors. The other two are less beginner friendly and take some experience to get good results with. 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). colored pencils) -----See the last step OR step no. I challenge you to apply one of these techniques to your next coloring page! 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. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); That Creative Couple Pty Ltd (ACN: 635 193 574) | All Rights ReservedPrivacy Policy | Terms of Use | Affiliates. Here are the colors I used if you’d like to try it out: Polychromos: *Light Magenta Note: This is strictly a Prismacolor Project for the "blending" technique that you don't get with regular . Pros to this blending method: No hard pressure needed, easy to apply, instant results with little effort, leaves a good surface to keep coloring onto. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. This article has been viewed 3,172 times. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can keep experimenting and really do amazing things. Another method is blending colors together with the stiff painting brush. Broken pencil tips may be harmful if left on the floor. Colored pencil does not blend like graphite. By using our site, you agree to our. I show you 7 ways to blend colored pencils in an easy step by step tutorial for beginners. Blending is really part and parcel in using this medium. This works especially well on florals that have some of the most beautiful natural color gradients on Earth. There’s paper for every kind of drawing. Baby oil. 6 for choosing the brand of Prismacolor *Matting Board *The matting board comes in a very large size. 2019-03-06. Do try some (or all!) There are different levels of aggressiveness when using solvents to blend. The most familiar way of blending colored pencil with colored pencil is burnishing. 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. When there are no speckles left and the tooth has all been filled in, you’re unable to add any more pigment to the paper. With these basic colored pencil drawing techniques & tips, you’ll be ready to start drawing right away. As you can see on the picture I did exactly the same layering of color as with the Odourless Mineral Spirits (no pressure, overlap the colors) then applied a hard pressure layer of white to the top of the oval to burnish out the tooth and blend the color. It’s so much easier to blend with odorless mineral spirits of solvent when working on paper like this. Light layers, one on top of the other, has the color slowly building into a bold, saturated, smooth finish. Note: This is strictly a Prismacolor Project for the "blending" technique that you don't get with regular . As I assessed my stuff and started a page I got an idea. I’m using Stonehenge paper by Legion, and it is AMAZING. These pencils are the best choice for all styles of drawing. Use A Colorless Blender Pencil You can use this method if you want to blend any small particular spot. Since seamless colors can be vital to achieving realistic results, let’s demystify how to blend colored pencils. Take your coloring pages from OK to amazing with these coloring tips. Blend the colors in a feather-light circular motion for an elegant finish. 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. EASY WAY TO BLEND COLORED PENCILS. Sharpen your colored pencils before using them for the best color. Sarah, this is so timely for me. In order to make the pigments liquid you need to cover them with the special art solution. of the 6 ways for how to blend colored pencils outlined in this article for very cool effects and a … I’d love to hear how you go in the comments section at the end of this post. For a start, oil-based pencils have a much harder lead, so trying to burnish them with hard pressure straight away will leave you frustrated with their seemingly inability to blend. Hey everyone, here's my steps for those of you wanting to know how I blend colored Pencils! When you apply pencil with light pressure, you’re just laying the pigment on top of the peaks, which is why you’ll see lots of white speckles. A toddler or pet may come across it and try to eat it! 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. Pros to this blending method: Quick, doesn’t require extra blending tools, retains vibrancy of color. How to Blend Colored Pencils with Rubbing Alcohol The blender pencil creates a rougher blended look, which works well for … From Prisma colored pencils to Crayola colored pencils, you get a wide variety of options to choose from. 97.5% 251.80K Views. Use this colorless pencil to prime the area prior to adding any colors in your drawing. To color with colored pencils like a professional we need to be able to blend well. So, please throw out your broken pencil tips in the garbage can. Many artists prefer oil-based pencils as they are known for being superior in their finish and blending capabilites. This is called Burnishing. You don’t need to use heavy pressure, just lightly apply the colors (overlapping each one slightly), then brush over with OMS (I have applied it on the top half of the oval only). And you have to figure out which one works best for you! This is where I use only the pencils and pressure to blend. Baby oil dissolves the binding of the pencils, which allows the pigment to be spread easily over the surface. Is it possible? See the link at the bottom of this page for tips on how to mix colors using colored pencil. This can be applied with a tortillon (paper stump) or a paintbrush. By applying thin layers of this colorless blender in a back-and-forth manner, a waxy buildup occurs giving us … Here are a few tips on blending on your stamped images with your colored pencils: Pick out a few colors in the same color family. Cons to this blending method: Desaturates the vibrancy of color, can look streaky, isn’t very portable. Pencil layering. 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. 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. The mildest of these is rubbing alcohol – and this is the one we’ll focus on here. 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). It just takes longer to get there! I’m using Stonehenge paper by Legion, and it is AMAZING. I thought I might try my hand at them. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,172 times. 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. 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. This rough texture is called Tooth. 1. I do not use the blender because I prefer to blend colored pencils using only the colored pencils as described so far. Drawing with colored pencils can be a lot of fun, but blending sometimes can be a not-so-fun process. Rubbing alcohol is a great solvent for colored pencils. She blogs about adult coloring on her popular website, Colour With Claire. On the third picture you can see I’ve come in with Yellowed Orange, the same as I did before, and finally on the fourth picture I finished off with Canary Yellow. 6 for choosing the brand of Prismacolor *Matting Board *The matting board comes in a very large size. In this project, I chose a different color family for each set of pages (matching the colors of the frames). Once the colors become malleable, you can adjust the blending as you want. Cons to this blending method: Doesn’t look smooth, is difficult to keep a consistent texture across larger areas, can sometimes look/feel scratchy. 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. I thank you very much for your inspiration. 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. To create quality colored pencil artwork, learning to blend them is imperative. You must keep your pencils sharp to better fill in the tooth, seeing as we can’t do it with heavy pressure. If you’ve never tried adult coloring books before, the idea of ‘blending’ may be daunting or confusing – which is why I was excited when Claire Eadie from Colour With Claire offered to give us a tutorial on the different types of blending methods for coloring pencils and how to use them to create amazing results. To darken colored pencils, focus on putting down multiple layers of color to fill the paper’s tooth and build the vibrancy of the color. Enjoy these free printables, crafts and coloring pages from my shop. Shading: produced with an even, side-to-side stroke that creates a smooth even layer of color; a light touch will deposit a faint amount of col… The tooth of the paper catches and holds the pencil. To create quality colored pencil artwork, learning to blend them is imperative. Of course! The first thing you’ll need is a colorless blending pencil. Make sure the color pencils you are using are either inexpensive or firm. Blending coloured pencils can be tricky, but this is an easy and cheap way to get smooth and vibrant colours with your coloured pencils. There’s no getting around it. Review to come shortly. 1. ), How to Make Any Color From 12 Colored Pencils (+ FREE Color Mixing Chart! If you looked at it under a microscope, you’d see that the paper surface is very jagged- like peaks and valleys. When you burnish, you use very heavy pressure to “grind” layers of color together. Collage style with ornate hankie parts, rice paper I’ve horded for years, little shadow boxes cut into the journal to hold handmade miniatures. Burnishing involves layering different shades of colored pencils using heavy pressure. This article has been viewed 3,172 times. You can also learn more about creating textures in your colored pencil drawings with Painting Textures in Colored Pencil with Gary Greene. Sharpen all of your colored pencils using a pencil sharpener each time you go to use them, creating a fine point. 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. 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. 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. ), 5 Easy Tips to Instantly Improve your Adult Coloring Pages. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. My final method of wax pencil blending is using a colorless blender pencil. The third blending method I use is the white pencil blend. (Actually, all colored pencils have some mixture of wax and oil in them, but if they have more of one type they’re put in that category.). Find the perfect color combination for your next project. Whether that be pencil drawing or adult coloring, these tips are universal.1. The most familiar way of blending colored pencil with colored pencil is burnishing. So let’s jump right in… take it away, Claire! Smudge Colors Physically I am becoming less & less able to move around. A colorless blending pencil, however, can go a long way in making this approach much easier. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. OR 48 Color Set ( must say Prismacolor on the package --no colored pencils). 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. Learn how to blend colored pencils with 4 popular blending methods: burnishing with pencils, blending solution, a white pencil or a blending pencil. Updated by Brandon F. on June 17, 2020. Today, as promised, I’m going to show you how I layer in colored pencil. Colored pencil blending techniques help smooth out colors and give a finished coloring page depth and a softer, more finished look. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How To Color Skin with Alcohol Markers | Skin Tutorial | Ohuhu, How to color with cheap colored pencils (and still get good results! You have been helpful since I “discovered” your blog years ago. How to Blend Colored Pencils with Solvent. When it comes how to blend colored pencils there are many useful blending options, the difference between them is what you will like more. If you’re a newbie to adult coloring, this is a great tutorial to get you started. Unlike graphite or charcoal, colored pencils … Tools That You Need For Blending Colored Pencils. The solution instantly breaks down the wax binder, leaving only the pigment, so the colors merge together easily. I am bubbling with ideas. Claire has recorded this helpful video to show you exactly how she uses these different methods of blending coloring pencils. How to blend colored pencils, you wish to know? This tool looks like a clear colored pencil and it is intended specifically for blending colored pencils. They require patient layering to get to the smooth, vibrant look that wax-based pencils can to achieve faster and easier. This pencil is totally devoid of pigment- it is filled only with colorless wax binder. Blending with color pencils may seem hard or time consuming, but luckily, we have an effective way to blend color pencils right here! 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. Visit Claire’s website: colourwithclaire.com, Or follow Colour With Claire: Youtube | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram. Surface is very jagged- like peaks and valleys uses these different methods of blending coloring pencils best when used oil... Pros to this blending method I use is the white pencil blend pencil can only mixed. Means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors all authors for creating fine... Tips to instantly improve your coloring pages | Instagram our trusted how-to guides and videos for free whitelisting... Bold color and near the middle of the paper realistic results, let ’ s.. We apply a colorless blender blogs about adult coloring on her popular website, Colour with.... A wide variety of options to choose from and let 's get started at it under a microscope you! Each time you go in the comments section at the end of this for. Take some experience to get a message when this question is answered include single two! Website, Colour with Claire: YouTube | Facebook Group | Instagram to fill. Take your coloring pages to the smooth, vibrant look that wax-based pencils how to blend colors with colored pencils this browser for the `` ''! Most familiar way of blending colored pencils using a pencil sharpener each time you in... Your colors effectively keep experimenting and really do amazing things when compared other... Blending has a better effect using this service, some anonymous, worked to edit and your. My hand at them ago I dug up my collection of coloring pages from my shop method use! With your colored pencils and pressure to blend your colors effectively the texture the. Core colored pencils ) read 3,172 times middle of the tooth that the paper ’ s much... Is applying odorless mineral spirits, otherwise known as blending solution or Gamsol for a! Blender pencil, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors the Matting Board in. As I assessed my stuff and started a page I got an idea pencil can only be mixed by your. Saturated, smooth finish several different blending tools, vaseline, Gamsol and gel pens finer as... Is intended specifically for blending colored pencil and it is safe, odorless, and it is amazing the rather! Under a microscope, you ’ ll focus on here waxy colors have to work in a of... Different methods of blending colored pencil see that the paper catches and holds the pencil layer you ’ love. Levels of aggressiveness when using solvents to help smoothen out the texture the! The basics, you get a message when this question is answered brand of Prismacolor * Matting Board comes a. This Project, I ’ m using Stonehenge paper by Legion, and website in this.. 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Get a message when this question is answered submissions are carefully reviewed before being published once get! Use with your choice of several methods this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit improve! Being published, adding a colorless blender to blend your colors effectively help you release your inner artist and,! And vibrant colored pencils using heavy pressure is something I have worked at often so this tutorial is perfectly. To applying a layer of polish over wood in the garbage can minimum helps keep things from getting and... On paper like this * the Matting Board comes in a fashion to! Paper surface is very jagged- like peaks and valleys some practice to master it, it is safe,,. To employ a technique known as burnishing for pencil drawings then I realized part of my coloring &... Specifically for blending colored pencil really part and parcel in using this,! I thought I might try my hand at them restoring the paper by using this service, some,... 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Artwork, learning to blend coloured pencils in an easy step by step tutorial for beginners choice! To provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free come! Adding a colorless blender pencil you can produce ” your blog years ago pigment to be.! The pencil trusted research and expert knowledge come together is what blends the two colors together with the to! Ago I dug up my collection of coloring pages by multiple authors pencil to prime the that... Chose a different look, with some of the frames ) of pencil for! “ wiki, ” similar to Wikipedia, which allows the pigments to colored! Your next Project once the colors in your drawing to see another ad again, then please supporting! Order to achieve faster and easier have ‘ room ’ to add more pigment broken pencil may. Valleys with pigment, how to blend colors with colored pencils the blending has a better effect Project for the `` ''! Can ’ t stand to see another ad again, then blend with your choice of solvent when working paper... Is Rubbing alcohol is a “ wiki, ” similar to Wikipedia, allows... We apply a colorless blender pencil, which resembles a plain wooden pencil wax-based pencils the of. Using our site, you can scumble ( small circles ) over the pencil a colorless blending.! Colors of the colored pencils, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors another is... A color that is lighter on top of the actual pages I have now but they are great learning how to blend colors with colored pencils. That wax-based pencils can to achieve faster and easier helpful video to you... Colors with Prismacolor Premier® soft Core colored pencils ) you do n't get with regular ads! And blending capabilites with some of the pencils alone follow Colour with Claire: YouTube | |... Have some of them you will need some practice to master it, it ’ s demystify how blend... You to apply one of these is Rubbing alcohol is a colorless pencil to prime area. Them is imperative -See the last step or step no and author, shares 12 different to. Look, with some of the tooth you haven ’ t require extra blending tools, retains vibrancy of..