Colored pencils are a portable, easy-to-use medium that is perfect for sketching, using coloring books, and even producing professional-grade drawings. Blending colored pencils with solvent is one way to expand the versatility of your colored pencils.
You can blend colored pencils with solvents in a variety of ways. One of the easiest is to purchase a set of watercolor pencils, which are made to use with water. Another way is to use a blending pencil that can be used over the top of colored pencils or to use a blending medium made for colored pencils, such as mineral oil. You can even use a variety of household oils with your colored pencils.
Varieties of Colored Pencils for Blending
Colored pencils are available in three main types: graphite, wax, and oil. The blending medium that will work best with your colored pencils will depend upon the type of colored pencil.
Graphite-based pencils
Such assets that are sold as watercolor pencils can be blended with water as their primary medium. Watercolor painting techniques can easily be used with these pencils. Some things to remember include using the color of the paper as part of the color mixing, the inability to erase or correct errors, and the ability to use the liquid properties of water to move the color.
Wax-based pencils
It will respond to blending in much the same way as wax crayons. This means that they can be used as a resistant border in watercolor pictures. By the same token, their color can be “set” or spread using solvents that will dissolve the wax, leaving only the pigment.
Oil-based pencils
These are naturally easy to blend. They can be added lightly, taking advantage of the “tooth” of the paper or other medium to which they are being applied. A paper stomp, fingers, or even a facial tissue can be used to gently spread the pigment. By adding a solvent, their color can be turned into a wash or can be lightly blended as the solvent dissolves the oil binder, leaving behind the pigment.
Solvents
A solvent is anything that can be used to dissolve something else. Therefore, water, mineral oil, wax solvents (such as are available as a solid in tins), various household oils, and even cosmetic items such as lotions can be used as solvents. Not all solvents will behave in the same way, however. Some work well when applied before adding color, and some work better when the color is applied after the solvent. Here is a short list of some possible solvents for your colored pencil use.
Water
It works best as a solvent when used with graphite or another water-soluble dye medium. If you are using watercolor colored pencils, you can simply apply the color to your page, then use a small brush, paper stomp, or Q-tip to apply the moisture.
Mineral Oil
It is often the recommended solvent for wax or oil-based pencils. It can be applied to the page before or after the pencil, or even as a step in a process, depending upon the effect desired. When combined with various pencil blending techniques, such as contour lines, hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, or a light application of color mixed with burnishing, it helps smooth the transitions from one color to another.
Solid Coconut Oil
A common kitchen ingredient, is an excellent substitute for mineral oil. It can be applied with fingers or with a paper stomp. When applied to the paper before the pencil, it facilitates the smooth application of color. When applied after the application of color, it gently blends the color, producing a jewel-tone brilliance to the color.
Peanut oil (when poured off the top of natural peanut butter)
It produces a slightly muddier effect and works best when applied after the pencil has been used. Because it tends to retain a little color from the peanut butter, it is a good choice for areas when a dim, dingy color might be desired such as a wall in a grimy hut, or the earth of a pathway.
Butter
It does not work well as a solvent, even though it is an organic oil. It seems to lift almost all of the pigment, leaving no color behind.
Check out more blending techniques HERE.
Some Blending Techniques
- Hatching. Apply before using a solvent. Use one color or use two or three to create an interesting blend. This technique can be used with blending sticks, coconut oil, mineral oil, or even peanut oil.
- Burnishing. Flattens the tooth of the paper. Begin by applying the color or a series of colors lightly, layering, and feathering the edges. Carefully paint the solvent on top using a paper stump, a paintbrush, or even a twisted corner of a paper towel. Use a dry applicator to spread the blending medium, then go back over the color lightly once it has dried. Burnishing can be done using only the pencils themselves or with a blending pencil. It can also be done with mineral oil, coconut oil, or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Shading. Solvents can also be used to develop deep, saturated colors that are perfect for use as colored shadows, rich fabric folds, or even delicate flower petals. Begin by applying your darkest shades, then apply a small amount of solvent over both the color and white space. Use the solvent to gently spread the color. Caution is required with some of the more liquid solvents to prevent creating a muddy color.
- Oils and Color. When you are using an oil as your solvent you will need to take the same care to keep the colors pure and bright as you might with an oil painting. When working with oil, it is easy to overwork an area. The results will be either developing over-mixed muddy colors or destroying the tooth of the paper or medium, or both. Therefore you might want to practice the technique on a separate page before using it directly on your picture.
- Water as Solvent. One of the delightful things about watercolor is its translucence, and its ability to bead up over wax or oil colors. This holds when working with watercolor pencils and using water as your solvent. You can develop some exceptionally lovely mixed medium results, as follows:
- Lay down base colors with watercolor techniques. Use your watercolor pencils to outline or shade certain parts of your picture, then use a brush lightly dipped in water to spread the color. When the base color dries, you can come back with your watercolor pencils, or you can use wax or oil crayons to create features that you wish to have “pop” out from the background.
- Crayon resist. Use wax or oil pencils to draw the main features, then use watercolor pencils to begin filling in blocks of color. Again, brush gently with water. If desired, use an oil solvent to spread some of the pigment from wax or oil-based. This will produce some serendipitous results, so be prepared to be flexible with your work. J
- Using solvent to make highlights. Here is a place where butter and similar oils can shine: removing color or lessening color from areas of saturated color to create highlights. A paper stomp is an ideal implement for the careful placement of a solvent that will soak up color and remove it. If the solvent is a paste, it is not difficult to apply and remove it. Just touch the area with an applicator, then use a tissue to wick away any excess oil or water. If it is a liquid, the process is similar but care should be taken not to allow it to run – unless that is the desired effect.
Making Your Background Part of the Picture
Colored pencils can be used on a variety of surfaces, including various grades and types of paper, Masonite, cardboard, and even wood. These surfaces will, of course, affect the results of the picture. Various colors of paper or another background will also affect your picture.
A good general rule is to use watercolor pencils on light-colored, mildly absorbent backgrounds. For darker backgrounds, use wax-colored pencils, or better yet, use oil. The color coverage is better, allowing creative use of contrast. Of course, on the latter, you are likely to achieve your best results with an oil solvent.
Experiment with different combinations until you are confident that you know how your solvents, colors, and background material will respond in any given situation. Create examples and make notes about how you achieved each effect.
This makes it easy to replicate your results. You might think of it as applying the scientific method to your artistic efforts. Or you can think of it as creating a recipe, just as you might for an end-of-the-paycheck refrigerator soup – just in case it turns out great and you want to know how to create the dish twice.
Do not forget to have fun with your art. Having fun gives a lightness to your touch, which adds that quality often referred to as “painterliness.” Also, it helps you to recognize when you have achieved your desired result, as well as take the pressure off if an experiment just does not turn out well. Not even Michelangelo went directly from stick figures to the Mona Lisa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are commercially produced solvents easier to use than items from your kitchen cupboard?
It depends on the item. A blending stick is made specifically to use with colored pencils and is easy to apply and control. But solid coconut oil is probably as easy to apply as mineral oil.
If I use peanut oil as a solvent, should I be concerned about allergies?
If you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, it is probably best not to use peanut oil. However, it can be a fun texture to experiment with if allergies are not an issue.
Can I use an unorthodox blending medium when coloring on vellum?
That depends on the medium. If you are unsure, test your blending medium on a scrap of vellum before using it on your composition.
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