Colored Pencil for Beginners

Name: Colored Pencil for Beginners
Rating: 4.9 (9 reviews)

Layering and Blending

Created byMatheus Macedo

Last updated 2/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to get a smooth and delicate color shading
How to layer and blend colored pencils correctly
How to choose the right colors among the pencils you have
How to create smooth color transitions with colored pencils
How to render a realistic texture

Course content

4 sections • 14 lectures • 57m total length

Introduction1:24
Learn the fundamentals of colored pencil art, mixing colors for a smooth, vibrant finish, using affordable tools, and studying references to create refined drawings.

What we are going to draw0:46
Learn which materials to use with colored pencils, mix colors in gradients using professional and budget pencils, and apply techniques to color a sphere and pear in the class project.
Materials3:56
Explore materials for colored pencil beginners, including Polychromos oil-based pencils for detail, wax-based options for blending, suitable papers, and essential tools like eraser pencils and sharpeners.

Gradient: Professional pencils8:34
Learn to blend with color pencils using layering to create a smooth blue, red, and yellow gradient on a 4.5 by 1.5 cm sample, with light pressure and varied directions.
Gradient: Cheap pencils3:41
Compare a gradient with cheap pencils to Polychromos, showing how binder and pigment affect blending and color vibrancy on the same paper. Note durability and lightfastness with cheaper gear.
Sphere8:33
Learn to paint a sphere with Polychromos pencils by blending greens and browns, building five light/shadow areas, cross-stroke layering, burnishing, and a soft shadow on the ground.

Class project0:45
Watch me draw a bear with colored pencils, detailing color choices, sketching and painting steps, and adding textured surface effects on an A5 sheet for a compact class project.
How I pick the colors5:55
Learn to select colored pencils by analyzing a reference image, building a color chart, and blending multiple pencils to match main colors without overrelying on black or white.
Pear: Outline3:26
Use an HB pencil to simplify the pear into two circles, center it with guidelines, sketch the outline around them including the stem, and erase lines before coloring.
Pear: Fruit9:51
Color the pear by layering yellows (104, 107, 109) with polychromos, then blend greens, oranges, and reds using light circular strokes and the white pencil for blending.
Pear: Stem2:14
Master the pear stem using a layered approach with neutral browns, orange hints, and subtle blacks, emphasizing gradual tonal buildup and reference-driven color choices.
Pear: Leaf5:37
Learn to render a pear leaf with layered greens and yellows, build base values, add volume with dark green, and refine the contour using brown, black, and selective white.
Pear: Cast shadow2:15
Finish the pear drawing by adding a soft cast shadow, blurring its edges, using warm grey 2, warm grey 5, and black 199 with circular, light strokes.
Conclusion0:33
Conclude the course by reviewing colored pencil techniques. Encourage you to post gradient, sphere, and final project drawings, and leave a review to help improve classes and reach more students.

Requirements

Some notion of the use of colored pencils is desirable, but not needed
Having a set of at least 24 colored pencils, or acquire the colors listed in the course

Description

Colored pencil is a medium everyone has tried, but not everyone is aware of its amazing possibilities. The good news is that you can make the best of it by doing very simple exercises!

What am I going to learn in this class?

In this class we are going to learn how to layer and blend colored pencils. This is a fundamental topic every artist should master if they want to be successful with this medium. It’s a ‘must-know’ technique! We are going to cover topics like:

Layering and blending technique;
How to render texture;
How to choose the right colors from a reference photo;
The difference between professional x cheap art tools.

Do I need to use the same pencils the teacher uses?

No! The best tools are the tools you have. I will list all the pencils I use, but the idea is to have it as a reference, not a cookbook you must follow. As you finish this class, you must be able to choose the colors on your own, as every new drawing will need different colors.

Do I need expensive materials to take this class?

No! I will prove you can make really nice drawings with cheap colored pencils, covering the pros and cons on purchasing cheap pencil sets.

If you want to start your journey with this medium or want to review the fundamentals of colored pencil drawing, this class is for you!

Who this course is for:

The course is for everyone who wants to learn how to use colored pencils, especially beginners

Colored Pencil for Beginners

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 1min

Overview and Materials2 lectures • 5min

Gradient and sphere3 lectures • 21min

Class Project8 lectures • 31min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: