One of the best things about using colored pencils is their blendability. While wet mediums like markers or paint may seem easier to blend, they can get away from you. Colored pencils allow for more control, but you need to know how to blend to unlock their full potential.
There are three beginner-friendly ways to blend colored pencils:
- Using colored pencils to burnish
- Using dry materials to push the pigments together
- Using solvents to dissolve the binder and allow free pigment movement
Blending colored pencils is not as hard as it seems, especially when you have the right materials. These techniques may differ in process, but they are simple and do not require fancy materials or tools. Read on to learn what steps are involved in each of these blending methods.
Using the Right Materials
Using higher-quality materials will give you a better shot at blending colored pencils. If you can choose your paper, look for something with more tooth or texture. The paper should not feel smooth under your hand. The variation in fiber length is important for giving the colored pencil something to hold onto. If the fibers are too short, they might break off or fail to hold pigment.
You should be safe choosing heavier-weight paper, but make sure you do a paper test before committing to it. Cheaper colored pencils that have a chalky application or break easily will give you a headache when it comes to blending. Look for softer cores; they are easier to manipulate on paper.
Some beginner-friendly colored pencils that blend well are:
- Prismacolor
- Arteza
- Amazon Basics
- Traditional Crayola colored pencils blend well, and they have a softer-cored set dedicated to blending and shading.
Blending Using the Colored Pencils Themselves
The least extensive way of blending colored pencils is by using them to burnish your work. This is usually done using a lighter color that fits in with what you are blending, but you can use a dedicated colorless blender in the same way. Being mindful of your layers is important in general, but when you are using colored pencils to blend, you should pay extra attention to how they interact. It is best to start with lighter colors and move to darker colors at the end.
Put downlighter layers. You should use pressure heavy enough to get pigment on the page but light enough that it does not flatten the tooth of the page. You can always add an extra layer if you feel like it is not enough, but there is no way of lifting a single layer.
The colors will blend as you apply them, but you need to finish the piece off by burnishing. This involves using heavy pressure to mix the pigments, and it is best done with a blunt pencil. Sharpened pencils break with the pressure, and they are more likely to scratch at the pigment than blend it.
Pick a lighter color than the area you will be blending, but make sure it will not interfere much with the value you seek. It is never a bad idea to test out a blend before committing to it. Most people use small, circular motions to blend colored pencils, but you can do what works best for your piece. When you are done blending, you can decide whether you need more of a certain color.
Blending with a Colorless Blender
When using a colorless blender, you can use the same method as above. Colorless blenders are great for blending without modifying the color, and they tend to be softer than colored pencils. If this is your intended method of blending, you should put a layer of the colorless blender on the page before any pigment. This layer prevents pigment from sticking to the page, making it easier to move around and blend. This is especially helpful with darker colors.
Blending Using Dry Materials
Using dry materials is the middle ground of blending. You are using an outside tool to blend the color, but you are not modifying the binder at all. With this method, you need to apply more pigment before you blend because it will come off onto your blending material.
While you can use special tools like blending stumps and trillions, household items usually get the job done. Some things to try are:
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
Anything that is soft but provides a bit of friction should be able to move pigment on the page. If you are working in a large area, it is better to use paper towels, toilet paper, or cotton balls. Fold them into a manageable size and use heavy pressure while rubbing the dry material over that area.
For more detailed spots, it is better to go with blending stumps, tortillions, or cotton swabs. You should use light pressure to avoid breaking your blending tool or tearing through the page, but make sure it is enough to blend. You may need to add more pigment and repeat the process, but this gives the piece a softer look than burnishing using colored pencils.
Blending Using Solvents
The most aggressive method for blending involves using chemicals to break down the binder and allow pigments to move freely. The most common solvents are:
- 70% rubbing alcohol
- Odorless mineral spirits
- Turpentine
Before you use solvents in your work, you need to test out how they interact with the paper. Not all paper is strong enough to resist warping or buckling when a solvent is applied, and colors may react differently than you expect. When working with rubbing alcohol, you should expect a light blend. This solvent is less potent, and you can use cotton balls, cotton swabs, or paintbrushes to apply it to your art and move the pigment around.
With odorless mineral spirits and turpentine, you will get a complete breakdown. This is great for darker or more stubborn colors, but you need to watch out for total pigment removal. Start by applying a small amount using a bristle or soft brush. Try to avoid going beyond two blends. At that point, you are more likely to damage the piece than blend it.
If you find that you need a more aggressive solvent, then rubber cement thinner should get the job done. This is a more toxic substance, and it is more capable of melting the color. Using proper safety measures is especially important with rubber cement thinner.
Using Solvents Safely
Because solvents can be a bit intense, it is best to work in a well-ventilated area away from children and pets. Your work surface should either be covered or something you are not worried about ruining; most solvents work great at removing the finish from tables.
Clean both the area and your supplies thoroughly when you are done, and double-check that the solvent containers are closed and put away. You should give your art at least an hour to dry but overnight works best. From that point, you can decide whether more work is necessary or you have succeeded.
Troubleshooting Blending for Beginners
Even if you use the process perfectly, you can still run into issues. Here are a few common blending problems and ways you can fix them.
The color is too dark after blending
If you end up with a darker blend than you want, you need to try layering a lighter color. This works better with a burnished finish because you can still manipulate the binder. If the final product has issues with blending because of the burnishing, you can move up to one of the more aggressive blending methods.
The pigment is not moving
If the pigment is not moving, you might not have enough of it on the paper. A lot will stick to the paper, and then you need more on top of that to move around and blend. This may not be the case with every color; some are just resistant to moving, and in those cases, you need to use a stronger blending tool.
Colors are applied rough
You will usually have a hard time putting down layers with cheaper colored pencils, but even quality brands have issues. You can try warming up the pencils by setting them (in their tin) on something warm in your home. This will soften the binder and make it easier to lay down the color.
Check out more colored pencil tips HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of colored pencils are easiest to blend?
Watercolor pencils are the easiest to blend because they were made to mimic the soft appearance of watercolor paint. They are followed by wax-based colored pencils that have a softer core and then oil-based colored pencils.
Can you blend oil and wax-based colored pencils with water?
Oil and wax-based colored pencils cannot be blended with water. Their binders are hydrophobic, meaning that they will repel water, meaning it would be ineffective at dissolving the binder to allow pigment to move freely.
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