Topic: Technique you will require for Blending Colored Pencil Using color pencils to draw can be fun, but blending it sometimes can be a boring process. Since using unified colors is essential in actualizing the desired result, in this article, we will decipher how you can blend colored pencils. Unlike charcoal or granite, colored pencils cannot be mixed with tortillas and paper stumps. Nevertheless, there are some techniques and tools, which can be used in achieving the same blending effects. TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR BLENDING COLORED PENCILS SOLVENTS: These are liquids, which liquefy the binders in wax and oil based colored pencils. Solvents help in eliminating pencil strokes and smoothing the top or surface of the work done. Apart from this, they make layering color to be much faster. This procedure works best for medium and dark colors; however, it does work with lighter hues. Solvents that can be used in colored pencil blending are Weber Turpenoid Natural and Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits.The best place to use solvents is a well-ventilated area; this is because of limiting the exposure of the chemicals and odor. The liquid should be pouredinto a small, resealable glass container. To derive the best results, it is better to dip a cheap synthetic brush into the solvent and brush it via the area shaded. It will require some practice to make use of the actual amount. As a principle, a little should be used, because the solvent may dilute more pigment. A paper towel should be by your side to blow off extra solvent on the brush. COLORLESS PENCIL BLENDERS: These set of pencils takes more effort and time; using them for polishing can produce an effect that is similar solvents. Burnishing or Polishing is a blending technique of layering colored pencils with the application of heavy pressure. It saturates and fuses colors while at the same time smoothing out the surface. The blending procedure rids of the surface of any texture that is left in the drawing. Polishing or burnishing gives allowance to the artists to burnish the surface to its maximum smoothness so that it's evenly filled with color, reducing deep saturated tones. This procedure and tool are predominantly effective to polish the surface in the mid-tones, lights, and acmes in your colored pencil drawing.
TIPS FOR BLENDING COLORED PENCILS
Polish the surface steadily by fluctuating the pressure of the pencil pressure. If the surface gets too dark, consider letting it dry and layer it with lighter cover
Blend colors from light to dark
Polish the surface carefully
You should warm your wax-based pencils.
Don’t forget to draw on thesmooth surface. A paper’s texture greatly affects the layering of a color — the more textured, the harder it is to fill in the paper’s tooth and blend the colors. Many artists prefer Strathmore paper or Stonehenge paper.
Author’s Bio John Long in this article looks at some of the techniques that may be required when blending colored pencils. He further expounds on some of the tools when using colored or mechanical pencils.