Before discussing what a blending pencil is made of, it is necessary to determine what type of blending pencil is being examined. A blending pencil can be a colorless pencil intended for use with colored pencils, or a paper stump, or it can be a white or similarly light-colored pencil used to create highlights.
A blending pencil is a pencil, crayon, or device that does not appreciably add color to a drawing or painting, but instead is used to blend edges or colors, or is used to create highlights or define edges.
- A blending pencil for colored pencils is usually a neutral wax or oil-core pencil that will mix, feather, or define edges of areas that have been filled in using a colored pencil without using additional pigment.
- A paper stomp is a cylinder made of rolled paper that is used to blend edges. It is usually used with charcoal or pencil drawings, but it can also be used with soft core-colored pencils or their solvents.
- A white or light-colored pencil is a standard soft-core colored pencil that has a wax or oil base that will encourage blending with other colors.
Using a Neutral Tone Wax or Oil Blending Pencil
Most colored pencil blending pencils or crayons are made of wax encased in a protective case. However, there are also oil-based blending pencils. They are available from most vendors who sell hard or soft-core colored pencils, including Prismacolor.
A blending pencil that is made of wax or oil can be used to rub over transitional areas where two or more colors have been laid down on the medium surface together. They can be used to burnish areas of color, making them “pop” out of the page. They can also be used to soften areas of color in preparation for removing pigment to create highlights. This technique is especially useful when creating or coloring pictures of eyes or items made of glass.
Using a Paper Stomp as a Blending Pencil:
Paper stomps, sometimes called stumps or tortillons, are essentially tight rolls of paper that are used to smear, blend, or remove the color from a drawing or painting. They are excellent companions to wax or oil blending pencils because they can be used to precisely remove any excess or softening application of the wax or oil blending pencil. They are often used with charcoal or dark pencil drawings, and once they have a coating of color, paper stomps can be used to apply lighter colors to a page, or they can even be used as a drawing tool.
You can find an excellent demonstration of how to make a paper stomp here. The process is essential as follows: Draw a wide piece of thick paper, such as the paper from a sketchbook, between your finger and a pair of scissors to encourage it to curl. Begin at one end of the paper, and roll it as tightly as you can manage. Once the roll is complete, tape or glue the end of the paper to keep it from unrolling. Using a razor or sharp penknife, sharpen one or both ends of the stomp. You can further refine it by using fine sandpaper.
A paper stomp is extremely valuable when removing minute segments of pigment from a drawing, especially when creating eyes or tiny sparkles in an artwork.
White or light-colored blending pencils
White or light-colored pencils can be used for blending. They work exceptionally well where a less saturated color effect is desired in a picture, such as when creating white foam caps on waves, or velvety folds in the fabric. They can also be used to smooth highlights and shadows when creating portraits, or even when developing various objects in a still life.
The technique for blending or burnishing with a white blending pencil is to first lay down a succession of shades of a particular hue, feathering the edges of each band of color so that there are no hard lines to overcome. Next, begin with the lighter edge of the hue, gently applying layers of the white or complimentary light color over the top of the darker color.
Since the application of the pigmented lighter color will create a sort of pastel, it is important not to over-color the darker area, preserving the original shade as much as possible. Unless, of course, the desired result is to have a pastel color.
When white is not used for this purpose, yellow or a tint of the original color are often good choices for blending. With that said, some interesting effects can be developed using contrasting colors as a blending agent.
Combining Blending Pencils with Blending Solvents
Blending pencils are more controllable than blending solvents. They can be used precisely where small areas of pigment need to be masked, blended, or removed. Sometimes, however, they can be used in combination with blending solvents. A blending solvent technique often used with watercolors is to lay down a line of darker color and let it drip or spin across other parts of the page. This can be used to create somewhat deliberate effects, such as reflections on water or distant tree lines. The method can be recreated with colored pencils by laying down a thick base layer of color, then using a solvent to make a wash by brushing it across the layer of color and letting it drip across the page.
- Wax blending pencils can be used across sections of the picture that you wish to have remained untouched by the solvent, particularly if it is a water-based solvent. The colorless or neutral wax or oil blending pencils are excellent for this application.
- Blending solvents can also be applied using a paper stump. The stomp can be briefly dipped in the solvent, or it can be used to help direct a rivulet of solvent wash, controlling the area it runs across.
- A stomp-dipped insolvent can also be used to delicately remove infinitesimal bits of color from a picture. This technique can also be used to “erase” problem areas. Keep in mind, however, that the “tooth” of the paper or other medium will change in comparison to other parts of the picture. It is often best to make serendipitous use of mistakes, rather than attempting to remove them.
- Light Colors as Blending Agents can be used to develop fantasy or nursery tale themes, keeping the picture light and happy while still blending colors.
Advantages and difficulties with blended colors
Blending colors can make a picture seem more realistic. It allows the artist to create three-dimensional depth in pictures that might otherwise seem flat or two-dimensional. Blending can also be used to fill a gap in the artist’s pallet.
Check out more blending tips HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the background medium affect the way colors blend?
To some degree, yes. Some mediums, such as paper or cardboard, will tend to absorb any moisture or oil that is applied to them. Sometimes the blending agency will wick through the paper or cardboard, creating interesting but perhaps unintended results. Other mediums, such as Masonite, or vellum, are going to do best with wax, oil, or paste blending agents because they will not soak up the color at all. It will sit on top of the background medium. With such mediums, it is a good idea to apply a sealer to keep the color from being rubbed away. Unfinished, planed wood can be a toss-up. Pine can be fairly absorbent.
Which is better, a wax or oil-neutral blending pencil?
It depends on how you wish to use the blending agency. Wax is best for creating a resistant background, or for protecting an area of color that you do not wish to have changed by an added color wash or solvent. It is also the best choice if you are working with wax-based pencils. Oil is great for getting that beautiful, burnished look, especially if you are working with oil pencils. It is a little more prone to smearing than wax, and it is super easy for oil-based colors of any type to begin to look muddy or dull if they are over-blended. Oil blending pencils help give you the control to avoid that problem.
When would I use a paper stump, stump, or tortillon?
A paper stomp is your best tool for removing color from small areas. It can be used to draw lines through an existing plane of color, to create highlights in eyes, over cheekbones, or on sparkling gems. It can also be used to blend adjacent colors when you do not want to add another layer of the medium of any kind. The biggest advantage of a paper stomp is that it can be sharpened to a fine point for delicate work. Its flat side can also be used to rub over an area, blending existing colors without adding anything. If that were not enough, a paper stomp can be quickly dipped in a blending solvent so that small, controlled amounts of solvent can be applied. Liquid, or even paste solvents can quickly get out of hand, and sometimes ruin hours of work in just a few short seconds. Or to put it another way, for those last stages of work in any medium, a trusty paper stomp is your friend. It gives you excellent control and keeps your fingers out of your art medium so that you do not risk getting fingerprints on your work.
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