Colored Pencils Are Hard So Change This | Layering Problems 

Colored pencils are translucent, meaning you can see though layers to the colors underneath (especially with oil based ones), this means in order to get a proper color you need to use multiple layers of different colors. There are also different ways to layer for different purposes, like for instance, you can add a bunch of heavier layers of different colors and blend them together to equal one color like you would paint. You can also layer them in lighter layers (like I do) to give all the colors you have underneath just a boost in one of the primary colors, red, yellow, or blue; or even to just boost shading with browns, grays or black. Having hundreds of different colors of colored pencils actually really complicates drawing with them, especially for beginners because there are way too many to choose from and when layering them together with other colors they mix together and give you results you were not intending to get. Not to mention that those really big sets are also expensive. You also will develop your drawings skills further by drawing with fewer pencils, it teaches you to learn color theory and balancing the primary colors which are needed to make all variety of colors.

@@jessicamatheneyfineart Thanks, Jessica. I got carried away by all those colors I am afraid.

Great idea! I use different brushes for different purposes, watercolor brushes work best for blurry backgrounds and a multi-color blend, where as stiffer brushes like gold taklon work best for fur or textures.

@@jessicamatheneyfineart great! Thanks so much. I've been using tortillons but I like the idea of using a brush with a finer tip and less smear. What did everyone do before RU-vid, I'll never know. 🤭

😂your comment made me laugh! We were all lost apparently before RU-vid! Can you imagine what kids in the future would think about not having RU-vid or TikTok? I remember when I was in 6th grade and we got to use the first Apple MAC little box computers to play Oregon Trail on! 😂 I don’t know how old you are so you might not even have a clue what I’m talking about! Kids today don’t realize just how fortunate they are when it comes to the unlimited ways to learn any subject or hobby they want to learn!

@@melkmb lol. I'm 39 in a couple months so remember well days without computers, cell phones, internet when I was below 10 years. We didn't have a computer until I was in junior high, while others probably had one before we did. I spent childhood playing outdoors and using my imagination, although I did watch a lot of TV, too, which I regret. We are so fortunate to have all the education available to learn things, and especially reviews from people who've tried products or methods so we can find out if they are junk before wasting money or time.

Thanks for watching! And that's a really great suggestion for a video. 😀

I have tried an alcohol blender marker and did a previous video on it. I can't say that I've used it enough to have an official opinion on if I really like it or not, I wasn't satisfied with the streaky look to the blend it does, and so i have not ever used it since for any drawings. I have thought about practicing more with it to see what kind of effects or looks you can get to drawings, just haven't gotten around to it.

Hi, I know I’m not Jessica, but I saw your question and that it didn’t get answered so I thought I would at least send you in the right direction. You can use a number of different things to blend, but depending on what you’re creating your art for, like if you’re a professional and wanting to sell your art, or if it’s just a hobby and you want to make art for yourself or friends and family, some products will not be archival. That just means that they won’t withstand through exposure to light and other elements. Things like linseed oil, walnut oil, baby oil, rubbing alcohol, etc. won’t hold up very well over time and usually they will leave a residue or ring around the edges of your art because it tends to spread if you’re not careful and it doesn’t dry the same way the archival products do. There are a few products that I’ve seen artists use with great results and they are supposed to be odorless but I don’t know about being non-toxic. They’re just said to be a safer alternative. One is called NOOD made by the company Utrecht. I don’t know if you have heard of the artist Jennifer Morrison, but she switched from Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits to NOOD, or maybe even uses both. There is another product called zest-it that claims to be more environmentally friendly and safer that has a very distinct citrus smell. It works just as effectively but some people say that the citrus smell can be overwhelming. The artist Lisa Lachri, who has a pretty large following here on RU-vid and you might have heard of, uses or at least used to use Zest-it. Another product made by Holbein is called Meltz. I honestly don’t know much about this product and I think it’s a newer product. Another thing you can use that I have found works really well is Turpenoid Odorless. But it’s most likely not non-toxic. But, if you’re just looking to have fun and experiment with your art, then by all means use any kind of linseed oil, walnut oil, or any other oil product that you have on hand for a toxic free experience! There’s tons of videos on RU-vid with demonstrations on using many different household products to blend out colored pencils. Off hand I know that Kirsten Partridge has a video on her channel showing how to use a bunch of different alternatives for blending. Anyhow, sorry that was quite a lengthy reply 😂 I hope it helped a little bit! I’ll see if I can find that video by Kirsty and share it to you.

@@melkmb This is so helpful, thank you so very much. Will apply some of these techniques. No problem on the length of the reply! Very much appreciated. Best

@@LastNorseman1962 I’m glad it helped!

That's a great way to do it! Gamsol is solvent, all paint thinner is solvent. 🙂

Glad it was helpful!

@Scout Dee Draws thanks for the tips. I use Carandache, Faber Castell, Derwent, and Prismacolor pencils which are all pretty high quality artist grade pencils. I usually use Clairefontaine Pastelmat for my drawing surface. And every time I’ve tried blending with the oms, I’ve always left it to dry overnight before adding more pencil layers. And I swear I apply the pencil as lightly as I can, but then when I see other artists using their lightest pressure, I think that maybe I’m just not capable of using that light of a touch. 😂 so maybe using oms just isn’t for me then! Or I will just have to practice a ton more!

If you find it hard to add more layers after it could be a combination of problems. What paper type are you using? Smooth paper types like bristol vellum or plate really limits you to the amount of layers you can get (no more than about 3 heavy layers). Also if you are using too much pressure with your pencil it will cause you to put down heavy layers and you will max out the amount of colored pencil the paper will take pretty fast. When blending with a solvent, you don't have to do heavy layers because it blends so nice and make the colors pretty vibrant, it doesn't take much. * just read your other reply* If you are using pastelmat and it makes it hard to add layers, I wonder a few things. How wet is the paper after you blend? If you are leaving it to dry overnight because it's wet, you've used way too much and also have likely damaged the paper. You only need to barely dip the brush in, wipe the excess with a paper towel, and then it should last a while until you see it isn't blending anymore, then dip the brush again and repeat. Another factor is you might be adding too heavy of layers and maxing out the paper. Pastelmat is like the extreme textured paper available that gives you the maximum possible layers you could ever get over any other paper available. Are you adding heavy layers because of the grainy look you get? Pastelmat is a paper I do not recommend for colored pencil unless you are drawing larger than 14"x17". The super texture to the paper will always give small drawings a grainy look, larger drawings are not impacted so much with the texture.

@@jessicamatheneyfineart thanks for your reply! I always think I’m applying light pressure in my layers but maybe I’m not. And when I said I leave it overnight to dry, it’s not because it’s so wet, just a precaution to be sure it’s absolutely dry. When I used the oms on pastelmat, there was still plenty of grain showing through so I didn’t think I had over saturated the paper with pencil yet. Maybe it’s because I’m using more oil based pencils for my initial layers instead of wax? I don’t know. Maybe I just don’t really like using the oms. But I appreciate your advice! Thank you Jessica!