How to Layer Colored Pencil Tones

If you think "more" is better when adding to your colored pencil collection, think again. The key to rich, stunning colors in your colored pencil drawings is not having hundreds of different colored pencils readily available. Instead, it's found in mixing only a few basic colors. Just as mixing paints, blending colored pencils gives a much richer result than just using a single color.

But unlike watercolors, oils, and acrylics, you can't mix the pigments in colored pencils. Instead, your colors are layered. Granted, layering can be intimating when you first start using color pencils. But with practice and some know-how you can soon master it and be proud of the rich tones in your colored pencil drawings.

Before applying any colored pencil marks to your paper, be sure your pencils are razor sharp. Keep in mind that dull pencils skip over the "valleys" of your paper, allowing background paper to show through your drawing. Personally, I prefer an electric pencil sharpener, rather than a manual one, as it not only produces a sharper point, but doesn't chew up your pencil as manual ones often do.

Begin your strokes with light pressure, gradually building up to stronger strokes, starting with the undertones of an image. For example, you'll want to use warm colors for highlights and cool colors for your shadows.

It's a good idea to separate your warm and cool pencils in old coffee cans so you won't have to search for just the right tone. And, you'll want to make sure your warm and cool tones are well-balanced.

Make pencil strokes move in a single direction for your first layer of color, with succeeding ones done in contrasting directions. In other words, use a cross hatching technique, resulting in filling in all the white spots with color, creating an intensity to your drawing. However, be careful not to over saturate your paper with excessive color as this will prohibit color from sticking to your paper's surface and may tear it.