Shading with colored pencils involves applying pigment in layers and using various techniques to create depth and form by varying the tonal value and color intensity.
Core Shading Technique: Layering
A fundamental approach to colored pencil shading is layering your pigments from light to dark to build the depth of values. This method allows you to gradually build up color and tone, giving you more control over the final result.
- Start Light: Begin with the lightest colors or lightest pressure.
- Build Layers: Apply subsequent layers, gradually increasing pressure or introducing darker colors. You might need a few layers to get the darkness that you desire.
- Vary Pressure: Lighter pressure on your pencils will create lighter values. As you layer, increase pressure slightly to build intensity and darker tones.
- Control Hues: Light hues can also be created by leaving more space between the lines or choosing a light-coloured pencil. This allows the paper or underlying layers to show through.
Using multiple layers creates a rich, smooth finish, as the pigments are blended optically and physically on the paper surface.
Controlling Value
Value refers to how light or dark a color is. Controlling value is key to realistic shading.
| Technique | Resulting Value | How to Achieve |
|---|---|---|
| Light Pressure | Lighter Value | Gently apply pencil with minimal force. |
| Heavier Pressure | Darker Value | Apply more force to deposit more pigment. |
| Fewer Layers | Lighter Value | Apply only one or a few layers. |
| More Layers | Darker Value | Build up many layers of pigment. |
| Leaving Paper Space | Lighter Hue | Use hatching or cross-hatching with gaps. |
| Choosing Light Color | Lighter Hue | Select a pencil with a naturally lighter pigment. |
Other Shading Methods
Beyond basic layering and pressure control, several specific techniques can be used for different effects:
- Hatching: Applying parallel lines close together. The closer the lines, the darker the value.
- Cross-Hatching: Laying lines in one direction and then layering lines across them at an angle (e.g., 90 degrees). More layers and different angles increase darkness.
- Circulism / Scumbling: Using small, random, circular or squiggly marks. Layering more of these marks and increasing pressure builds value. This technique can create interesting textures.
- Blending: Smoothing out layers of color to create smooth transitions. This can be done with:
- A white colored pencil (pushes colors together).
- A colorless blender pencil or marker (dissolves and spreads pigment).
- Solvents like odorless mineral spirits (use sparingly with a brush or blending stump).
- Burnishing: Applying heavy pressure with a light-colored pencil (often white or a very light shade) or a colorless blender over existing layers. This saturates the paper's tooth, blending the colors intensely and creating a smooth, polished, and often darker, vibrant look. It's typically one of the last steps as it's hard to add more layers afterward.
Tips for Effective Colored Pencil Shading
- Use Quality Paper: Paper with some "tooth" (texture) holds multiple layers of pigment better.
- Keep Pencils Sharp: Sharp pencils allow for detailed work and fine control over lines and layering.
- Understand Your Light Source: Determine where the light is coming from to correctly place highlights and shadows and build realistic forms.
- Practice Gradients: Practice transitioning smoothly from light to dark using pressure and layering with a single color.
- Experiment: Try combining different techniques to see what effects you can achieve.
By mastering layering from light to dark and practicing various techniques like hatching, blending, and burnishing, you can create stunning, dimensional artwork with colored pencils.
