Smoothing color pencils typically involves blending the colors to reduce visible pencil strokes and create a more even, painterly effect. Here's how you can achieve smoother results:
Techniques for Smoothing Color Pencils
1. Layering and Pressure Control
- Light Layers: Build up color gradually by applying multiple thin layers of colored pencil. Avoid pressing too hard initially. This allows for smoother blending and prevents the paper from becoming saturated too quickly.
- Varying Pressure: Use different amounts of pressure to create variations in value (lightness and darkness). Lighter pressure allows for easier blending.
2. Blending Tools
- Blending Stumps/Tortillions: These are tightly wound paper tools that can be used to blend colors together. Use them in small, circular motions to soften the pencil strokes.
- Paper Towels/Cotton Swabs: Gently rub the colored pencil marks with a paper towel or cotton swab to blend them. This works best with softer colored pencils.
- Fingers (Use with Caution): You can use your fingers to blend, but be mindful of the oils on your skin, which can affect the paper and the colored pencil. Wipe your finger on a clean cloth before blending.
3. Solvents
- Rubbing Alcohol or Odorless Mineral Spirits: This method involves using a solvent to dissolve the binder in the colored pencil, allowing the pigment to spread and blend more easily.
- Application: Dip a small brush into the solvent (very sparingly!) and gently apply it to the colored pencil drawing.
- Caution: Always test the solvent on a scrap piece of the same paper you are using for your artwork. Some papers are more absorbent than others, and the solvent can damage the paper if used excessively.
- Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area when using solvents.
4. Burnishing
- Purpose: Burnishing involves applying heavy pressure with a colorless blender pencil or a hard colored pencil to compress the paper fibers and create a smooth, almost waxy finish.
- How to: Apply multiple layers of color first. Then, using a colorless blender or a light-colored pencil (like white or cream), apply heavy pressure to fill in the tooth of the paper and create a smooth surface.
5. Choosing the Right Paper
- Smooth Paper: Using smooth paper with minimal tooth (texture) will result in easier blending and smoother results. Hot-pressed watercolor paper or bristol paper are good options.
- Paper with Tooth: While smoother paper is easier to blend on, paper with more tooth will hold more layers of color.
6. Pencil Type
- Soft Core Pencils: Soft core colored pencils blend more easily than hard core pencils.
- Wax-Based vs. Oil-Based: Wax-based pencils are generally easier to blend than oil-based pencils.
Summary
To smooth colored pencils, focus on layering, blending tools, solvents (used carefully), burnishing techniques, selecting the appropriate paper, and choosing the correct type of colored pencil. Experiment with different methods to discover what works best for you and the desired effect.