Once the artwork is finished, you can seal it with a fixative, which will prevent wax bloom from returning.ĭepending on your style, wax bloom may never be a problem for you. When I first laid down the colors, I made the background a consistently dark violet-black, but over the years wax bloom has lightened some of those dark areas, as you can see in this pic, resulting in a “splotchy” look.ĭon’t fret though! If you see some wax bloom, you can wipe the affected area with a clean, dry cloth before applying more color. It can take hours or days to appear, but it usually doesn’t occur unless you apply lots of heavy, dark colors, like in the example you see here from one of my artworks. The only downside to wax-based colored pencils is wax bloom, which is a natural oxidation process that can cause the wax to rise to the surface of your artwork, leaving a pale haze. Hard colored pencils can also be less fun to use, because it takes more work to apply color, blending is more difficult, and they make you want to press harder, which can damage your paper and possibly cause hand fatigue. Most student grade colored pencils are hard because manufacturers cut costs by adding more filler/binder and less pigment, which produces dull colors. Hard colored pencils can be sharpened to a very fine point that won’t crumble, allowing fine lines well-suited to detailed artwork and certain textures (like hair and fur). One downside with soft pencils is that they won’t hold a point as well and they’ll need sharpening more often. Most artist grade pencils are on the softer side, which is partly because they contain less binder and filler, and more pigment, resulting in bolder, more vibrant colors. Some soft colored pencils are smooth and creamy, while others might be crumbly and grainy. Soft colored pencils are preferred by many artists, including myself, because they lay down color easily, and blend well. This can vary across brands and pencil types, depending on the particular combination of ingredients the manufacturer used. One of the biggest factors that will affect your enjoyment of colored pencils is the consistency of the "lead". They will also boast a wider color range, and you'll be able to buy them individually as needed (referred to as "open stock"). They do cost more, but that's because they contain a higher proportion of pigment, which yields richer, bolder colors.Īrtist grade pencils are also more lightfast (discussed below), and usually softer, which makes them easier to use and blend. If your budget allows, my recommendation is to always favor artist grade pencils, which are noticeably superior. When purchasing colored pencils, there are many different considerations to keep in mind that we'll discuss on this page, but the most important decision you'll make is whether to get "student grade" or "artist grade" colored pencils (those are Blick affiliate links). With minimal equipment or preparation you can settle in and lose yourself in a frenzy of creativity! While I also enjoy using other art media, like acrylics, few are as relaxing as colored pencils because you don’t have to worry about making a mess, inhaling something toxic or staining your clothes, and afterwards there's nothing to wash or clean-up. Colored pencils also don't require a bunch of extra accessories that you'd need for a medium like oil paint, for example: you can can achieve a lot with just a simple set, a sharpener, and a humble sketchbook. They’ll also last a long time you don’t have to worry about them drying out like you do with paint or markers. In addition to their versatility, colored pencils are also practical and hassle-free! They're light and portable, so you can travel with them and draw on location. Note on terminology: colored pencils are mostly associated with drawings, but if they cover the whole support/surface they are called paintings, and you can see why… they really do look like paintings! For example, check out this colored pencil painting by Alyona Nickelsen, the author of the book "Colored Pencil Painting Bible". With that said, the versatility of colored pencils also allow the application of bold, opaque colors, either by pressing harder or by layering and blending.
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