I remember cursing blending in high school. My first-year art teacher refused to let us use anything other than our basic set of Prismacolors to blend, and that was a task. Luckily, my second-year art teacher introduced me to clear colored pencils.
Clear-colored pencils (also known as colorless blender pencils) do all the hard work of blending for us. Clear-colored pencils are great for merging colors, softening edges, and unifying your color blends.
They saved me hours of back and forth with pigment, but they’re valuable beyond the time you may save. There are many reasons that so many artists use and swear by them.
What are clear colored pencils used for?
Clear-colored pencils can be used for several things. Generally speaking, they’re a blending tool. Layers of colors not quite merging the way you envisioned? A clear colored pencil can help. Need to soften the edges of something without compromising its color? Reach for that clear colored pencil.
Those beautiful ombre blends you see on so many pieces of art are likely done with a blender, especially if the artist is using colored pencils. It isn’t that pigmented colored pencils aren’t great blending tools on their own; colorless blending pencils just happen to simplify the process, and they can usually do it in a way that doesn’t compromise the initial integrity of the piece.
How do you use a clear colored pencil?
The first thing you’ll want to pay attention to is the paper you’re using. Typically, the cheaper paper has shorter fibers that can break off and fail to hold pigment. These fibers also flatten easily as you work, and the paper is prone to distortion and tears. You want thicker paper that has a bit of a texture to it. The texture will allow you to lay down adequate layers for blending, and it gives the colors room to mix and work with each other. Layer your colors as you normally would, but pay attention to these layers. You want to leave room for the colorless blender to work.
Some people prefer to put down a layer of the colorless blender pencil first. The claim is that this prevents darker colors from sticking to the paper fibers, so you’ll want to test your pencils on paper before committing to any one method. Regardless, when you start laying down color start with your lightest colors and then progress up the value. When you’re finished putting down the color you can move in with the clear-colored pencil. Keep the tip sharp so you can use less pressure, and blend using circular or oval patterns. This will keep hard lines from showing up in your work, and it just gives you a better blend all around.
If you’re using the clear colored pencil to burnish you’ll use more pressure than if you were blending. In these cases, you may want to use a pencil that is more worn down. Take your time, of course, and pay attention to your instincts throughout the process. Blending is laborious, but it pays off.
What are some recommended clear colored pencils?
Art supply shopping can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re expanding your tools, so here are a few recommended products.
- Caran d’Ache Full Blender – These utilize an oil/wax binder that makes the blender great for blending and dry mixing. They have a hexagonal shape that sets them apart from other blenders, and you can utilize these in many unique ways.
- Derwent Blender/Burnisher – Derwent pencils are popular for a reason, and their colorless pencil uses the same binding as those pencils. It keeps pigments bright and vibrant while smoothing things out. It’s been noted that the burnisher is also a great blending, but Derwent notes it for its harder finish that makes it perfect for laying down highlights.
- Koh-i-Noor Polycolor Blender – Koh-i-Noor is a brand that I typically see noted for its surprising quality-to-value ratio, and it seems that their blender pencils are no exception.
- Lyra Rembrandt Blender – These pencils come pre-sharpened, and they’re built specifically with oil and wax-based colored pencils in mind. There isn’t a top pick, but may be better for lighter blending.
- Prismacolor Colorless Blender – I have a nostalgic loyalty to Prismacolor, but I’m not the only one. Their colorless blender comes unsharpened, so you can set it up however you want.
Rhonda at 901art.com did a decently thorough test of these top brands, and it was fairly apparent that the Derwent blender came out on top, with Prismacolor and Koh-i-Noor coming in right under.
How do clear colored pencils compare to other blenders?
Clear colored pencils will be an obvious pick if you’re working with colored pencils, especially if you’re committing to a piece solely done in pencil (or if you’re entering a contest that prohibits any other medium). It might surprise you to know that they aren’t the only blending medium you can use with colored pencils.
You can use dry blenders like paper and tortillons. They work best with heavier layers of color, and they’re prone to lifting pigment from the piece. You may want to run these in a cycle of “layer-blend-layer-blend”. This will also help if the dry blending seems to struggle. This method is more common with mediums such as chalk or graphite, and it may not be enough to move wax and oil-mixed pigments. Solvents can be applied, but you only want to use solvents with sturdier paper. Test this out before you try it.
Some popular solvents include:
- Oil-based solvents (such as turpentine): Dissolve the wax that binds the pigments and allows for easier blending. They’re also typically toxic, so take care when using them and always follow the instructions.
- Blending Markers: Blending markers aren’t always strong enough to move colored pencils, but they’re useful nonetheless. They give a watercolor appearance to art (which can also be achieved with watercolor pencils).
- Rubbing Alcohol (Don’t use anything over 70%): While rubbing alcohol isn’t the most effective solvent, it’s popular for its price and convenience. Paired up with paper or cotton it can be especially effective.
- Rubber Cement Thinner: An incredibly potent blender, rubber cement thinner works best with thicker layers of color. You can use it to work on areas that have already been burnished, but make sure you allow time for the rubber cement thinner and its fumes to evaporate—at least thirty minutes, but ideally overnight.
In comparison, the solvent is stronger than a clear colored pencil, but almost to a fault. You will need to ensure that your base is thick enough to protect the work and paper from damage, and take care not to completely lift the pigment from the paper.
What’s the Catch?
I may have spoken a bit highly of colorless blending pencils. Don’t get me wrong—they’re an invaluable tool that you absolutely should have in your kit. It’s just…they aren’t without their faults. The work can be tedious, as you might expect. But what you may not be prepared for is the lack of immediate reward. At least when you’re blending using pigments you can see the two-fold reward of richness and blend. You may be discouraged by a colorless blend. It can also be difficult to keep a consistent blend across your work. There’s plenty of opportunity to over-and under-blend, so you will need to be more aware of any variations.
Because the wax acts as both a blender and a burnisher in most cases you may find yourself kicking yourself at oversights. If you blend an area and it doesn’t turn out the way you want it will be more difficult to add additional pigment, so test your layering and blend beforehand. Depending on your blender you may also be prone to a scratchier finish. This is likely to occur if there isn’t enough pigment laid down beforehand, but certain brands (such as the Caran d’Ache stick) are noted for this.
Check out some additional blending tips HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a white colored pencil to do the same thing?
Yes, and no. While a white or light-colored pencil can help you out when blending or finishing your piece, the lighter color does tend to make other colors lighter. In a pinch, you could use one, but the colorless blender is going to be the better tool.
What are some alternative blending methods to get me by in a pinch?
You can always use the pencils you’re using, to begin with, but if you’re looking for some household tools to help you blend look at your bathroom. Plenty of people manage while using toilet paper, cotton balls, or cotton swabs.
Can I use a wax-based blender with oil-based colored pencils?
You can, but keep in mind that oil-based colored pencils are more difficult to blend. You may get a better reaction from oil-based blenders (like Lyra Splender Blender) or solvents, but most will tell you to focus on your layering.
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