YuliyaSkryp

How to Blend Colored Pencils? Best Techniques and Tips

Every user who has colored pencils always wants them to produce as many drawings as they can. And drawings receive vividness and more vibrant colors when they are achieved with more than just one shade. Thus, there can appear a need to blend colors together and get a different color. That is why artists have created numerous methods of blending, and just to be short these ways are subdivided into 3 types: regular (just with pencils), dry method, and using special substances. So here’s short review of how to blend colored pencils.

Blending Colors Using Only Pencils

One of the most spread and well-known ways of blending is using just a regular drawing instrument - pencil. There is nothing special about it, but artists, particularly beginners, always try to blend colors with others, while the obvious thing is just to use the same pencil.

Layering is also blending, it provides a deeper tone, and in some cases it is used to create shades. However, that’s not all! There is one more way which is quite popular among artists - burnishing. In fact, this means that shade is applied over the lower layer, in other words, it performs grinding and mixing top and low layers. Thus, achieved colors become unusual or even unique.

Dry Method for Mixing Colored Pencils

Another way is blending colors with different pieces of stationery or make-up helpers, but there is only one rule - all of them have to be dry. For instance, there can be used tissues, towels, or fabric - rubbing pigment with them (or a mix of colors) will provide a variety of effects. However, the most valuable reason they are often used is that they produce a smooth surface with light tone of shades, unlike the other techniques.

Blend Out Colored Pencils Using Different Solvents

And finally, here’s the last method: a blend-out is performed not with handy tools or helpers but with liquid substances, usually solvents. First things first, how can solvents influence pencil blending ability? These substances play the role of destroyer of chemical links between pencil elements and pigments. Thus, if the substance is applied to a particular area with pigment on it, the pigment is freed and can be blended well.

All these solvents differ by the grade of aggressiveness - the more aggressive, the more pigment will be produced. There can be oils (turpentine), alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and odorless mineral spirits. Don’t forget that some of these solvents are really toxic, so work with them only with open windows or outside of buildings.

Another thing which is highly recommended before using solvents, especially on drawings: use a small amount of this substance on a piece of paper first to test it. Hence, you can prevent some unpleasant consequences such as warping or washing colors totally.

Main Tips to Follow While Blending Pencil Colors

Blending is such a delightful and relaxing occupation, thus some users even forget basic principles which can help to avoid undesirable effects. So here are some common tips which always stand for keeping you confident in your drawings

1. Every time you intend to use pencils with lighter colors than the main one, check them first to see whether they are clean - otherwise you’ll get something unexpected.

2. Always keep some tissues under your palm so you won’t smudge colors or so your sweat won’t interact with colors on the paper.

3. Always practice particular new techniques and methods before applying them to your drawing.

So, if you want to keep your drawing vivid and free of smudges or unexpected result using some additional devices, try them on a small piece of paper first, and everything will be great!

Materials Make a Sense

Despite numerous techniques and methods of blending, of course, none of good results can be achieved without having proper materials, particularly colored pencils and paper. And if you want to make right decision and not to screw up, I highly recommend you to investigate the best colored pencils by reading an article. I also advise you to learn about types of paper for better understanding which will be suitable for particular kinds of blending.

My Conclusions and Thoughts

Learning how to mix colors together and how they perform on paper is not so difficult. However, sometimes this knowledge is not enough and you should pay attention to the instruments which are used for it. Find out more interesting facts and reviews of the popular products on WoWPencils.

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