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Getting to grips with coloured pencils

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Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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As Jackson’s kept running out of stock for the scale dividers, I was led to the Derwent website.  While browsing, I read up on all the things that I might need for using oil pencils.  I discovered that their special support is smooth and water resistant, apparently it is easy to blend on.  I was amazed that it this support is 35 quid for 20 sheets of 7x 10 inches but also wondered what blending meant.  Consequently I bought a blending pencil.  It is like a very bad rubber that smudges the colour or graphite around on the support.  But can you tell the difference?    I’m posting a before and after picture below.  Incidentally I was pleasantly surprised, by 15 % discount, free delivery and the parcel arriving in red Jiffy bags.  I was also surprised bu the scale dividers being about twice the size that I expected (13 inches).

Sylvia Evans

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I’m assuming Linda that the blended one is the lower one ?  If it is I prefer the crispness of the un blended one.  I have had a very beautiful wooden box of Derwent coloured pencils my husband bought me about thirty years ago.  I am just re discovering them , I haven’t got a blender so am interested in yours.  I am enjoying them though .
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Yes you are quite right Sylvia - the second one is the blended one.  I’ve been a bit quiet lately, because I have been enveloped in more coloured pencil work.  It seems to take forever.  Well about 3 days to do an A4 drawing. Here is the latest, which is also in the gallery.  But now I see it in photo form, I-realise that the shell on the left could do with a little more work.

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by Linda Wilson

Sylvia Evans

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Those are lovely Linda.
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Alan Green

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Yes, superb shells
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Alan Green

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Yes, superb shells -oop, duplicate post. Dunno what happened there; I don't seem to have a delete option either

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by Alan Green

Chris David

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Hi Linda You can also blend with a paper stub, they usually come in sets of 3 different sizes. These give a slightly different effect to the blending pencil. I tend to use them between layers rather than at the end. Oil based pencils also work well on smooth hot pressed cartridge paper, such as Fabriano Artistico Extra White. Also not cheap!
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thanks for your kind comments Alan and Sylvia. And thank you for for your advice Chris. I have some paper stumps, Torchons, but I usually use them for pastels. I will give the Fabriano a try.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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I don’t know if I love or hate these coloured pencils, but it becomes compulsive.  I have been working from a photo of my late cat, commemorated so well in Sylvias card.  It takes forever to build. Up any density of colour and he still looks perhaps appropriately ghostly to me.  What do you think?

Hilary Pearce

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I agree it does take along time to achieve depth and the right colour.  I did the attached it took about 10 to 12 hours and the apples themselves had around five layers ( I followed a tutorial)

Hilary Pearce

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He looks lovely though and I really like the fur effect you have achieved 
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thanks Hilary.  Your apples look lovely.  Perhaps I need to keep on keeping on.
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