Tips For Shading With Colored Pencils

Home » How To Use Colored Pencils » Tips For Shading With Colored Pencils

Maybe your like

Skip to content

Free US Shipping on orders $75 or more.

  • Custom Pencils More
    • Foil Stamped Pencils
    • Natural Foil Stamped Pencils
    • Premium Foil Stamped Pencils
    • Custom Blackwing Pencils
    • Round Screen Printed Pencils
    • FAQs
  • Pencil Shop More
    • Artist Pencils More
      • Blackwing 602
      • Blackwing Matte
      • Blackwing Pearl
      • Blackwing Natural
      • Blackwing Colors
    • School Pencils More
      • #2 Pencils
      • Color Pencils
      • Bulk Pencils for Classrooms
      • Custom Pencils
    • Pencils by Type More
      • Graphite Pencils
      • Color Pencils
      • Carpenter
      • Eco-Friendly Pencils
    • Paper Goods More
      • Journaling Notebooks
      • Drawing Pads
      • Spiral Notebooks
      • All Notebooks
    • Sharpeners & Erasers More
      • Pencil Sharpeners
      • Desktop Pencil Sharpeners
      • Erasers
      • All Accessories
    • Shop by Brand More
      • Blackwing
      • ForestChoice
      • Golden Bear
  • Gift Ideas More
    • Black Friday Sale
    • Gifts 25 and Under
    • Gifts for the Pencil Lover
    • Gifts for Teachers and Students
    • Gifts for Artists and Writers
    • Apparel
    • Great Blackwing Gifts
  • Pencils 101 More
    • Pencil Buying Guide
    • Pencil Quality 101
    • The History of the Pencil
    • How Pencils Are Made
    • Graphite Grading Scale Explained
    • How to Clean Graphite Stains
    • What is a No. 2 Pencil?
    • The Unleaded Pencil
    • Colored Pencil Shading Tips
      • Search Search our store Search Tips for Shading With Colored Pencils

      One look at my bedspread would be enough to tell you that I love colors – all of the colors, at the same time. In fact, my whole room is pretty colorful. Throughout college I took notes with different colored gel pens, and at work I post my daily fun fact on my whiteboard in a different color every day. It should be no surprise to anyone that I also love drawing with colored pencils. Shading with colored pencils presents a challenge because of their waxy consistency. Colored pencil resists smudging with one’s thumb, my preferred method of shading with standard pencils. Fortunately, there are some tips for shading with colored pencils that will have you shading like a pro in no time!

      Revised_PR_Wax_Green_Action_183_F

      1. Hold the pencil sideways so the greatest area of the tip is in contact with the paper.

      This position allows you the control to lay down a very light base of color which you can then layer on top of until you have achieved the desired hue. It also allows for smooth color and minimizes unsightly lines.

      2. Practice by shading two contrasting colors into one another.

      For example, take your red pencil and your green pencil. Starting with the red pencil, shade from left to right, dark to light. Next, take your green pencil and shade from right to left, dark to light. Work on blending them as seamlessly as possible where they meet in the middle.

      3. Master the art of burnishing.

      Use a very light or colorless blender or a paper stump tool to smooth out colors and minimize the appearance of pencil strokes. This will work better than your thumb, as well as giving you more control.

      4. When creating highlights and shadows, avoid the temptation to use black and white.

      Sticking to black and white for all of your shadow and highlight needs can leave a picture looking flat. Dark blues, purples, and indigo make for a richer shadow, while very pale golds and yellows make for warmer highlights.

      5. Blot, don’t rub, with your eraser.

      Rubbing colored pencil will do more harm than good, grinding colors into the page rather than removing them. For more control and a cleaner page, press a kneaded eraser like this one on the area and then carefully peel it off, the same way you did with Silly Putty and the Sunday comics as a kid.

      Additional Resources:

      If you’re like me, you could probably use some more visual explanations. I recommend…

      This tutorial on DeviantArtThis detailed video on YouTubeThis article with great example pictures, andThis Pinterest board with even more resources to explore

      Sold out Sold out Sold out Sold out

Tag » How To Use Colored Pencils