You can't blend colored pencils in an electrical blender designed for food preparation. That would damage the blender and ruin your colored pencils! The term "blending" in colored pencil art refers to creating smooth transitions and seamless color combinations on paper, not in an appliance.
Here's a breakdown of how to achieve blending effects with colored pencils through artistic techniques:
Colored Pencil Blending Techniques
1. Layering
- The Foundation: Start with a light base layer of your initial color. Apply with minimal pressure.
- Building Color: Gradually add subsequent layers, slightly overlapping each stroke. Change the direction of your strokes with each layer for even coverage.
- Patience is Key: Layering takes time, but it creates depth and smooth transitions.
2. Burnishing
- Creating a Smooth Surface: Burnishing involves applying heavy pressure with your colored pencils to completely fill the tooth of the paper (the tiny grooves and valleys).
- Techniques: Use a smooth, blunt object (a burnishing tool, a hard colorless blender pencil, or even the side of a colored pencil) to compress the pigment.
- Considerations: Burnishing is difficult to undo, so plan your colors carefully.
3. Colorless Blender Pencils
- Softening Edges: Colorless blender pencils contain a wax or oil-based medium without pigment.
- How to Use: Apply the blender pencil over your colored pencil layers to soften edges, blend colors, and fill in the paper's tooth. This creates a smoother, more unified appearance.
- Note: Using a colorless blender pencil can sometimes darken colors slightly.
4. Solvent Blending
- Using Solvents: This technique involves applying a solvent (like mineral spirits or Zest-it) to your colored pencil layers with a brush.
- How it Works: The solvent dissolves the wax or oil binder in the colored pencils, allowing the pigments to blend more easily.
- Important Safety: Work in a well-ventilated area when using solvents.
- Application: Apply solvent lightly, building up in layers. Over-saturation can damage the paper.
5. Dry Blending
- Overlapping and Light Pressure: This technique uses only the colored pencils themselves and relies on skillful layering with very light pressure.
- Circular Motions: Small, overlapping circular motions help blend the colors seamlessly.
Why You Shouldn't Use an Electrical Blender
- Damage to Pencils: The blender blades would pulverize the colored pencils, rendering them unusable.
- Damage to Blender: Colored pencil pigments and binders could clog and damage the blender's motor and components.
- Unpredictable Results: Even if you could somehow blend the pencils, you'd end up with a messy, unusable powder.
In short, forget about using a kitchen blender for colored pencil blending. Use the artistic techniques outlined above to achieve the desired effect on your artwork.
