Moores Art Gallery Colored Pencil Pattern and Texture Techniques and Tips

 

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Creating Patterns and Textures with Colored Pencils

It's All About Colored Pencils!

When using colored pencils, one can create various patterns and life-like textures by using specific tools and applying various techniques. For example, some patterns or textures can be created by applying layers of colors and adding distinct details or you can create a pattern or texture by using an eraser. 

There are many wonderful resources out on the market today on creating various patterns and textures for colored pencil artists. One wonderful resource for your colored pencil library is a book by colored pencil artist Gary Greene, Creating Textures in Colored Pencil. The book goes into detail about how to create various life-like textures using colored pencils along with step-by-step demonstrations. Two other good resources for creating textures with colored pencil is 101 Textures in Colored Pencil: Practical step-by-step drawing techniques for rendering a variety of surfaces & textures and The Complete Book of Textures for Artists: Step-by-step instructions for mastering more than 275 textures in graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, acrylic, and oil  Both books are by artist Denise Howard and each is a great guide in learning how to use specific tools and techniques to create different types of textures using colored pencils. 

Tips and Techniques for Creating Different Textures or Patterns with Colored Pencils.

• To create a pattern or texture, try using the side of the pencil lead to create different patterns and or life-like textures.
• To create a pattern or texture, try rubbing the colored pencil onto fine-grit sandpaper to create some colored pencil powder, and then apply the colored pencil powder onto the surface of the paper.
• To create a pattern or texture, scrape the lead of a colored pencil with an X-Acto knife or other sharp object and apply the shavings to the surface of the paper with the tip of a pencil or another tool.
• After applying many layers of colors and a thick layer of color has been developed on the surface of the paper, use an X-Acto knife to scrape different patterns or textures onto the surface of the colored pencil layer. Be careful because if you scratch too hard, you can damage the surface of the paper.
• Find a fairly flat textured or patterned object, such as sandpaper, and lay it beneath the paper, and do a colored pencil rubbing onto the surface (known as frottage) of the paper in desired areas. The heavier the pressure, the more visible the texture will be.
• Try creating various patterns and textures using a textured rubbing plate under the paper.
• After layering many colors, try using an electric eraser, such as a Sakura Electric Eraser or a Pentel Clic Eraser, to make different patterns onto the colored pencil layers of the surface of the paper.
• To create a pattern, take a sharpened woodsy dowel, sand the tip to desired bluntness and use it to indent the paper with the desired pattern. Next, apply layers of color on top of the indented surface. The white of the paper or colored paper will show through revealing the pattern.
• To create a pattern, try crosshatching two different colors. First, lay down an area of straight strokes at right angles with one color, and then overlay another area of straight strokes at right angles with a different color. Try using complementary colors to add some spark.
• To create a pattern, try stippling, a technique in which you apply dots sparsely or densely using single or multiple colors.
• To create a texture, try "Scumbling." "Scumbling" is a colored pencil technique in which you lightly overlap layers of color in a small circular motion, forming tiny circles. It is also referred to as the 'Brillo pad' technique, as the texture resembles a steel-wire cleansing pad. The texture you create depends upon the size and pressure you use to draw the tiny circles. Try varying the size of the circles and colors to create interesting textures.

Video Resources

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Mountain Goat Colored Pencil Work In Progress Update

Mountain Goat Colored Pencil Work In Progress

Well, I am nearly done with this work in progress. I have a little more work to do on the sky and the goat. The mat and frame should arrive this week. I plan on delivering this piece to the client next Saturday. 

Medium: Prisma Colored Pencils, Irojiten Colored Pencils and Copic Colorless Blender Marker. 

Size: 9 x 12

Paper: Artagain

In this step-by-step work in progress I started off  by layering with the Terracotta Prismacolor Verithin and then I began to gradually add other layers of color using Prismacolors and Irojitens. I used the Copic Colorless Blender Marker to blend the colors. For the white highlights in the clouds and in small detail parts of the goat I used Brush and Pencil's Colored Pencil Titanium White. 

Keep on Creating!

Have a blessed week!

Moores Art Gallery Colored Pencil Impressed Line Technique & Sgraffito

 

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Impressed Line & Sgraffito

It's All About Colored Pencils!

The impressed line technique is used to achieve fine white lines, such as whiskers, wispy hairs, details in flowers and leaves, and so on, by using a blunt object such as a wooden stylus to make indentations or impressions onto the surface of the paper. Once you start to apply layers of color over the impressed lines, the impressed lines of the paper will become visible.

Impressed Line tips:

• Be certain that the instrument you use has no sharp point, as it will tear the paper's surface.
• Make sure you mark the impressed line areas on your paper first before applying any colors.
• You can apply layers of a light color first, then make your impressed line over that layer of color.
• You may add light layers of color to the groove later if you wish.
• You can also create impressed lines with a white or light-colored pencil, revealing an impressed line of the colored pencil used instead of the color of the paper.
• Impress or indent your lines carefully, maintaining the same constant pressure throughout the length of the whisker or hair.
• Decrease pressure or indentation near the tip or end of the whisker or hair to suggest realism.

Sgraffito Technique

Sgraffito is a technique in which you carefully scratch the surface of the paper with an X-Acto knife or a similar tool to expose a layer of color beneath the first layer of color. To accomplish this technique, you must add several layers of colors, then take the X-Acto knife and scrape away the top layer to reveal colors underneath. Be very careful while scraping away the layers of colors so that you do not damage the surface of the paper. Brush away any debris from the surface of the paper so the debris doesn't smear onto the surface. This technique can be used to create whiskers, wispy lines of hair, other minute detail, and textures.

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Moores Art Gallery Blending, Burnishing and Layering Colored Pencils

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Blending, Burnishing, and Layering

It's All About Colored Pencils!

Blending 

Blending is the process of layering colors and merging the layers of colors together by using layering techniques and or using a combination of blending tools. As a result, you can achieve rich photo-realistic type works.

Some Tips On Blending

• To blend colors try using a stump or tortillion. Tortillions come in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large. Stumps are very similar to tortillons but are much bigger. Blend the colors in a circular motion. Make sure you keep the tips clean if you are using them to blend selective colors.

• A colorless marker can be used to blend layers of colors together. The colorless marker consists of a colorless solvent that dissolves and melds the colored pencil pigment. The results achieved when using a blender marker can be smooth, deep, rich, lush and vivid. The marker is great for making washes, or under-paintings in colored pencil paintings. Some top-rated brands are Tombow Colorless Blender Pen, Prismacolor Colorless Blender Marker, Finesse Colored Pencil Blender Marker, or Copic Colorless Blender Marker.

• Try using makeup sponges, q-tips, or an Alvin Dry Cleaning Pad, for blending layers of color.

• Try applying a solvent, such as Gamsol mineral spirits, Turpenoid Natural, or Zest it with a q-tip or paintbrush to blend colors together. 

• Colored Pencil Artist Carlynne Hershberger has discovered a "new blending tool called the Crayon Eraser." It is similar to Prismacolor Colorless Blenders, however, it does not change the saturation of the colors as the blending markers and pencils can do.

• Colored Pencil Artist, Linda Lucas Hardy uses a dry brushing technique for blending her layers of color. She applies multiple layers of colored pencil gradually, using up to heavy pressure, and then takes a stiff-bristle paintbrush or pastel brush, no longer than 1/2 inch, and blends the colors together.

• Colored pencil artist Ester Roi has invented the Icarius Drawing Board. The board has a warm side and a cool side. The warm side of the board is used for mixing, blending, and burnishing layers of colors. You use the cool side of the board to work on the details and other layering techniques.

• The colorless blender pencil is a very effective and valuable tool for blending colors, creating rich, vibrant colors, or giving layers of color a polished look. The colorless blender pencil base consists of either a non-pigmented wax or non-pigmented oil-wax that blends and burnishes the colored pencil pigment. I have used the following four colorless blender pencils to blend colors and to help in completing finishing touches on detailed areas: Prismacolor's blender pencil (PC 1077), Lyra's Rembrandt Splender Blender, Derwent Blender, and Caran d'Ache Full Blender-Bright.

Burnishing

Burnishing with colored pencils can create a beautiful rich glazed look. Burnishing is the process of layering multiple colors and then applying heavy pressure with a light-color pencil or with an artist tool. The wax then melds together and causes the drawing surface to become slick, filling up the entire tooth of the paper's surface. 
For example, after layering several colors, apply heavy pressure with Prismacolor Cloud Blue . Repeat the process again if necessary until a polished or vivid effect is achieved. Burnishing is ideal for creating sparkling glass, polished surfaces, and metals. If you intend to burnish your drawing, make sure you wait until the end, as burnishing will take all the tooth out of the paper.

Some Tips On Burnishing

• Burnishing works best with a light-colored pencil, such as Prismacolor Cream, Prismacolor White, Prismacolor 10% Cool Gray, or Prismacolor Cloud Blue, apply heavy pressure over the layered colored area to be burnished. 

• By burnishing with specific colors, you can achieve various effects, such as burnishing with Prismacolor Pale Ochre, you can give the illusion of an aged or antique look.

• Try using a metal scoop part of a ceramic clean-up tool, a spoon, or any other smooth metal device and apply heavy pressure in circular-like motions to the colored layers to be burnished.

• Burnish light areas first so that the dark pigment fragments do not land on unwanted areas on the surface of the paper.

• Burnish colors by using a stump or tortillion. Blend the colors in a circular motion while applying heavy pressure. Make sure you keep the tips clean if you are using them to blend selective colors.

Layering

Layering is the process of gradually building layers upon layers of colors using light to medium pressure to create different colors, values and hues. It can give your works an illusion of depth, can deepen colors, can modify colors, and can even give your work an impression of light or luminosity.

Some Tips On Layering

• Layer colors using crosshatch, horizontal, diagonal, vertical, or circular strokes. Start with a single light layer of color, then keep adding different layers of color on top of one another, using light to medium pressure, until the desired results are achieved

Keep on Creating!

Moores Art Gallery Vertical Line Technique

 

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Vertical Line Technique

It's All About Colored Pencils!

The vertical line technique is a technique that colored pencil artist Ann Kullberg created by placing a vertical line stroke next to another continuously and consistently on the surface of a paper. A great technique for achieving photo-realistic skin tones and texture.

The Vertical Line technique example above was created using layers of dark green and applying light pressure to heavy pressure.

I completed the portrait above at one of Ann Kullberg's workshops. It was my very first attempt at drawing a portrait, using the vertical line technique. I didn't quite get a chance to finish it, but I was able to get more photo realistic than I have ever before in drawing a subject. I highly recommend her workshops - you will learn a lot!

Ann also has some great portrait tools and kits to get your started on learning the vertical line technique.

A must have tool is Ann's Portrait Tool Set - Multimedia Instruction

In addition Ann's book Colored Pencil Portraits Step by Step is a must have to add to your colored pencil library collection.

Keep on Creating!