Still life drawing is a classic art form that allows artists to capture the beauty and detail of everyday objects. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore the basics of still life drawing in coloured pencil, including choosing the right materials, setting up a still life, and using techniques for shading, blending, and creating texture.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to improve your coloured pencil skills, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and techniques you need to create beautiful and lifelike still life drawings.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of still life drawing in coloured pencil, let’s dive into some more detailed techniques for shading, blending, and creating texture.
Still Life Drawing in Colour Pencil
Before jumping into drawing, there are a few important points to consider when creating a still life drawing in colored pencil. These include selecting the right materials, setting up the still life, and understanding basic colored pencil techniques.
- Choose Correct Materials
- Arrange Interesting Setup
- Learn Shading Techniques
- Practice Blending Colors
By following these tips, you can create beautiful and realistic still life drawings in colored pencil.
Choose Materials
Before you can begin drawing, you need to gather some materials. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Pencils: Choose a set of pencils with a variety of grades, from hard to soft. This will give you the flexibility to create different types of marks and tones.
- Paper: A smooth, heavyweight paper is best for colored pencil drawing. Look for a paper that is at least 140 gsm (grams per square meter).
- Eraser: A soft, white vinyl or gum erase is best for erasing colored pencil marks. Avoid using a hard or plastic erase, as this can damage the paper.
- Sharpener: A sharpener is used to keep your pencils pointed and in good condition. You can use a regular pencil sharpener or a specialized colored pencil sharpener.
- Fixative: A fixative is a spray coating that can be applied to your drawing to protect it from smudging and fading. This is optional, but it is recommended for drawings that you plan to keep or display.
Additional Materials:
- Kneaded Eraser: A kneaded erase is a soft, pliable erase that can be used to pick up graphite and colored pencil marks without damaging the paper.
- Tortillion: A tortillion is a blending tool that can be used to blend colored pencil marks and create smooth transitions.
- Colorless Blender: A colorless blender is a pencil that can be used to blend colored pencil marks and create smooth transitions. It is especially useful for blending light colors.
Optional:
- Colored Pencil Sharpener: A colored pencil sharpener is specifically designed to sharpen colored pencils. It creates a finer point than a regular pencil sharpener.
- Prismacolor Pencil Sharpener: A Prismacolor pencil sharpener is a specialized sharpener that is designed to sharpen Prismacolor colored pencils. It creates a very fine point.
With these materials, you’ll be able to create beautiful and realistic still life drawings in colored pencil.
Arrange Interesting Setup
Once you have your materials, you need to arrange your still life setup. This is an important step, as the arrangement of your objects will determine the composition of your drawing.
Here are some tips for arranging a still life setup:
- Choose Objects with Different Shapes and Textures: This will add visual interest to your drawing and make it more dynamic.
- Vary the Heights of Your Objects: Some objects should be taller than others. This will create a more dynamic and interesting composition.
- Group Objects Together: Don’t spread your objects out too much. Group them together so that they create a cohesive composition.
- Leave Negative Space: Don’t fill the entire paper with objects. Leave some negative space around your objects. This will help to create a sense of balance and harmony.
- Consider the Lighting: The lighting in your setup will affect the way your objects look in your drawing. Try to use natural light if possible. If you’re using artificial light, make sure it is evenly distributed.
Once you’re happy with your setup, take a few minutes to study it carefully. Pay attention to the shapes, textures, and values of the objects. This will help you to create a more accurate and realistic drawing.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to arrange still life setups that are both interesting and visually appealing.
Learn Shading Techniques
Shading is an essential technique in colored pencil drawing. It allows you to create the illusion of depth and form in your drawings.
There are many different shading techniques that you can use. Here are a few of the most common:
- Hatching: Hatching is a technique where you create a series of parallel lines. The closer the lines are together, the darker the tone will be.
- Cross-Hatching: Cross-hatching is a variation of hatching where you create two layers of lines that intersect each other at right angles. This creates a darker and more textured tone.
- Stippling: Stippling is a technique where you create a series of small dots. The closer the dots are together, the darker the tone will be.
- Scribbling: Scribbling is a technique where you create a series of short, random lines. This creates a light and airy tone.
- Blending: Blending is a technique where you use a tortillion or colorless blender to blend the colored pencil marks together. This creates a smooth and even tone.
The best way to learn shading techniques is to practice. Experiment with different techniques and see what works best for you. You can also find many helpful tutorials online and in books.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of shading, you can start to use these techniques to create more complex and realistic drawings.
Practice Blending Colors
Blending colors is an important technique in colored pencil drawing. It allows you to create smooth transitions between colors and create a more realistic and cohesive drawing.
There are two main ways to blend colors with colored pencils:
- Direct Blending: Direct blending is a technique where you apply two or more colors directly to the paper and then blend them together with a tortillion or colorless blender.
- Indirect Blending: Indirect blending is a technique where you apply two or more colors in layers. You then use a tortillion or colorless blender to blend the colors together. This technique is often used to create smooth transitions between colors.
The best way to practice blending colors is to experiment with different techniques and see what works best for you. You can also find many helpful tutorials online and in books.
Here are a few tips for blending colors with colored pencils:
- Use a light touch: When blending colors, it’s important to use a light touch. Pressing too hard can damage the paper and make it difficult to blend the colors.
- Start with light colors: When blending colors, it’s best to start with light colors and then gradually add darker colors. This will help you to create smooth transitions between colors.
- Work in small areas: Don’t try to blend large areas of color at once. Work in small areas and gradually build up the color.
- Use a tortillion or colorless blender: A tortillion or colorless blender is a great tool for blending colors. These tools can help you to create smooth and even transitions between colors.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to blend colors like a pro. This will help you to create more realistic and cohesive drawings.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about pencil drawing:
Question 1: What type of pencil should I use for drawing?
Answer: The type of pencil you use will depend on the effect you want to achieve. For general drawing, a medium-grade pencil, such as an HB or 2B, is a good starting point. You can also use harder pencils, such as an H or 2H, for light lines and details, and softer pencils, such as a B or 4B, for darker lines and shading.
Question 2: What kind of paper should I use for pencil drawing?
Answer: A smooth, heavyweight paper is best for pencil drawing. Look for a paper that is at least 140 gsm (grams per square meter). This will help to prevent the paper from tearing or buckling when you are drawing.
Question 3: How do I hold a pencil correctly?
Answer: There are two main ways to hold a pencil for drawing. The first way is to hold the pencil between your thumb and first two fingers, with your index finger resting on top of the pencil. The second way is to hold the pencil between your thumb and first finger, with your middle finger resting on the pencil below your index finger. Experiment with both methods to find the one that is most comfortable for you.
Question 4: How do I create different values with a pencil?
Answer: You can create different values with a pencil by varying the pressure you apply to the paper. Pressing harder will create darker values, while pressing lightly will create lighter values. You can also create values by hatching and cross-hatching. Hatching is a technique where you create a series of parallel lines. Cross-hatching is a technique where you create two layers of lines that intersect each other at right angles.
Question 5: How do I blend pencil marks?
Answer: You can blend pencil marks using a tortillion or a blending stump. A tortillion is a tightly rolled piece of paper that is used to blend large areas of pencil marks. A blending stump is a pointed tool that is used to blend small areas of pencil marks.
Question 6: How do I erase pencil marks?
Answer: You can erase pencil marks using a soft, white vinyl or gum eraser. Avoid using a hard or plastic eraser, as this can damage the paper. You can also use a kneaded eraser to pick up graphite and colored pencil marks without damaging the paper.
Question 7: What are some tips for drawing realistic eyes?
Answer: When drawing realistic eyes, pay attention to the following details: the shape of the eye, the placement of the iris and pupil, the highlights and shadows, and the eyelashes. You can also use a light touch to create soft, natural-looking lines.
Closing Paragraph:
These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about pencil drawing. With practice, you can learn to create beautiful and realistic drawings with a pencil.
Now that you know the basics of pencil drawing, here are a few tips to help you improve your skills:
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you improve your pencil drawing skills:
Tip 1: Practice regularly:
The more you practice, the better your pencil drawing skills will become. Try to set aside some time each day to practice drawing. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, regular practice will help you improve your skills.
Tip 2: Start with simple subjects:
When you’re first starting out, it’s best to start with simple subjects. This will help you to focus on the basics of pencil drawing, such as line quality, shading, and perspective. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can then move on to more complex subjects.
Tip 3: Use a variety of pencils:
Different types of pencils can create different effects. Experiment with different pencils to find the ones that you like best. For example, a hard pencil can be used for light lines and details, while a soft pencil can be used for darker lines and shading.
Tip 4: Pay attention to values:
Values are the lightness or darkness of a color. When you’re drawing, it’s important to pay attention to the values of the objects you’re drawing. This will help you to create a sense of depth and realism in your drawings.
Closing Paragraph:
These are just a few tips to help you improve your pencil drawing skills. With practice, you can learn to create beautiful and realistic drawings with a pencil.
Now that you know the basics of pencil drawing and have some tips to help you improve your skills, it’s time to start practicing. The more you practice, the better your drawings will become.
Conclusion
Pencil drawing is a classic art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It’s a great way to express yourself creatively and to capture the beauty of the world around you.
In this article, we’ve covered the basics of pencil drawing, including choosing the right materials, arranging a still life setup, learning shading techniques, and practicing blending colors. We’ve also provided some tips to help you improve your pencil drawing skills.
The most important thing is to practice regularly. The more you practice, the better your drawings will become. So grab a pencil and some paper, and start drawing!
Closing Message:
We hope this article has inspired you to start drawing with pencils. With a little practice, you can create beautiful and realistic drawings that you can be proud of.
