If you’ve been experimenting with the medium of colored pencils, you might be looking to branch out and explore using different surfaces for your artwork. Colored pencils can be used on several surfaces with varying success, but this article will focus on the canvas.
Do colored pencils work on canvas? Colored pencils work on canvas and can be used alone or along with other materials, such as paints. The effect will differ depending on the canvas’s texture, the type of colored pencil used, and whether or not the canvas has been primed beforehand.
There are a few things to consider when using colored pencils on canvas, depending on the look you’re trying to achieve.
How Canvas Differs From Paper
Drawing on canvas differs from drawing on paper in a few ways, partly because of the textural difference and partly because canvas behaves differently than paper does.
Some of the main differences you’ll notice when using colored pencils on canvas are:
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- Unless you use primer, work done on canvas will often have a white-speckled appearance due to the uneven surface showing through
- Canvas wears down pencils faster than paper does, especially rough or unprimed canvas.
- It can be harder to erase mistakes on canvas.
- Pressing hard with the pencil will make more noticeable indents than on paper.
- Stretched canvas caves in when you apply pressure, making it harder to rest your hand on while drawing
Choosing Your Canvas
Now that you’re aware of the differences between using canvas and paper for colored pencil artwork, you can better decide what kind of canvas you want to start with. The canvas choices are endless, and each one will produce a different result when used with colored pencils.
Stretched Canvas
Stretched canvas is generally made from either linen or cotton and comes in various sizes, weights, and textures.
Smooth
The smoother canvas acts more like paper than rough canvas, and it is better for harder pencils and more detailed work. If you want a smoother canvas, you can apply gesso, a primer that painters often use to prep their canvases. Gesso’s original intention was to keep the canvas from soaking up paint, but the main benefit of colored pencil work will be creating a smoother surface to work on. For an extra-smooth surface, you can apply multiple layers of gesso, sanding in between each one. Canvas sold for watercolors is an excellent example of a smoother-grade canvas, though most linen or finely woven cotton canvases will work.
Rough
Rough canvas is useful for soft-grade pencils and larger-scale works. You don’t need to prime rougher canvas for use with colored pencils, but if you’d like to make a canvas rougher, you can use pastel ground to make it more toothy. Keep in mind, the rougher or “toothier” a canvas is, the more quickly it will eat up your pencil.
Canvas Panels
Canvas panels are pieces of wood or hardboard with canvas glued to one side. They come in many sizes, in both smooth and rough canvas. Panels don’t sink in the way stretched canvas does, which can make them better for use with colored pencils, especially hard pencils that you’ll need to apply more pressure. However, they don’t hold up as well as a stretched canvas over time, making them better for practice or work that you’re not planning to keep around forever.
Canvas Pads
Canvas pads are spiral-bound notebooks with pages made from either canvas or canvas paper. The pages can be stretched or bound or used as-is. Canvas pads are great for students, and practice works since they’re inexpensive. If you’re starting with colored pencils on canvas, canvas pads can be a good option while you get a feel for it.
Canvas Rolls
Canvas rolls are large quantities of unstretched canvas cheaper in the long run than buying pre-stretched canvases. However, they can be costly upfront since you’ll be buying in bulk, so most artists recommend waiting until you’re more experienced and are confident that it will be worth the expense. If you have other students or artists who might be willing to split the cost with you, it still might be worth looking into, though.
Choosing Your Pencils
There are two main categories of colored pencils:
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- Artist-grade
- Student grade
It’s essential to choose what works best for you, depending on your experience, preferences, and budget.
Artist Grade Colored Pencils
Artist-grade pencils are softer, contain more pigment, and fadeless when exposed to light over time, compared with student-grade ones. They’re also easy to blend, making them super versatile. They’re also more expensive, though, so they’re recommended for intermediate or advanced artists. Canvas eats up pencils much more quickly than paper does, so keep that in mind as well when deciding how much to spend on pencils you’ll be using on canvas.
Student Grade Colored Pencils
Student-grade pencils are colored pencils that you can buy anywhere outside of art supply stores, like the grocery store. They’re stiffer and contain less pigment, requiring more force to put down the color, and are not formulated to withstand sunlight over time.
Harder student pencils can be sharpened to a finer point than softer pencils, though, so they’re great for detailed work. They’re also very inexpensive, making them the ideal choice for students, hobbyists, and anyone just starting with the medium.
Colored Pencil Types
In addition to artist or student grades, colored pencils are broken down into three main types:
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- Wax-based
- Oil-based
- Water-soluble
As is the case with paints, different artists prefer different mediums, depending on the look they’re trying to achieve.
Wax-Based
Wax-based colored pencils are the most widely available and are suitable for layering and blending. These can be used on any canvas, but the softer artist grades work better on toothier canvas than harder student grades or the water-soluble pencils we’ll discuss below. The soft wax glides on smoothly, but it doesn’t hold a point very well, so these pencils require frequent sharpening. The main drawback of wax-based pencils is something called “wax bloom,” which leads to a hazy white film over time if the pencil is applied in a thick layer. The work can be wiped off and sealed if this happens, so it’s not a huge issue.
Oil-Based
Oil-based colored pencils are so similar to wax-based ones that the two can be used together. However, oil-based pencils are much less common and are only available in more expensive artist grades. Like wax-based pencils, oil-based pencils layer and blend well, but they’re firmer and more versatile. Oil-based pencils can be sharpened to a finer point, making them better for more detailed work. Because they’re firmer, they also hold a point for longer than wax-based ones do.
Water Soluble
Water-soluble colored pencils are more rigid than wax or oil-based pencils and can be used wet or dry. Because they’re more rigid, don’t glide and layer the way oil and wax-based ones do and don’t offer full coverage when used dry. Water-soluble colored pencils can be used in much the same way as watercolor paints and are great for mixed-medium works.
If you want to experiment with using water-soluble pencils, try:
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- Drawing on the canvas, then going over it with a wet brush or sponge
- Dip the pencil point in water before drawing
- Wet the canvas with a brush or sponge before drawing
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Water-soluble colored pencils are more widely available than oil-based pencils and come in both artist and student grades.
Want to learn more about how to use colored pencils correctly? Check out our article here to learn more!
Using Colored Pencils for Mixed-Media Works on Canvas
Colored pencils are so versatile they can be used on surfaces from paper to wood to canvas. While they’re great alone, using them with other mediums can lead to unique artwork.
Underpainting
Underpainting can give work more depth, enhancing contrast and color values. While traditionally done with paint (hence the name), underpainting can be effectively done with colored pencils. Try underpainting with colored pencils, spraying a fixative layer over the top, and doing the final painting with oil paints. Alternately, paint onto the canvas with water-soluble pencils, then use oil or wax-based pencils over the top.
Adding Detail to Oil Paintings
Colored pencils can be used on top of oil paintings to create fine detail. Some artists hesitate to do this due to the possibility of pencil scratch marks showing on the painting and recommend sealing the painting first, but others say this isn’t necessary. Although this can create amazing effects, make sure to try it out on a painting that you’re experimenting with, rather than one of your favorites. This advice holds for any experimentation you’re doing, of course, but it’s worth mentioning.
Final Thoughts
Because of their ease of use and inexpensive price point, colored pencils are perfect for experimenting. They work well on various surfaces, including canvas, and can be used alone or in conjunction with other mediums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Seal My Colored Pencil Artwork?
Some artists prefer sealing their work to protect it from smudging, wax bloom, dirt, and dust. Others worry that the sealant will discolor the artwork, so prefer not to use it.
How Can I Seal My Colored Pencil Artwork?
Colored pencil artwork can be protected by spraying a coat of fixative over the finished product. Fixative comes in both matte and glossy finishes. To prevent discoloration, make sure to use a high-quality product and test on a sample artwork first.
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