Shading techniques are important to know if you're drawing with colored pencils. Let's look at some quick tips for better colored pencil work, and then explore a few different shading techniques to take add to your drawing arsenal.
Use the Right ToolsFor the best work and reproduction, use quality materials. Drawing paper designed for pencil work, and colored pencils made from the best pigments will elevate the look of your work�and make it easier to do your best work.
Holding Your Pencil
There are basically two ways you can hold your pencil: at an angle, or straight up and down. Holding your pencil at an angle means using the side of the pencil, and straight up and down means drawing directly on the tip. There is no right or wrong way: choose how you hold your pencil based on the look you want. Shading with the side of the pencil covers more area faster, but makes the paper grain appear coarser, and the tonal range is more limited. Shading with the tip of the pencil lays down a denser layer of color, and the paper grain appears finer, but it takes longer because the strokes are narrower.
Applying Pressure
This is simple: The more pressure you apply with pencil to paper, the darker your stroke will be.
Hatching
Hatching is shading with regular, evenly spaced parallel lines all in one direction; this helps you quickly add color while defining the direction of the shading pattern. This usually works best with the tip of the pencil.
Cross-Hatching
Cross-hatching is hatching in two different directions in the same area. Commonly, the directions are at right angles, so the result look like a checkerboard, but you can vary the angle of the two hatching directions to create some very interested shading effects.
Scumbling
Scumbling is a shading technique achieved by overlapping lots of little circles. The texture created with this technique is determined by the size of the circles, and the pressure used on the pencil. Scumbling can also be created with more scribbly, spidery type lines, rather than neat little circles. The more circles in one place, the darker the pigment build up.
Stippling
Stippling is placing lots of tiny dots in order to shade or color an area. The closer together the dots, the darker the area will appear, and the further away the dots, the lighter the area will appear. Note that there can be a big difference in dot size between a sharpened and an unsharp pencil.
FAQs
These colored pencil techniques cover the 5 main ways that you make marks with colored pencils: stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, back and forth stroke, and scumbling. You can see examples of these 5 techniques on the left!
What are the 5 tips for using a colored pencil? ›
These colored pencil techniques cover the 5 main ways that you make marks with colored pencils: stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, back and forth stroke, and scumbling. You can see examples of these 5 techniques on the left!
How do you make colored pencil drawings look good? ›
To create realism with colored pencils, you need to layer lots of different colors on top of one another to create gradual transitions and smooth blends (for example, to go from light to shadow, or to blend from one hue to another hue).
How do you blend colored pencils better? ›
the key to a smooth blend isn't your pencil brand, and it isn't even how many layers you use. it's about how you overlap your colors. instead of each color sitting side by side, then trying to force them together, overlap them more gradually, lightening your pressure as each color.
How to color evenly with a colored pencil? ›
The most common way to do this is to create circular strokes, especially when you're still laying down your base color. This technique helps you distribute the color more evenly.
What are some common mistakes while coloring with colored pencil drawing? ›
- Not Enough Layers. ...
- Pushing Too Hard With The Pencils Too Soon. ...
- Not Keeping The Pencils Sharp Enough. ...
- Using Paper That Is Not Right For The Results You Want. ...
- Calling The Work Finished Too Soon, or Rushing The Work. ...
- Scribbling. ...
- Starting With A Bad Drawing.
Artists sharpen their Prismacolors in a number of ways: handheld pencil sharpeners, electric pencil sharpeners, cosmetic sharpeners, sandpaper blocks, and even the old-fashioned way - using a knife. What works for one artist may not work for another artist.
How to layer colored pencils like a pro? ›
Building Layers Gradually
Start with light pressure and gradually increase it as you add subsequent layers. This approach allows you to control the intensity of the colours and create smooth transitions between shades. Remember to use multiple light layers rather than pressing too hard straight away.
How to color for beginners? ›
Things You Should Know
- Color in the same direction and from the outside of the drawing in for the best results.
- Color shadows darker and highlights lighter to add depth and dimension to your drawing.
- Add more layers to darken colors instead of pressing down harder with your crayon or colored pencil.
Position your hand correctly: Hold the pencil near the back, allowing for a more fluid motion. This will give you better control over the circular strokes. Move your hand in a circular motion: Gently move your hand in a circular motion as you apply color, making sure to keep consistent pressure.
A basic guide to colouring
- 1 – AVOID USING BLACK AND WHITE. ...
- 2 – KEEP THAT COLOUR WHEEL AT HAND. ...
- 3 – THE IMPORTANCE OF WARM AND COOL COLOURS TO REFLECT LIGHT/SHADE. ...
- 4 – KEEP A CLOSE LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU. ...
- 5 – TURN YOUR WORK TO GREYSCALE. ...
- 6 – SHADE WITH ANALOGOUS COLOURS. ...
- 7 – USE THOSE COMPLEMENTARIES!
Apply a very heavy pencil pressure to achieve the necessary brightness. If the highlights are super tiny or need a punch, try using touch of white crayon, pastel, gouache or even acrylic paint with a 00 brush.
What makes a good colored pencil? ›
Higher-quality pencils have more pigment in the colored lead. The highest-quality (and most expensive) pencils are oil-based, while lesser-quality pencils are wax-based (hard wax is the lowest quality, soft wax is better quality). The best pencils glide easily across the page and lay down color with little effort.
What is the best order for colored pencils? ›
The Color Wheel Method
My favorite way to sort colored pencils is by arranging them in a color wheel. Here's how you can do it: Start with your reds and move through the spectrum in this order: oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and finally, purples. Within each color group, arrange the shades from lightest to darkest.
What do you use colored pencil for? ›
You can use colored pencil to tint a drawing with light strokes that let the color of the paper show through, or you can use colored pencil to create a solid deposit of many layers of color. Because colored pencil is primarily a dry medium, there's no drying time to worry about.
