Ms. Hsieh's Clarke Art Room- 7th Grade: Colored Pencil Techniques

Colored Pencils Techniques

1. Pressure Shading- apply pressure to create different values and tones
2. Strokes- apply shading, stippling, cross-hatching, and hatching to create textures
3. Layering- apply similar or opposite colors to layer on top of each other to create depth
4. Blending- creating an area between two colors where they gradually mix, so you get a gentle transition from one color to the other.
5. Burnishing- push the colored pencils on paper to produce solid color painting quality effects.
6. Highlights and shadows- enhance 3D effects

1. Pressure shading- to create values

Shading With Different Values to improve your drawing.

2. Strokes- to create textures

Shading: produced with an even, side-to-side stroke that creates a smooth even layer of color; a light touch will deposit a faint amount of color for graduated colored pencil shading.

Hatching: a series of evenly spaced, parallel lines that leave a little white or color of the underlying surface visible; hatching in colored pencil adds texture to your compositions.

Cross-hatching: hatching overlaid at an angle to build up layers of color or value; keep the pencil tips sharp to create fine, even lines.

Consider the Direction of the Strokes

3. Layering- to create depth

Layering colors produce more depth in the color and lead to a more realistic depiction of the scene. Layered colors may be related or similar colors, or they may be complete opposites.

Layering colors of a different value or hue naturally mix on the surface and mixed colors are always more natural in their appearance.

4. Blending- to create color gradients

Produced by applying heavy, even pressure with a pigment-less blending pencil or a white or light-colored pencil (such as cream or light gray), creating slick, evenly blended color; a stiff bristle brush can be used to blend colors as well. Colored pencil blending techniques can help add depth to your colored pencil drawings.

5. Burnishing-to create a painting effect

Burnishing is the process of working the material into the tooth of the paper to produce smooth and solid applications of color. This is what transforms a colored pencil drawing into a colored pencil painting.