So you’ve finally decided to give colored pencils a shot, congratulations! It’s hard to beat colored pencils as an art medium, due to their versatility and convenience. Fortunately, they’re also super easy to get started with, which is great news for beginner colored pencil artists.
Beginners can get started using colored pencils by experimenting with the following techniques:
-
-
- Back and Forth Stroke
- Hatching
- Cross Hatching
- Stippling
- Scumbling
- Blending
- Layering
- Shading
- Hatch or Stipple Contouring
- Choosing Colors
- Mixing Media
-
If you’re brand new to colored pencil art, you might not have any idea what some of these techniques are. That’s okay – we all have to start somewhere! Just follow this guide and you’ll have them mastered in no time! The following are the most common colored pencil techniques that beginners will benefit from learning. They can add interest and depth to your colored pencil art, and increase your repertoire of skills in the medium.
Back and Forth Stroke
The back-and-forth strokes are so basic, that it doesn’t even seem worth mentioning at first glance. This, of course, is the standard parallel sweeping motion that you’ve probably been coloring with since childhood.
But there are a few things to keep in mind when using this stroke for colored pencil art:
-
-
- Less Is More: When starting with colored pencils, a lot of beginners use a heavy hand. For the most part, it’s better to use light pressure and build the color up gradually by going over it, since it’s a lot easier to add color than to take it away if you use too much pressure.
- Start Light: following the same logic, it’s often helpful to start by coloring lighter areas before darker ones, since it will be easier to cover up any light mistakes using the darker color.
- Follow the Lines: try to keep in mind what you’re coloring when you decide what direction your strokes go in. For example, horizons and skies tend to look best when a horizontal stroke is used, and a field of grass might look better using a vertical stroke to mimic the blades of grass.
-
Hatching
Hatching is a fancy way of saying parallel lines. Not to be confused with the back-and-forth stroke that all blends, hatching is the use of parallel lines that don’t touch, essentially stripes. This technique is useful for covering a lot of space with less work, and can also add some textural interest to your piece. It’s one of the easiest techniques to learn, making it perfect for beginners. Try hatching using different angles in a few sections of the picture for added effect.
Cross Hatching
Cross-hatching is a technique that takes hatching to the next level. As you might be able to guess from the name, cross-hatching involves hatching that intersects or crosses. This forms almost a plaid-like pattern and is also great for covering large areas and adding texture. Cross-hatching can be done on a large scale to fill in backgrounds or can be used in smaller areas for contouring and shading. The thing to remember with cross-hatching is that the closer together the lines are, the darker or deeper the area will appear. Of course, the opposite applies, too – areas will appear lighter or closer to the viewer if using lines that are more spread out.
Stippling
Stippling serves many of the same purposes as hatching and cross-hatching do:
-
-
- Filling large areas quickly
- Adding interest to a picture
- Adding a sense of depth
-
With stippling, though, instead of using lines, you use dots. Just dab or flick your pencil tip on the page repeatedly, making a speckled pattern. Just like hatching and cross-hatching, dots that are closer together will appear darker, and the ones further apart will seem lighter.
Scumbling
Scumbling is another technique that many of us instinctively picked up while coloring as children, though most of us don’t realize it until it’s pointed out. This technique involves making continuous tiny circles that overlap, much like the back-and-forth technique but in a circular motion.
This technique can be used for:
-
-
- Adding texture, especially to clothing and fabrics
- Ensuring full coverage
- As a base for blending
-
Use a light hand with scumbling and build up color by going over it, rather than pressing hard to deposit a lot of colors right away.
Blending
One of the joys of learning to use colored pencils is learning to blend with them. Blending can be used to:
-
-
- Reduce or eliminate stroke marks
- Miix multiple colors or shades together
- Create fading effects
-
To blend, use a tool like a sponge or even your finger to rub over the color, effectively smudging it. You can enhance the blend-ability by using a small amount of:
-
-
- Mineral oil
- Rubbing alcohol
-
Blending is another one of those techniques that are fundamental to colored pencil art – every beginner should practice it.
Layering
Layering is just what it sounds like – using multiple layers of colored pencil on top of one another. You can do this to:
-
- suggest depth
- add interest
- create new colors
Experiment with layering different colors as well as with layering different shades of the same color. Take note of the effect of each and keep it in mind the next time you’re coloring or drawing.
Shading
Shading is the process of coloring in such a way that you mimic the way that light hits an object, to suggest depth and dimension. A talented colorist can shade so well that their images appear to leap off the page because they seem so real.
Some different ways of shading are:
-
- Using darker shades of the same color for darker areas
- Using heavier strokes or built-up color for darker areas, using the same pencil the whole time
Shading is a crucial technique if you want to add a sense of realism to your art, and it takes some practice to get right. Keep at it and you’ll get it down in no time.
Hatch or Stipple Contouring
Rather than using straight lines or random patterns, you can use hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling along contours as a form of shading. As mentioned earlier, the closer together these patterns are, the deeper or darker the area will appear, and the highlights or lighter areas will be where the patterns are sparser.
Choosing Colors
An important part of creating all visual art, colored pencil art included, is making use of color schemes. We strongly recommend that beginners familiarize themselves with the artist’s color wheel, to get an idea of what certain color combinations are generally used for.
For example, using contrasting colors, like purple and orange, can lend a sense of vibrancy to your piece, as opposed to complementary muted colors like blue and aqua, which will have a more calming result.
Mixing Media
Creating mixed media art pieces with colored pencils can be a lot of fun, and can result in unique work that you’ll love.
Try mixing colored pencils with:
-
- Markers
- Gel pens
- Paint
- Ink
Remember, the more you experiment, the sooner you’ll find the perfect techniques for you.
Best Colored Pencils for Beginners
Before you try any of the above-colored pencil techniques, you’ll need to find some decent colored pencils. If you’re a complete beginner, the basic colored pencils that you can pick up at any drugstore will do just fine. But eventually, it might be a good idea to try a couple of different types, to get a feel for what you like best. Below are the three types of colored pencils for beginners to try.
Wax-Based
Wa-based colored pencils are by far the most common type available, especially for beginners. The wax base helps them glide smoothly on the page, depositing color easily. Of course, each brand is different, and some wax pencils are harder or softer than others, and some have richer pigmentation. Try a few to find a brand that you prefer.
Water-Soluble
Water-soluble colored pencils are also sometimes called watercolor pencils because they act very much like watercolor paint when combined with water. Adding water to the page before or after coloring with water-soluble pencils will cause the color to pool and blend, perfect for achieving traditional watercolor effects like color washes and color fades.
If you’re switching over to colored pencils from watercolor paints, water-soluble colored pencils might be a natural choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more traditional colored pencil, you might be happier overall with oil or wax-based ones.
Oil-Based
Oil-based colored pencils are less common than the other two types and are primarily designed for artists. This might mean a higher quality pencil, but it also means a higher price tag to reflect that.
Oil-based pencils tend to contain harder lead than wax-based ones, reducing the need for sharpening. They might be worth checking out if you color with a heavy hand or use lots of thick layering since they’re not prone to the dreaded wax bloom like wax-based pencils are.
Check out our recommendations for colored pencils HERE!
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what techniques work best with colored pencils, you’re ready to get started! All you need are some colored pencils and some paper, and you’re ready to start using colored pencils like a pro – even if you’re still a beginner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best surface for practicing colored pencil art?
Colored pencils work well on a variety of surfaces, including paper and canvas. It is recommended that beginners practice using inexpensive printer paper or sketchbooks designed for the purpose.
How can beginners improve their colored pencil art?
Beginner colored pencil artists can improve their art by practicing regularly and experimenting with new techniques. Finding online and in-person groups of artists who share tips and techniques can also lead to marked improvement.
Maximize the benefits of coloring with my free adult coloring eBook and by signing up for my email newsletter HERE!
Disclaimer: The information provided by ColoringMasterpiece.com (“The Site”) is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. Under no circumstance shall we have any liability to you for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the Site or Reliance on any information provided on the Site. Your use of the Site and your reliance on any information on the Site is solely at your own risk. This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Terms and Conditions: https://coloringmasterpiece.com/terms-and-conditions/
