Hull - Realistic Portraits in Colored Pencil: Learn to draw lifelike portraits in vibrant colored pencil

One of the most common questions I am asked by artists new to colored pencils is which brand is the best. Theres no simple answer to this question, because every artist favors different colored pencils for different reasons. I suggest that you buy a couple of pencils from each of the main brands and experiment with them to see which ones give you the desired look and feel. Things to consider include: the hardness/softness of the pencil, the pencils ability to maintain a sharp point, the creaminess or blendability of a pencil, and, most importantly, the lightfastness rating of a colored pencil, which refers to the rate of fading or color shift over time as the pigment is exposed to light.

There are a few different types of colored pencils: wax-based, oil-based, and watercolor pencils.

The binder in the core of wax-based pencils is made of wax. These pencils are usually softer and layer and blend well because of their high wax content. They are also generally easier to erase, but multiple layers rendered with a heavy hand can create a problem with wax bloom (see ). This can usually be prevented with a spray of fixative. Because wax-based pencils are softer, they can also be more susceptible to breakage.

Oil based pencils are created using an oil-based binder. These pencils are usually harder and are great for detail work, but they dont have the same softness or blendability as wax-based pencils. They are also less prone to breakage. There are far more wax-based pencil brands than oil-based pencil brands. Theres also some overlap within these two categoriesCaran dAche Luminance pencils, for example, contain both oil and wax binders.

Because of the lower wax content, oil-based pencils are less prone to wax bloom. Wax- and oil-based pencils can be combined beautifully, but its often best to use oil-based pencils for base layers and detail work, and save the softer wax-based pencils for the upper layers.

Watercolor pencils have a binder that dissolves once water is added. Most watercolor pencils can be used wet or dry and give off less shine than wax- and oil-based pencils if they are used dry. These pencils work well for creating an underpainting when combined with wax-and oil-based pencils, particularly on more textured surfaces.

A WORD ABOUT WAX BLOOM

Wax bloom is the white haze that can develop when multiple layers of pencil have been applied with lots of burnishing and blending. If this develops on your artwork, the best way to remove it is to gently wipe a tissue across your artwork, and then follow with an application of workable fixative. You may need to repeat this process a couple of times if the wax bloom returns. Shown here is an example of wax bloom on the left and how it looks after the bloom has been wiped away with a tissue on the right.

PENCIL EXTENDERS

Pencil extenders are ideal for extending the life of your short pencil stubs, and there is a whole range of extenders available in all shapes and sizes. Some are single-ended and some are double-ended. Some have a screw-top that tightens around the pencils as you turn it, and others have a push-up top that squeezes two sides together around the pencils.

ERASERS

Kneaded Eraser

A kneaded eraser feels like soft putty and can be molded and rolled into any shape you like for lifting small or large areas of pigment from your paper. This eraser is ideal because it wont damage the underlying substrate. Some artists also use poster putty, which is slightly firmer in consistency than most kneadable erasers.

Common Eraser

The common eraser category encompasses all those erasers that are labeled plastic, vinyl, or rubber. These erasers are the least effective at removing colored pencil pigment but can be useful for creating smudges and moving pigment around.

Tombow Mono Eraser

These wonderful erasers resemble a pen and are fabulous for fine and precision erasing with very little damage caused to the underlying surface. They come in two different sizes, and refills are available for both.