5 Tips for Blending Colored Pencils
from the Learn to Draw Index
Learning how to blend your colored pencil strokes can add a wonderful richness to your colored pencil art projects. Each of these blending techniques are easy to learn, and will create wonderful effects.
Blender Pencil
Blender pencils are inexpensive and easy to use. They are a wonderful first choice for the beginning colored pencil artist. This colorless pencil will blend your colors without adding any color of it's own. This tool is great for small areas, but not a good choice for large areas.
Blender Marker
Blender markers are even more effective than blender pencils in blending your colors. They work to dissolve your colors and mix them right on the paper, allowing you to achieve a smooth, paint-like appearance.
If you try a blender marker, test it before using it on your masterpiece. It's also a good idea to work on your project in a large well-ventilated room, or take your art outside, as these blenders might make you dizzy.
Erasers
Inexpensive plastic school erasers, or crayon erasers, are fantastic tools to push around or blend colors.
Nail Polish Remover
Yep, it's true! Mom's nail polish remover is a colored pencil blender too. It's actually one of the very best. To use this blender, pour a little nail polish remover in the cap of the bottle and dip your paint brush into the cap. Next, "paint" your artwork. You will see your colored pencil marks dissolve, and allow you to move the color around on the paper.
If you try nail polish remover, test it before using it on your masterpiece. It's also a good idea to work on your project in a large well-ventilated room, or to take your artwork outside, as the paint thinner in nail polish remover might make you dizzy.
Water
If you are drawing or coloring with watercolor pencils, water is a wonderful blender. When your artwork is finished, grab your paint brush, wet it with water, and paint your artwork as if you had watercolor paint in your paint brush.
That's it! Time to start blending.
Let's try another lesson: Colored Pencil Techniques for Beginners
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