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DRAWING » DRAWING STYLES Co-authored by:
Rebecca Schweiger
How to Shade with Colored Pencils Professional Artist & Art School
Founder
Co-authored by Rebecca Schweiger Download Article
Co-authors: 4
Last Updated: February 11, 2022 References
2 votes - 50% Updated: February 11,
METHODS
Learning how to shade in your drawings using Click a star to vote 2022
1 Creating Light and Dark Shades
colored pencils will allow you to create beautiful and Views: 44,637
2 Using Different Shading Techniques
vibrant pieces of artwork. The key to getting bright, OTHER SECTIONS
smooth color when you're shading something in is to Tips and Warnings NICOLE AGUAYO
Aug 19, 2020
add multiple layers of light color on top of one Related Articles
another. Professional artist Rebecca Schweiger References "I am making a collage and this helped,
thanks."
agrees that "in order to make something look more
realistic, it's all about light, shadow, and contrast." When you press lightly, you'll get a lighter More success stories Share yours!
color, while pressing more heavily will give you a darker color that's more difficult to erase. Try
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
out different shading techniques like crosshatching or stippling to find out which one is your
favorite.
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
Method
1 Creating Light and Dark Shades
1 Sharpen your colored pencils before using them for the best color. A sharp
colored pencil will allow you to make finer lines as well as more vibrant colors.
Sharpen all of your colored pencils using a pencil sharpener each time you go to use them,
creating a fine point.[1]
2 Use controlled, slow movements to create the best drawing. Instead of rushing
through your drawing and quickly applying the color, slow down and make your lines
more precise. When you color quickly, you’re more likely to press too hard and create
messy lines.[2] Professional artist Rebecca Schweiger suggests "varying the pressure of
each pencil, so you can see how light and dark you can get your colors."
Holding your pencil at an angle helps to control your arm movements and slow
down a bit.
3 Hold your pencil on its side to shade a larger area in lighter shades. By using
your colored pencil’s side, the color will be slightly lighter and the strokes will be
broader. This is helpful for layering or if you’re trying to cover a large area in a faster You Might Also Like
amount of time. The lighter you press on the paper with the colored pencil, the lighter the
color you’ll create.[3] [4]
Holding your pencil farther back, as opposed to right next to the tip, will help you
keep your shading light because you won’t be applying as much pressure.
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A D V E RT I S E M E N T
KÉRASTASE×SEPHORA
PARIS
HYDRATING
HAIRTREATMENTS
4 Use the tip of your pencil and apply pressure for darker shades. The tip of your
colored pencil is great for making precise, skinny lines. If you’re using the tip and
pressing down, know that your color is going to come out more concentrated, so you’ll want KÉRASTASE
to be very sure about your marks before you make them.[5] KÉRASTASE
Use the tip of your colored pencil to create fine details or outline parts of drawings.
Keep sharpening your pencil when it becomes dull so the tip remains sharp.
NUTRITIVE
GEENISHISE
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
FOR
DAY&NIGHT
SHOPKÉRASTASE
5 Layer your color slowly as opposed to immediately applying pressure.
According to professional artist Rebecca Schweiger, "Layering is the best way to
properly blend colored pencils." Even if you’re only using one color, apply a layer of light
color by holding your pencil softly, and then keep adding light layers on top of that one until
you reach your desired shade.[6] Schweiger advises "applying a little extra pressure to the
color that you want to shine through more." If you were drawing a red apple, Schweiger
suggests "layering some blue on top to create colored shadows."
Avoid immediately using pressure to create bright colors. This makes it very hard to
add other colors on top of it, and it makes your shading look uneven.
Really allow yourself to mix the colors so that you can see how light and how dark
you can get your colors!
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
6 Blot the color away with an eraser to lighten the pencil marks. Instead of rubbing
the eraser on the colored pencil marks to try to remove the color, try lightly blotting at
the marks with an eraser instead. If you rub your paper with the eraser, it’s just going smear
the color and ruin your picture.[7]
While it's unlikely that you'll completely erase the colored pencil marks, blotting at
them with an eraser may lighten them significantly.
Try purchasing colored pencils that are specifically designed to erase and come
with their own special erasers if desired. Featured Articles
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A D V E RT I S E M E N T
1 Color using back-and-forth strokes. This is the most common way to use colored
pencils, and you probably do it naturally when shading. Color in your drawing using a
back-and-forth motion while not lifting your pencil from the paper.[8]
This is a good way to fill in areas with color very quickly.
2 Draw using circular marks to create texture. Instead of using continuous lines
going back and forth, create circles instead. Put your colored pencil to the paper and
start creating small, light circles going on top of one another without lifting your pencil from
the paper. The more circular marks you layer on top of one another, the more vibrant the
color you’ll create.[9]
Another name for this method is scumbling.
Use this method to color in a flower or large object that's all the same color.
3 Create hatch marks for a uniform color drawing. Hatching is when you draw small
parallel lines next to one another all going in the same direction. Create your hatch
marks as close or far apart from one another as you’d like. The closer together you make
your marks, the more colorful your drawing will seem.[10]
You might use hatch marks to show the shading and shadows of a hand or a pillow.
4 Try crosshatching to form vibrant tones in your drawing. To crosshatch, create
hatch marks by forming parallel lines next to one another, and then create another set Trending Articles
of parallel lines going the opposite way. This creates a bunch of ‘X’ marks right beside one
another. This is a great way to shade in your drawing to give it a uniform look.[11]
Crosshatching is useful if you’re blending two colors together—you can use one
color for one set of parallel lines, and the other color for the other set of parallel
lines going the opposite direction. Which Diet Is What Vibe Do I
Right for Me Quiz Give Off Quiz
Use crosshatching to shade in a picture of a barn or a piece of fruit.
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A D V E RT I S E M E N T
5 Use the stippling technique to create texture using dots. Stippling is when you
use your colored pencil to make dots all over the paper. The dots can be close
together or far apart, but the closer together and the more there are, the more colorful and
vibrant your drawing will be.[12]
Stippling adds great texture to your drawing.
Make the dots as thin or thick as you’d like, experimenting with different versions
until you find one you like the best.
You could use the stippling technique to draw a seashell or a wave in the ocean.
6 Shade using burnishing for a very smooth look. Burnishing is adding layer after
layer of color on top of one another until there’s so much colored pencil that it creates
a glazed, smooth surface. As you keep adding layers, you’ll need to press harder for the
colored pencil to show up, which is what creates the shiny quality.[13]
Burnishing can take a long time due to the number of layers you’ll need to add on
top of one another to create a smooth look.
Try drawing the sunset or a vegetable using the burnishing method.
Blend your coloring using a blender or paper stump to make the process go faster.
You can also use your fingertips to blend the colors.[14]
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Tips
Create a shade scale by starting out coloring with the lightest amount of pressure. As you
keep coloring, slowly increase the pressure and move your hand to the right until you have
the darkest tone. Don't be afraid of using your pencils, shifting the pressure as you see fit.
[15]
Remember that once you draw a dark line with your colored pencil, it'll be hard to erase it, so
try to press lightly when you're shading.
Try keeping areas that you want highlighted blank as you're coloring to take advantage of the
natural white.
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
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References
1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FcWFIXusA#t=3m11s
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FcWFIXusA#t=1m23s
3. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-
basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
4. ↑ Rebecca Schweiger. Professional Artist & Art School Founder. Expert Interview. 19
November 2021.
5. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-
basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZrcj6kq0TE#t=38s
7. ↑ https://www.inquisitr.com/2587045/colored-pencil-shading-tips-for-adult-coloring-books-
basic-shading-tips-with-color-pencils/
8. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
9. ↑ https://www.art-is-fun.com/colored-pencil-instruction
More References (6)
About This Article
Co-authored by:
Rebecca Schweiger
Professional Artist & Art School Founder
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Schweiger. Rebecca Schweiger is a Professional
Artist, Published Author, and the Founder of The Art Studio NY, New York City's #1-rated art
school and global online art studio. Celebrated by TV networks, press, and celebrities including
NBC, ABC, E!, Time Out New York, The Kardashians, and Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons,
Rebecca specializes in creating abstract artwork and teaching studio art classes. Her art
studios provide 100+ weekly, beginner-friendly drawing and painting art classes to people
around the globe. With more than 22 years of art experience, she is the author of Release Your
Creativity: Discover Your Inner Artist with 15 Simple Painting Projects, and her artwork has
been exhibited in more than 50 museums and galleries around the world. Rebecca holds a BFA
in Painting from Boston University's School for the Arts and has participated in acclaimed artist
residencies worldwide. This article has been viewed 44,637 times.
Co-authors: 4
2 votes - 50% Updated: February 11, 2022
Views: 44,637
Categories: Drawing Styles
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