7 Secrets That Will Up-Level Your Colored Pencil Art Practice

1. Think in Layers — Not Pressure

Many beginners rely on pressing harder to get bold color. But pressing hard early limits what you can do later. Instead:

• Use many thin layers of color, gradually increasing intensity

• Let underlying colors interact

• Save heavier pressure or blending for the final stages

This kind of glazing/overlay approach gives richness and avoids saturation limits.

2. Reserve Your Highlights Early

Your brightest whites and sparkles are the hardest to recover once covered.

• Sketch in highlight zones before you begin layering

• Avoid filling those spots until the end, or use masking / pulling techniques

• In realistic portraits, it’s common to leave tiny uncolored areas to capture catchlights or shine.  

3. Use the Right Paper & Tooth

The paper is your foundation:

• Choose a paper with a balanced tooth — enough texture to catch pigment, but smooth enough to layer.

• Too rough => limits blending; too smooth => doesn’t hold pigment.

• High-quality Bristol, vellum, or drawing papers are great options.  

4. Control Pressure with Purpose

Every mark has meaning:

• Light pressure for soft transitions, midtones

• Medium to heavier pressure for shadows or saturated areas

• Shift pressure deliberately, not randomly

• Sometimes, holding the pencil farther back forces lighter touch. This is a helpful trick especially in large areas. 

5. Blend Strategically (Don’t Overblend)

Blending is powerful — but it can also mute contrast if overused:

• Use burnishing or blending tools only when needed

• Leave some texture or layering visible for richness

• Use solvents selectively in areas that need smooth gradients (e.g. skin, reflective surfaces)

6. Use Subtle Color Shifts & Temperature

Instead of relying on one “skin tone” or “grey,” layer different hues:

• Introduce cool/warm shifts subtly (a touch of blue or red in shadow, yellow near light)

• Use muted or desaturated colors to avoid garishness

• Think in color temperature as you shade — warm light side, cool shadow, etc.

This helps in realism (for car reflections, metal surfaces, glass) where light often brings ambient color shifts.

7. Embrace the Ugly Stage & Patience

Every drawing will go through an awkward, patchy phase. That’s okay.

• Trust that layering will unify the piece

• Step back, rest, come back fresh

• Sometimes less is more — knowing when to stop is part of skill

One artist advice: “Don’t give up when your drawing starts to look ugly — it will, and it’s okay”. 

Bonus: Build Your Practice Around Projects

• Pick a subject you love (cars, flowers, still life)

• Focus one project a month

• Blog your progress — layer photos, process, challenges

• Over time, you’ll accumulate both technique and narrative that resonates with your audience

Final Thoughts

These “secrets” are not magic, but they are deliberate choices. As you internalize them, your colored pencil practice becomes more confident, controlled, and expressive.