How to build up coloured pencil layers to create tones and textures.
For this project you will need:
Smooth cartridge paper. (I worked on an A3 pad)
Coloured pencils. I used Faber Castell Watercolour pencils (although I added no water to them)
A rubber.
Pencil sharpener.
This project should take between 45 minutes and 2 hours.
I first practised drawing the basic shape from some different angles. It didn’t seem like any were easier than any other.
I did lightly (VERY lightly) sketch the basic form with a graphite pencil, then rubbed most of it away.
I used the coloured pencils to sketch in the basic form using a pale version of each colour. I could also have begun my sketch with a very light yellow pencil as this would have been covered by the subsequent layers.
Once my colours where as close as I could get, I worked over some darker
muted tones (ochre on the yellow, greys on the yellow and purple) to give a sense of form and shadow.
You can see all the colours that I used to build up to the final layer.
I then added a shadow underneath that the object cast, so it didn’t look like it was floating on the page.
Download tutorial:
Share your finished project on the Student Chatroom!