What can you draw easily with colored pencils? Lesson: coloring with colored pencils

Colored pencils are a universal tool that anyone can use to draw. They don't require any special skills and are ideal for first sketches. We chose 8 tips from the book “The Diary of a Naturalist Artist” - try creating your first painting right now.

1. Mix colors by shading

Pencil colors rarely match the desired shade. A huge set is not the solution: it is difficult and inconvenient to carry, and searching desired color takes a lot of time. Better buy a medium set and learn how to compose colors. The main colors are sky blue, yellow and magenta. You can get other shades from them.


Diary of an artist-naturalist

Usually the color of the pencil is intense and saturated. In nature, the tones are more muted. Therefore, another advantage of mixing is the ability to tone down pure colors to natural shades.

2. How to hatch in layers

To learn how to hatch in layers, you need to consider two points. First, choose slightly grainy paper. Do not press too hard on the pencil, otherwise the paper will be polished and the pigment will not stick to it.

Secondly, the black pencil for the shadow looks unnatural - it seems “glued on”. Therefore, use complementary colors for shadows. Their pairs lie on a circle opposite each other:

• magenta and green,
• blue and orange-red,
• yellow and violet-blue.

Use color circle to define colors for shadows

Combining an object color with a complementary color produces a muted brown or gray shadow. Here's an example of how to use shades to depict shadows.

1. Start drawing an orange ball with a shadow of a complementary color - blue.

2. Place a layer of dark orange on top of the shadow.

3. Add other colors: yellow, red and green. The drawing will glow with glimpses different shades.

3. Choose suitable technique stroke

It is the stroke technique that affects the result and speed of the drawing. Choose the appropriate option for the desired effect.

• Small, light, round strokes ideal for even coverage and maximum control. The lead crumbles less, colors blend easier. Requires perseverance, but depending on the mood it is very relaxing.

• Scribble- fast and interesting technique, but not as accurate. The smaller the scribbles, the more accurate the result. The texture will be visible in the finished drawing.

• Lines- series parallel lines. Same fast technique. Draw the lines at an angle that is comfortable for your hand. Control the pressure and do not increase it at the end of the stroke, otherwise streaks will remain.

• Cross stroke- a series of intersecting lines. The more layers, the smoother the texture: subsequent layers hide the unevenness of the previous ones. Cross strokes can be applied with the same color to deepen the tone, or with a different color if you want to change the shade.

4. How to draw shadows quickly and easily

Shadows give the image volume and depth. Don't forget about them and don't leave them for later. Remember that it’s more difficult to add shadows at the end: it’s a shame to overlap thoroughly mixed colors, and the paper is almost completely polished. First draw the shadows, then select a local color for them.

• Shade for shadows. Most shadows can be drawn with a Black Grape pencil. It's a muted purple and makes a convincing shadow when combined with most other colors.
• Yellow shades. The most difficult things to draw shadows on are yellow objects. If there is even a hint of blue in the color of the shadow, it immediately turns green. "Help" - Greyed Lavender. Its pale purple shade when mixed with yellow it produces a nice neutral brown or grey.

5. How to go black

If you paint the shadows or background only in black, the painting looks flat. Liven up the shadows with complementary colors and the black areas of the drawing with dark pencils. Which ones? Indigo Blue, Dark Green and Tuscan Red when combined they give a rich black with glimpses of the original colors. You can start with a layer of black pencil and add one or more of these colors.

6. Why paper embossing is needed

So you are drawing a green leaf and you need to get thin light lines on dark background. How to do it?

• White lines. Press the paper with a thin, blunt tool (you can make it yourself using a thin ballpoint pen with dried ink) - and the lines will remain white against the background of a layer of colored pencil. It should be blunt so that the lead does not touch the embossing.
• Colored lines. If you want thin lines of color, apply the color first, then emboss and put another color on top.

7. Use an odorless blending solvent

Most often, small areas of paper are visible in the drawings. An odorless solvent (white spirit) will help get rid of them, shade the strokes and make the color brighter. This is a common gasoline solvent from which harmful volatile substances have been removed.

Apply it over uniform, close strokes. For convenience, pour it into a brush with a reservoir and smear it over the design with a cotton swab/disc or shading. When the paper is dry, you can continue drawing: the texture is completely preserved. The odorless solvent can be used in combination with a colorless pencil - blender.

8. Colorless blender - also for shading

Another good tool for shading is a blender. How to use it? Rub the design in a circular motion. The colors will blend, the gaps will disappear, and the paper will be polished. The color layer will become uniform and bright. But it is only suitable for strokes that are close.

Colored pencils have been familiar to everyone since childhood and are therefore associated with something insignificant and childish. But take a closer look and you will see that colored pencils can be used to draw beautifully and realistically.

So, let's look at the features of drawing with colored pencils. They:

• suitable for drawing only on small formats;
• have color transparency;
• difficult to erase with an eraser;
• allow you to create complex colors by overlay;
• Requires drawing experience.

Materials

Beginners will inevitably make mistakes, so they'll need a lot of inexpensive paper that's thick enough to withstand multiple edits.

There is no need to choose highly textured paper. Hard pencils they will cling and the soft ones will break against it.

Colored pencils require careful selection in order not to be disappointed in drawing with them. You shouldn’t save money and buy pencils that are faded, don’t shade, don’t adhere well to paper, and are inconvenient to use, made from low-quality wood. They will not bring pleasure from drawing.

There are many manufacturers of professional and semi-professional pencils: Faber-Castel, Derwent, Creta-Color, Daler-Rauni, Koh-i-nor, etc. Study the reviews on them, look at the work they have done and make your choice.

It is preferable to buy from 24 colors. If you wish, you can purchase even more. After all, there are sets with hundreds of shades.

There are also watercolor pencils, which are brighter and softer than usual, moreover, they can be washed away with water.

How to draw

A few tips will help you avoid many errors:

1. Start with a sketch. Without paying attention to small details, outline the main points with a simple pencil on a separate sheet. You can outline areas of light and shade. We carefully transfer the result to a clean sheet.

2. Increase color saturation carefully. You should not immediately start with bright color spots, so as not to get confused. In addition, it will be easier to correct inaccuracies. The eraser will only erase the saturated layer of dye.

3. Draw with light lines. This will allow you to work through and improve your work with each layer.

4. Learn to see the depicted object as a collection of spots. This will make it easier for you to depict him. Highlight mid, dark and light areas

5. Mentally divide the subject into fragments and draw them gradually, because it is difficult to cover with thin pencil lines large area straightaway.

6. It is better not to use a white pencil to mark light areas, but leave unpainted areas of the paper in the area of ​​​​the highlights.

7. After designations of three We mix the basic tones, i.e. transitions. Work on the same area until you get the desired shade.

8. Don't use just one pencil to indicate a color spot. Add a few more shades.

9. The more colors you use, the more interesting the effect will be, but choose ones that combine well with each other.

10. Having completed the main work, proceed to clarification small parts and the transmission of the subtlest play of light.

11. Use different pressure on the pencil to get lines of varying thickness and brightness. But don't press too hard, otherwise you'll end up with unnecessary shine.

12. When the drawing is almost ready, move away a few meters and look at it from this distance. You may want to change or add something.

13. Now all that remains is to erase everything unnecessary: ​​a simple pencil, mistakes and stains on the paper.

• See also -

Experiment with the choice of paper and color application, practice and you will enjoy the technique, which allows you to combine painting and graphic techniques.

Technique for drawing with colored pencils - video

Today we'll talk about various techniques drawing with colored pencils.

WITH colored pencils are incredibly enjoyable to work with, partly because they are easy to manipulate and control. How you sharpen your pencil, how you hold it and how hard you press it determines what effect you will achieve when drawing. By using colored pencils you can create both soft combinations and dazzlingly bright realistic textures. Once you have grasped the basics described below, you can decide which technique will give an object its unique properties. Technician in drawing with colored pencils there are a lot, as many effects as can be achieved with their help. So the more you practice and experiment, the more potential you'll see in the images that inspire you.

Pressure

Drawing with colored pencils different from painting with paints, you can't just put more color on the tip to make it darker. Therefore, your main tool is pressure when you apply color. It is best to start with a light color, this will preserve the texture of the paper much longer. Over time, you will develop the mechanical skill to vary the pressure on the pencil to achieve the desired effect.

Light pressure

In this area (in the picture on the left) the color was applied just barely touching the surface of the paper with a pencil. With light pressure the color is still transparent.

Moderate pressure

Moderate pressure on the pencil creates a good base for the layers (center). This is also the click you might want to sign your drawings with.

Strong pressure

Very strong pressure on the pencil flattens the surface of the paper, making the color truly solid (right).

Strokes

Every line you make colored pencil very important - the direction, thickness and texture of the line will help create a particular effect. Practice different types of shading. You will notice that you have a tendency towards one or two types of hatching, but strokes help convey the texture and emotion of your work.

You can imitate different textures by creating dot and dash patterns on paper. You can even create a dense, thick texture using dots.

While a group of straight lines gives direction (in the picture on the left), a group of slightly curved lines conveys a sense of movement (right). Try combinations of different shading options and to create a more exuberant, rich design. Such exercises show you how lines and strokes can be not only expressive, but also informative.

Lines of varying thickness help create texture. These lines create a sense of volume in the drawing.

Types of hatching

Make circular movements with a pencil or random order, as in the figure, or in identical rows. For a thicker coverage, like the one on the right side of the example, apply multiple layers, layering circles on top of each other. You can also experiment with varying degrees pressing, for more chaos.

You may be more comfortable working in a straight-line style: vertical, diagonal, or horizontal, depending on your preference. Your strokes can be short and choppy or long, depending on the texture you want.

This effect is created by scribbling a pencil across the surface of the paper in a random manner, creating an organic mass of color. By changing the pressure and the amount of time you spend drawing a line in one area, you can increase or decrease the color saturation.

This term refers to the creation of a series of nearly parallel lines. The closer the lines are to each other, the denser and darker the color. Cross hatching is created by superimposing one parallel line on another, but at a different angle. You can use shading to fill areas with solid color or to create texture.

No matter what your favorite type of shading is, you should strive to be able to control the pencil and apply smooth, even color. I used small circles in this example. Note: when the color is even, you cannot tell with what lines it was applied.

This is the most mechanical view application of color, but it creates a very strong texture. Simply sharpen your pencil and create small dots all over the surface. Place the dots closer together for more coverage.

Layers and shading

Anyone who paints can first mix colors on a palette and then transfer them to canvas. Working with colored pencils, all mixing and shading of colors occurs directly on the surface of the paper. With the help of layers, you can either get a new color or a new shade. To intensify the color, apply more layers on top, and to tone it down, use a complementary (contrasting) color. You can also blend the colors using a white pencil or a colorless blender.

The easiest way to mix colors is to apply a second coat of color directly on top of the first coat. You can do this with as many colors as you need to achieve the desired color or saturation. The key to this technique is to use light pressure, work with a sharpened pencil, and apply each layer evenly.

To refresh your memory, let me remind you that polishing is a technique that requires pressing firmly to fuse two or more colors together and give them an even, glossy look. A colorless blender tends to make colors darker (as shown in the picture), while using a white or light pencil ( next example) brightens colors and gives them a distinct look.

You can also mix colors by using a lighter or white pencil. To create an orange tint, apply a layer of red and then layer yellow on top. remember, that dark color should always be under light. If you apply a dark color over a light color, blending will not occur. Also try not to press too hard on the bottom layers in the polishing area, as if you flatten the surface of the paper too quickly, the blending result will not be as effective.

This method is usually used when working with pastels, the viewer sees two colors next to each other, as if they were mixed. Use scribbles, strokes, dots, or rounded scribbles to apply color, allowing each pencil to look like a small piece of string. When you look at it as a whole, the lines of different colors merge and look like one mass. It's very lively and new method mix that will captivate your audience.

The eagle is a bird of prey with a large body, strong legs, long wings, sharp claws, short tail, massive beak and large eyes with good eyesight. All these features allow it to soar high in the sky for a long time, examine future prey and easily attack. Therefore, you should definitely learn how to draw an eagle, because it is quite common in Eurasia, Africa and North America.

Necessary materials for drawing such a bird:

Decories

The owl is a nocturnal bird that hunts at this time of day. And all this thanks to big eyes, which see well in the dark. It won't be difficult to draw an owl. Especially if it's in a cartoon version.

Necessary materials:

Decories

Nowadays you can find not only ordinary forest hedgehogs, but also at home. They look very similar to their wild relatives, but have slightly different features that help them live well at home. So let's learn how to draw our favorite hedgehog, which has spines on its back and can also curl up into a prickly ball.

Any drawing begins with a sketch, where it is necessary to determine the overall size of the animal or object, and then proceed to drawing large parts. If you are drawing a hedgehog, then at the first stage it will be enough to draw a large oval. Gradually simple geometric figure will take on a natural appearance, with prickly needles, short legs and an elongated muzzle with small features.

Necessary materials for drawing a hedgehog:

Decories

Deer are the real pride of the forest. After all, no animal has such a “crown”. In addition, the deer is a very graceful mammal. Therefore, it is very difficult to draw it in dynamics. So, for the first acquaintance with it, we will learn how to draw a cute cloven-hoofed animal in a simple pose. The structure of the head and body is very similar to a horse, but there are differences. For example, an elegant and short body, a short small tail, branchy elegant horns and a small head. All these traits give the deer its own personality and provide inspiration to learn how to draw.

Necessary materials:

Decories

You can do it at any time of the year, because they are very beautiful. For example, how to draw a swallow. The main part of the body is no different from other birds, but the tail is long and has a slit in the middle. That's why it resembles a fork. You can also notice another feature of this bird - its wings, which are curved, sharp and long. The color of the swallow in the drawing will be very simple. To color it, it will be enough to have three colored pencils - black, red and Brown. If desired, can be complemented with other shades.

Necessary art materials for drawing a swallow:

Decories

Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka often feature on postcards and all kinds of Christmas tree decorations. However, there are other wonderful and kind heroes. For example, a snowman. You can draw a snowman not only in the form of three circles, but also make interesting illustration. In it we beautifully place the main character on this album sheet. We “dress up” him with a hat and scarf. IN right hand We place a gift, and on the left - a broom. We complement the drawing with small elements and paint with bright colors. This is how we get the drawing of a snowman on New Year 2018.

The sparrow is a very small bird that does not stand out very much in its feather color or singing. However, this is a very common bird in the forest, in the park, in yards or in your own garden. That's why you've probably seen such a small sparrow.

Learn to draw a sparrow

To learn how to draw a bird, you should determine its main features and be sure to capture them on paper in the sketching stages before applying strokes with colored pencils. When drawing, do not forget that it is small in appearance, it has a short tiny beak and small legs. Except correct proportions You should give due time to coloring the picture so that the color turns out natural, like a real bird. To do this, select as many different shades of brown pencils as possible. Take the black one with you too charcoal pencil, which will help color the eye, some fragments of feathers and give a stroke.

Necessary materials: