To achieve smooth, solid colors with colored pencils, you'll want to use a technique called burnishing. Burnishing creates a solid area of pigment where no paper texture shows through, resulting in a polished, almost painted look. This is achieved by layering colors and applying heavy pressure.
The Burnishing Technique:
Here's how to effectively use the burnishing technique with colored pencils:
- Layering: Start by applying your desired colors in light layers. Don't press hard initially. This builds up the color gradually.
- Color Selection: You can use a darker color over lighter layers. Alternatively, some artists use a light-colored or even a colorless blender pencil for the final burnishing step.
- Heavy Pressure: Once you have sufficient layers of color, you can start to burnish. This involves applying a pencil, often a light-colored one, on top of the existing layers with heavy pressure.
- Direction: You can burnish using a circular or side-to-side motion. Make sure your pencil strokes are overlapping.
- Even Pressure: Make sure to apply even pressure over the entire area to ensure consistent color coverage.
Why Burnishing Works
- Burnishing presses the pigment deeper into the paper's tooth (the textured surface), filling the valleys and creating a smooth, even surface.
- By using a light color or a colorless blender as the final layer, you can further smooth the surface and merge the colors underneath.
- The heavy pressure helps blend the pigments, minimizing any visible texture.
Tips for Successful Burnishing:
- Use Sharp Pencils: Sharp pencils help with even application and prevent uneven patches.
- Choose the Right Paper: Smoother papers generally work best for burnishing. Heavy tooth paper can make burnishing difficult.
- Be Patient: Burnishing takes time and multiple passes.
- Avoid Over Burnishing: If the burnishing becomes difficult or you feel like you are damaging your pencils or paper, do not force it. You may have already reached the maximum amount of layering and burnishing your paper can handle.
By following these steps, you'll be able to achieve beautifully smooth, solid colors with your colored pencils, giving your artwork a polished finish.
