Simple Ways To Shade With Colored Pencils: 12 Steps - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Shade with Colored Pencils PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Rebecca Schweiger

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Approved

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  • Creating Light and Dark Shades
    • |
  • Using Different Shading Techniques
    • |
  • Tips
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Rebecca Schweiger. Rebecca Schweiger is a Professional Artist, Published Author, and the Founder of The Art Studio NY, New York City's #1-rated art school and global online art studio. Celebrated by TV networks, press, and celebrities including NBC, ABC, E!, Time Out New York, The Kardashians, and Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons, Rebecca specializes in creating abstract artwork and teaching studio art classes. Her art studios provide 100+ weekly, beginner-friendly drawing and painting art classes to people around the globe. With more than 22 years of art experience, she is the author of Release Your Creativity: Discover Your Inner Artist with 15 Simple Painting Projects, and her artwork has been exhibited in more than 50 museums and galleries around the world. Rebecca holds a BFA in Painting from Boston University's School for the Arts and has participated in acclaimed artist residencies worldwide. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 84% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 84,241 times.

Learning how to shade in your drawings using colored pencils will allow you to create beautiful and vibrant pieces of artwork. The key to getting bright, smooth color when you're shading something in is to add multiple layers of light color on top of one another. Professional artist Rebecca Schweiger agrees that "in order to make something look more realistic, it's all about light, shadow, and contrast." When you press lightly, you'll get a lighter color, while pressing more heavily will give you a darker color that's more difficult to erase. Try out different shading techniques like crosshatching or stippling to find out which one is your favorite.

Things You Should Know

  • Hold your pencil sideways so the largest part of the tip touches the paper. This position allows you to layer the color until you reach your desired shade.
  • Apply pressure on the tip of your pencil to make fine details, outline parts of your drawing, or shade in dark colors.
  • Blot the color away with an eraser to lighten pencil marks and create a smooth finish.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Creating Light and Dark Shades

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  1. Step 1 Sharpen your colored pencils before using them for the best color. 1 Sharpen your colored pencils before using them for the best color. A sharp colored pencil will allow you to make finer lines as well as more vibrant colors. Sharpen all of your colored pencils using a pencil sharpener each time you go to use them, creating a fine point.[1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 2 Use controlled, slow movements to create the best drawing. Instead of rushing through your drawing and quickly applying the color, slow down and make your lines more precise. When you color quickly, you’re more likely to press too hard and create messy lines.[2] Professional artist Rebecca Schweiger suggests "varying the pressure of each pencil, so you can see how light and dark you can get your colors."
    • Holding your pencil at an angle helps to control your arm movements and slow down a bit.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 3 Hold your pencil on its side to shade a larger area in lighter shades. By using your colored pencil’s side, the color will be slightly lighter and the strokes will be broader. This is helpful for layering or if you’re trying to cover a large area in a faster amount of time. The lighter you press on the paper with the colored pencil, the lighter the color you’ll create.[3] [4]
    • Holding your pencil farther back, as opposed to right next to the tip, will help you keep your shading light because you won’t be applying as much pressure.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 4 Use the tip of your pencil and apply pressure for darker shades. The tip of your colored pencil is great for making precise, skinny lines. If you’re using the tip and pressing down, know that your color is going to come out more concentrated, so you’ll want to be very sure about your marks before you make them.[5]
    • Use the tip of your colored pencil to create fine details or outline parts of drawings.
    • Keep sharpening your pencil when it becomes dull so the tip remains sharp.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 5 Layer your color slowly as opposed to immediately applying pressure. According to professional artist Rebecca Schweiger, "Layering is the best way to properly blend colored pencils." Even if you’re only using one color, apply a layer of light color by holding your pencil softly, and then keep adding light layers on top of that one until you reach your desired shade.[6] Schweiger advises "applying a little extra pressure to the color that you want to shine through more." If you were drawing a red apple, Schweiger suggests "layering some blue on top to create colored shadows."
    • Avoid immediately using pressure to create bright colors. This makes it very hard to add other colors on top of it, and it makes your shading look uneven.
    • Really allow yourself to mix the colors so that you can see how light and how dark you can get your colors!
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 6 Blot the color away with an eraser to lighten the pencil marks. Instead of rubbing the eraser on the colored pencil marks to try to remove the color, try lightly blotting at the marks with an eraser instead. If you rub your paper with the eraser, it’s just going smear the color and ruin your picture.[7]
    • While it's unlikely that you'll completely erase the colored pencil marks, blotting at them with an eraser may lighten them significantly.
    • Try purchasing colored pencils that are specifically designed to erase and come with their own special erasers if desired.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Using Different Shading Techniques

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 1 Color using back-and-forth strokes. This is the most common way to use colored pencils, and you probably do it naturally when shading. Color in your drawing using a back-and-forth motion while not lifting your pencil from the paper.[8]
    • This is a good way to fill in areas with color very quickly.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 2 Draw using circular marks to create texture. Instead of using continuous lines going back and forth, create circles instead. Put your colored pencil to the paper and start creating small, light circles going on top of one another without lifting your pencil from the paper. The more circular marks you layer on top of one another, the more vibrant the color you’ll create.[9]
    • Another name for this method is scumbling.
    • Use this method to color in a flower or large object that's all the same color.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 3 Create hatch marks for a uniform color drawing. Hatching is when you draw small parallel lines next to one another all going in the same direction. Create your hatch marks as close or far apart from one another as you’d like. The closer together you make your marks, the more colorful your drawing will seem.[10]
    • You might use hatch marks to show the shading and shadows of a hand or a pillow.
  4. Step 4 Try crosshatching to form vibrant tones in your drawing. 4 Try crosshatching to form vibrant tones in your drawing. To crosshatch, create hatch marks by forming parallel lines next to one another, and then create another set of parallel lines going the opposite way. This creates a bunch of ‘X’ marks right beside one another. This is a great way to shade in your drawing to give it a uniform look.[11]
    • Crosshatching is useful if you’re blending two colors together⁠—you can use one color for one set of parallel lines, and the other color for the other set of parallel lines going the opposite direction.
    • Use crosshatching to shade in a picture of a barn or a piece of fruit.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 5 Use the stippling technique to create texture using dots. Stippling is when you use your colored pencil to make dots all over the paper. The dots can be close together or far apart, but the closer together and the more there are, the more colorful and vibrant your drawing will be.[12]
    • Stippling adds great texture to your drawing.
    • Make the dots as thin or thick as you’d like, experimenting with different versions until you find one you like the best.
    • You could use the stippling technique to draw a seashell or a wave in the ocean.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Shade with Colored Pencils 6 Shade using burnishing for a very smooth look. Burnishing is adding layer after layer of color on top of one another until there’s so much colored pencil that it creates a glazed, smooth surface. As you keep adding layers, you’ll need to press harder for the colored pencil to show up, which is what creates the shiny quality.[13]
    • Burnishing can take a long time due to the number of layers you’ll need to add on top of one another to create a smooth look.
    • Try drawing the sunset or a vegetable using the burnishing method.
    • Blend your coloring using a blender or paper stump to make the process go faster. You can also use your fingertips to blend the colors.[14]
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Expert Q&A

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Tips

  • Create a shade scale by starting out coloring with the lightest amount of pressure. As you keep coloring, slowly increase the pressure and move your hand to the right until you have the darkest tone. Don't be afraid of using your pencils, shifting the pressure as you see fit.[15] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Remember that once you draw a dark line with your colored pencil, it'll be hard to erase it, so try to press lightly when you're shading. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Try keeping areas that you want highlighted blank as you're coloring to take advantage of the natural white. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FcWFIXusA#t=3m11s
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FcWFIXusA#t=1m23s
  3. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
  4. ↑ Rebecca Schweiger. Professional Artist & Art School Founder. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZrcj6kq0TE#t=38s
  7. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
  8. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
  9. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
More References (6)
  1. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
  2. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
  3. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
  4. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
  5. ↑ Rebecca Schweiger. Professional Artist & Art School Founder. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ Rebecca Schweiger. Professional Artist & Art School Founder. Expert Interview

About This Article

Rebecca Schweiger Co-authored by: Rebecca Schweiger Professional Artist & Art School Founder This article was co-authored by Rebecca Schweiger. Rebecca Schweiger is a Professional Artist, Published Author, and the Founder of The Art Studio NY, New York City's #1-rated art school and global online art studio. Celebrated by TV networks, press, and celebrities including NBC, ABC, E!, Time Out New York, The Kardashians, and Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons, Rebecca specializes in creating abstract artwork and teaching studio art classes. Her art studios provide 100+ weekly, beginner-friendly drawing and painting art classes to people around the globe. With more than 22 years of art experience, she is the author of Release Your Creativity: Discover Your Inner Artist with 15 Simple Painting Projects, and her artwork has been exhibited in more than 50 museums and galleries around the world. Rebecca holds a BFA in Painting from Boston University's School for the Arts and has participated in acclaimed artist residencies worldwide. This article has been viewed 84,241 times. 42 votes - 84% Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 84,241 Categories: Drawing Styles
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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Apr 5, 2024

    "I love drawing with colored pencils, and I wanted to learn how to shade better. wikiHow helped me with that."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Rebecca Schweiger Co-authored by: Rebecca Schweiger Professional Artist & Art School Founder Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 84,241 84% of readers found this article helpful. 42 votes - 84% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Apr 5, 2024

"I love drawing with colored pencils, and I wanted to learn how to shade better. wikiHow helped me with that." NICOLE AGUAYO

NICOLE AGUAYO

Aug 19, 2020

"I am making a collage and this helped, thanks." Hayley

Hayley

Jun 25, 2021

"This was so helpful, thanks!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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