Coloring Techniques for Beginners

Top 10 Coloring Techniques for Beginners

Greetings and welcome to my coloring method guide! In order to help you with your coloring, I'm going to provide my top 10 tips, regardless of your level of experience. Coloring is a creative and incredibly calming hobby that may make you feel happy and fulfilled. Let's get started and make coloring as gratifying and pleasurable as we can.

More alternatives are available when a variety of mark-making styles and approaches are employed. Experience multiplies theoretical knowledge, providing you with more options to accomplish the desired outcome. An added benefit is increased creative flexibility!

An introduction will come before a step-by-step drawing project. 

Selecting the Proper Colored Pencils :

The most important thing to remember is to choose the correct colored pencils. I discovered right away that not all colored pencils are made equally when I first started. Getting a decent set of colored pencils is something I advise. Rich pigments and seamless application are features of high-quality alternatives from brands like Derwent, Faber-Castell, and Prisma color. These may cost a little more, but the vivid and durable results make them worthwhile.

Pencils with color are an amazing medium. They are easily obtainable by anyone and serve as an excellent medium for switching from black and white to color drawings. However, they are also arguably the most underutilized or misapplied medium. Think of this article as a practical colored pencil usage guide—a crash course in colored pencil skills.

Simple yet powerful mark-making and blending techniques are covered in this session, which you may use to your colored pencil work. Important factors including pressure, pencil angle, and point sharpness will also be covered. We'll look at how these factors impact the outcome. I can't wait to give you a ton of useful advice!

Color Layering :

One of the earliest methods I was taught was to begin with thin color layers. With this method, you have more control over the outcome and can add color gradually. If you apply a lot of pressure right away, it may be hard to mix and modify colors later. Thus, use light pressure at first and then progressively increase it as necessary. This method facilitates the smooth mixing of colors and the creation of depth. To avoid sharp lines, apply several coats and use a delicate touch.

To get a dense, solid coating, there are other options besides applying intense pressure. (The evidence is shown in the image below.) Although the three samples were all drawn at medium pressure, the number of layers varies.

There won't be as many unmarked patches of paper the more fresh strokes you apply on top of the previous ones. Thus, if you're wondering why your artwork appears gritty, you might need to add extra pigment.
Layering colors can produce visually captivating effects. Because colored pencil applications are relatively translucent, blending and mixing are made possible through layering.

You can blend the color you need by layering, even if you don't have a lot of pencils. It matters which colors you apply in which order.

Blending :

Achieving realistic and smooth results requires careful blending. My early attempts at coloring were a little erratic and harsh. I discovered that there are other ways to blend: you can use a colorless blender, blending pencil, or even just overlay brighter tones over darker ones. Using a cotton swab or soft brush to delicately blend colors together is another technique.

Blending is necessary in practically every drawing, just like it is in any other drawing medium. There are several mediums that merge very well. It's really simple to blend color or value transitions with charcoal and soft pastels. These powdery media blend well with a finger swipe or blending stump.

Shading :

Your artwork gains depth and complexity with shading. I practiced this a lot by looking at real-world things and how light falls on them. To add shadows, use darker hues; to produce highlights, use lighter hues or even a white pencil. Your drawings will stand out and appear more three-dimensional because to this contrast.

In shading, the pencil glides back and forth on the page without ever leaving its surface. The pencil undergoes direction adjustments at certain turning points. It is possible to create a smoother, more cohesive look with this kind of movement. The lines in the covering transition softly from one to the next. Multilayer shading typically provides an extra smooth appearance since each successive layer has a different line direction.

Sharpness :

It is evident that narrow lines are produced by a pencil with a sharp point. Thus, remember to sharpen your pencils if your objective is to make precise details! You may achieve hair-thin lines by using a sharp tip, little pressure, and the right hand posture.

Being able to sketch well may also be advantageous in the early stages. A dull pencil can't overlay the paper's teeth as effectively or qualitatively as a sharp one can. But compared to a blunt core, it could take a little longer to cover a big area.

Additionally, if your pencil is dull, you'll probably have to push harder and harder to cover all the tiny bits of exposed paper.

This could seriously damage your paper's tooth. An improvised gradient from a pencil tip that resembles a needle to a point that is comparatively dull can be seen in the image below.

Every artist should, in my opinion, determine what their ideal and comfortable degrees of sharpness are. For instance, I've found that, in most situations, 80–90% sharpness is acceptable. Having some sandpaper on hand is a smart idea. It permits light pencil sharpening as deemed necessary.

Keep Your Colored Pencils Clean :

Maintaining the quality of your pencils is crucial for reliable outcomes. To avoid breakage, I've learnt to use a high-quality sharpener and to frequently sharpen my pencils. 

Maintaining a uniform point during sharpening also benefits from turning the pencil. To prevent damage, it's also beneficial to keep your pencils neatly packaged and kept.

Creating a White Underlayer :

Certain works of art need that a certain space remain unaltered. It could be a focus area or just minuscule elements like veins or hairs. Embossing is one method of maintaining the original appearance. An area that has already been painted with color can also be treated using this method.

Using a pointed tool to press onto paper and create indentations is known as embossing. The indented portions will remain untouched because it is quite challenging to reach them with a pencil tip.

The length of the embossed marks is not limited. You can even mimic the stippling effect.

Use a Blender Without Color :

Smoother blends can be accomplished with the use of a colorless blender pencil or solvent. I found that blending colors flawlessly is quick and simple when you use a colorless blender pencil. Consider employing a solvent such as odorless mineral spirits for a more sophisticated method. Apply it gently with a brush to get a paint-like look by dissolving the pigment.

Create Your Own Look :

While taking inspiration from others is valuable, what really sets your work apart is creating your own style. When I originally started, I imitated methods I found inspiring, but I eventually added my own twist. Try a variety of hues, brushstrokes, and subjects to see what speaks to you. Don't be scared to experiment and defy the rules.

Develop your perseverance and patience :

Finally, persistence and patience are essential. Although coloring with colored pencils can take some time, the outcome is worthwhile. I constantly have to tell myself that it's acceptable to take breaks and revisit a piece with new perspective. Your talents will become better the more you practice. Enjoy the trip and acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how minor.

Using colored pencils to color is a really creative and fulfilling way to express yourself. I hope these pointers give you greater self-assurance and motivate you to start coloring.

The important thing to keep in mind is to relish the journey and give yourself permission to develop and learn as you go.

Have fun coloring!