Blending powder significantly enhances colored pencil techniques, allowing for smooth transitions and rich color saturation. This guide details how to effectively use blending powder with your colored pencils.
Understanding Blending Powder
Blending powder, often colorless, is applied to the paper before or after layering colored pencils. It acts as a binding agent, allowing for easy blending of colors. It works well with both oil- and wax-based pencils (sources like Magic Pencil confirm this compatibility). Only small amounts are needed for optimal results.
Using Blending Powder: A Step-by-Step Guide
These steps, inspired by Carrie L. Lewis's approach, offer a comprehensive workflow:
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Prepare the Surface: For best results, particularly with cotton paper, apply a texture fixative to seal the surface before applying the blending powder (Lachri Fine Art highlights this important step). This prevents the powder from being absorbed unevenly.
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Apply the Powder: Use a soft brush or sponge to apply a small amount of blending powder to the area you intend to blend. Avoid excessive application; a light dusting is sufficient.
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Layer Your Colors: Carefully apply your colored pencils over the powder. Work in layers, building up color gradually. Lachri Fine Art suggests specific pencil types work better, but the powder will work across many mediums.
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Blend the Colors: Using a brush, sponge, or even your fingertip, gently blend the colors together. This process is similar to blending pastels. A video by Lachri demonstrates this technique with oil-based pencils like Polychromos and Derwent.
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Repeat as Needed: Add more layers of color and blending powder as needed to achieve the desired effect. Remember, less is more.
Tips and Tricks
- Experiment with different application methods: soft brushes, cotton swabs, or even your fingers can produce unique results.
- Consider the paper type; heavier weight papers often work better.
- Practice makes perfect. Start with small projects to get a feel for the technique. A DIY approach like the one shown in this YouTube video can also be considered.
Alternative Blending Methods
While blending powder is highly effective, you can achieve similar results using other techniques:
- Sanding: Create your own blending powder by sanding down colored pencils and applying the resulting dust with a brush or cotton swab. This is mentioned in a Reddit thread.
