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.
Keep on Creating!
