How to Draw With Colored Pencils

Just because colored pencils are usually a staple in the pencil boxes of elementary school children, does not mean they cannot be used to create purposeful art. In fact, because colored pencils are in fact pencils, you can use them as if you were just sketching with a regular pencil.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Colored pencils
• Paper
• Eraser

1. Sketch with colored pencils much like any regular pencil.

2. Create depth to the colors by overlapping with multiple different colors or the same color multiple times. This will give subtle variation across your page within your colors

3. Consider the force with which you use your colored pencils. How hard you use your pencil can affect how deep the color richness is. If you press down hard on your colored pencil, the color will become darker and richer. If you only press lightly, you will cover a lot more area quicker but the color will be thinner and paler.

4. Do not be afraid to use your eraser. Because they are pencils, erasers are an important part to working with these tools.

5. Color only small areas at a time for richer colors. This attention to detail will go a long way in the end result of your color.

6. Do not be afraid to color over a different pencil shade. Use them much like you would acrylic paints; see them in layers and use richer colors to cover up mistakes.

Tips & Warnings

• While it is difficult to completely erase a mark after you have made it, an eraser can still usually pull a lot of the color out of the page. It can lighten a dark mark, or even work like a PhotoShop smudge tool to blend different colors and levels together.
• There are many different brands of colored pencils out there, and honestly, they do not all function the same. Some higher quality pencils will cost considerably more, but with enough dedication you make any type work well for you.