How to Use Conte Sticks
Conte crayons, according to Britannica, are graphite and clay drawing utensils with a low oil content. They most often come in earth tones such as reds, browns and grays. However, modern styles of Conte crayons also come in a rainbow of blues, greens, purples and pinks. This wide array of color and Conte crayons' smooth coverage make them a pleasure for an artist to use. They combine the advantages of pencil and charcoal with the color array of crayons and pastels to make an extremely versatile instrument.
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Instructions
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1
Sharpen a few black or gray Conte crayons with a pencil sharpener to get a very fine tip. Hold the sharpened crayons like a pencil with the point at a 45-degree angle to the paper.
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2
Outline your drawing with long, smooth strokes. A Conte crayon won't stay sharp as long as a pencil does; the longer your strokes, the less you need to sharpen the crayon.
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3
Choose your first colored Conte crayon and snap it in half. Lay one of the halves on the side on the area you want to color and move it over the area with your thumb and forefinger. Light pressure results in light color while firm pressure darkens the color.
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4
Tear a paper towel into eighths and scrunch one of them up into a ball. Roll the second into a twisted point. Try wrapping one around your fingers for better control.
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5
Shade your drawing with the paper towels. Use the twisted point in narrow areas to shade fine detail. Use your finger or a scrunched ball for larger areas.
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6
Add negative space detail by erasing a little color in certain areas. For instance, if you're coloring black clothing, add the shading by picking up color with an eraser rather than trying to avoid coloring shaded areas fully.
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