Do you want to learn how to draw with colored pencils? There are two things you need, the first one is having the proper art supplies, and the second is learning the basic techniques. Here are some tips to help you get started.
COLORED PENCILSNot all colored pencils are the same. These can be classified into Scholastic, Student, or Artist grade, the difference is in the amount of pigment each one has. More pigment means it will produce brighter and richer colors, you will also find it much easier and more pleasurable to work with than lowered grade pencils. Artist grade colored pencils are more expensive but it gives more value for your money, as they say, "you get what you pay for." FAQ: What kind of colored pencils should I avoid?
FAQ: What kind of colored pencils do you recommend for beginners on a tight budget?
FAQ: What kind of ARTIST GRADE colored pencils did you use when you were a beginner?
FAQ: Are there any other brands to choose from? Koh-I-noor Polycolor, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor, Caran d'ache Pablo, Derwent Coloursoft. FAQ: Should I buy a large or a small set of colored pencils? You can start with just a set of 24 colors, as you gain experience and your skills progress, you can purchase a larger set and also try out different brands. FAQ: I'm following a book/video tutorial and my set of colored pencils doesn't have the colors indicated in the lesson, what should I do? You can find the closest color substitute in your set or you can buy individual colors (open stocks). FAQ: What are the qualities of an artist grade colored pencil? 1. Highly pigmented — Colors will be more vivid and are much easier to apply. 2. Easy to blend — Leads are soft and blends nicely. 3. Lightfast — Colors will not fade easily. COLORED PENCIL BUYING GUIDE 1. As much as possible, buy the best quality colored pencil you can afford. 2. If you are buying a set, check if there are duplicates or missing colors. 3. Make sure the pencils are not crooked or bent and that the leads are centered. 4. Buy from a reputable online or physical art store where well-informed staffs can assist you if you have any questions. COLORED PENCIL COMPARISONFeel free to contact me if you have any questions about this topic or anything about colored pencils. Have a nice day!
20 Comments
Bleuie
10/15/2012 01:16:39 am
Hello Ang,
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Lora
10/15/2012 06:57:44 am
I love this topic, buddy :) I am actually planning to buy a set of Polychromos - 120 pencils :) I have been drawing for quite a long time and I think this is gonna be a great investment :) I am a hobbyist, but I think it would be awesome :) I want these pencils sooo badly :) Please wish me luck to buy them soon :)
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Bleuie
10/15/2012 10:05:16 am
Thank you Lora, I do hope you can buy them soon, Polychromos are excellent colored pencils. :-)
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sarah
10/15/2012 07:02:46 am
I like your publishings very much! The difference between the cheap pencils and the artist grade ones is impressive..
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Bleuie
10/15/2012 10:04:01 am
Thank you so much Sarah, if I had not tried an artist grade, I'll probably got frustrated and never would have continued with colored pencils. :-)
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Antonio
10/15/2012 12:42:29 pm
Paint with oils
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Bleuie
10/15/2012 01:45:18 pm
Hi Antonio, if you're asking about videos about colored pencils, you can check out these videos by Betsy Jones on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/blubrrymffn/videos?view=0
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Bleuie
10/15/2012 01:48:37 pm
I use colored pencils so I don't know any videos about oil painting.
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10/15/2012 03:06:37 pm
Thanks for this info Bleuie. I purchased some Prismacolour pencils and don't like them at all. They break all the time. I use Faber Castell and am slowly building up my Polychromos collection. I have a small collection of Koh-I-Noor but haven't used them much yet. I see you on Facebook and really enjoy your work.
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vballkitty
10/15/2012 03:11:35 pm
Prismacolor pencils can't be sharpened without breaking. As far as I'm concerned, buying them is throwing your money away. Fabre Castell are great!
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Bleuie
10/15/2012 09:56:09 pm
There have been issues about Prismacolor since they moved production to Mexico, fortunately, we still have the old Made in the USA sold here. As long as the leads are centered in the wood casing and the pencil is not bent, a helical blade sharpener will do the job. I must say that they do have some great colors, but I prefer using Koh-I-Noor and Van Gogh colored pencils now. Thanks for reading my article. :-)
Bleuie
10/15/2012 09:59:14 pm
Thank you so much for reading my article Dale. :-)
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I have been using Prismacolor for over ten years now, and don't have much of a problem with breaking leads (there are a few colours that are prone to breaking - White and Tuscan Red come to mind, but most are fine). The trick is knowing how to sharpen them. Never sharpen at even the slightest angle, or the lead can snag and break. I hold them very firmly with my left hand while I operate the sharpener (I have a very old but effective hand-crank sharpener) with my right.
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Rob H
10/29/2013 03:16:12 pm
I have bought Polychromous colour pencils. I find that blue yellow blend together quiet well for green, but red and yellow pencils do not seem to blend/mix very well to make orange. I have tried this with a couple of other brands and get the same result.
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Bleuie
10/29/2013 09:45:58 pm
Hello Rob, I have not experienced any problem mixing red and yellow to make orange. Try using Cadmium Yellow and Pale Germanium Lake (Polychromos). You must put a thick layer of yellow first and then a light layer of red on top of it. If you put the red first and then yellow on top, you will get a dark orange or vermilion. So remember, put yellow first and then a light layer of red on top.
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enno
11/13/2015 08:35:35 am
hello, this is such a late comment...
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Bleuie
11/13/2015 09:05:38 am
Hi enno, I don't use Koh-I-Noor Polycolor very often because I prefer the woodless variant. It's very different from both Prismacolor and Polychromos. The core is a bit crumbly but doesn't break easily like Prisma. It is best used on paper with plenty of tooth so more layers can be achieved. Prisma and KIN Polycolor are both wax based while Polychromos is oil based; all of them behave differently depending on the type of paper used.
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Kerry
4/5/2018 11:21:17 pm
I just had the urge to start drawing and colored pencils came to mind. I immediately began reading articles and came across your website. Your content is very helpful. The start of your journey is inspirational and relatable from what you shared. I hope you are still doing well and creating great art. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
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1/31/2019 06:02:10 pm
4. Your blog is awesome resource for the beginners who want to learn about Colored pencil techniques. Some of our professional colored pencil artists blend their colored pencil artworks using baby oil. Here are the top 5 tips on how to blend colored pencils https://www.showflipper.com/blog/Top-5-Tips-On-How-To-Blend-Colored-Pencils
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Bleuie AcostaSharing with you my knowledge and experience in the art of colored pencils. Your colour pencil drawings are an inspiration to me as you show what can be done with these pencils and introduce a variety of colours which I would not think of using. Thank you. --Valerie Clare
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