Colored Pencils |
LUNDGREN"S LIBRARY - Colored Pencil book available in the art room
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Colored pencils are a favorite because they are portable and relatively easy to find. Most colored pencils are wax or oil based. Water-soluble colored pencils can be blended with water. Prices vary from a few dollars for a dozen to a few dollars per pencil. The higher price is worth the results. Some of the most popular brands are Prismacolor Soft Core Pencils. Farmer-Castell and Derwent. These pencils blend very easily and have strong pigments. The artist can achieve photographic results using this pencils.
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Paper
Tooth is what artist call the texture on a piece of paper. For colored pencil, there should be a little tooth. Avoid papers with a lot of texture or those that are really smooth or shiny. Choose a paper that can withstand erasing without falling apart. Acid free paper will help preserve your work for the future. |
Layering
Colored pencil pigments are built up by gradually layering multiple colors using light pencil pressure. The paper can be fully saturated and no longer hold another layer. Watch the amount of pressure so that you can complete the amount of layers needed for the final affect. Use the tip of the pencil for small areas and details, and the side of the pencil tip for larger, smooth areas. |
Blending Smoothing colors is the key to dramatic colored pencil artworks.
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Burnishing
Burnishing refers to rubbing or layering the color until you have a blended, shiny surface. It's a good technique for metals and shiny surfaces. A colorless blender or light colored pencil is worked over the final layer using medium pressure. A lighter color will effect the appearance of the base color (ex-white will lighten & dull the color, & yellow will give a greenish tinge to blue). Use as the last step since it fills in the tooth and no more layers can be added. Wax Bloom is a milky appearance that shows up after a piece is burnished. Buff off the wax bloom with a soft rag to remove it. It may need to be removed several times. Spraying the final piece with fixative will prevent wax bloom. |
Adding Texture
Frottage is done by placing a textured item under the paper surface and coloring with the side of the pencil across the paper to create an impression of the surface below. Make sure the paper is thin enough to allow the texture to be transferred. Line Incising is a technique where small detailed lines are pressed into the paper prior to adding the colored pencil. Use tracing paper to see where to press down to create the indent on the final paper. When color is applied over the incised lines, they appear as thin white lines. This technique is great for veining in leaves or highlights in hair. |
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Color Theory
Write the bulleted points in your sketchbook At the intermediate level, you should already have a working knowledge of the color wheel and color schemes. There are also other color systems that challenge the thinking of the traditional color wheel (https://blog.asmartbear.com/color-wheels.html). Highlights, shadows, and reflected colors from surrounding objects all create subtle color changes on an object. Nothing is one solid color. Plan how you want to incorporate color into your work. Below are ideas and examples to start you in the right direction
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