The most basic colored pencil skill you need is layering. That’s the way you put color on the paper. It doesn’t matter what you’re drawing, what pencils or paper you use, or whether you’re making fine art or doing an adult coloring page. So today I’d like to share a couple of easy layering exercises that will help you more effectively layer color.
Easy Layering Exercises
Exercise #1: Layering with One Color
For this exercise, I used Polychromos Walnut Brown beginning to end. The sample was drawn entirely with layering using a sharp pencil and light pressure.
Step 1
I started by layering Walnut Brown evenly over the paper with a sharp pencil and light pressure. I did at least four more layers of color applied. I was very deliberate in how I applied color with these layers.
I did one layer of horizontal strokes from left to right. Then I did a layer of horizontal strokes from right to left.
That was followed by a layer of vertical strokes from top to bottom, and another layer from bottom to top.
Why change directions? When I stroke from different directions, color is applied to different “sides” of the paper tooth. That makes a lot of different when using a toothy paper, but it even makes a difference on smoother paper like the Stonehenge I used for this sample.
This is a technique called crosshatching. It’s an effective way to draw smooth color on almost any kind of paper and using any type of pencil.
Step 2
Now that the base has been established, I began creating the transitions in value. To do that, I started on the left, where I wanted the darkest values, and added color there, working to the right a short distance.
Then I went back to the left edge and added another layer. This time, I layered color a little more to the right.
I continued doing this until the final layer or two covered all of the paper.
You’ll notice that the right half of the sample is pretty much the same value. That’s okay. I’ll extend darker values to the right in the next step.
But this does show you how you can draw smooth value transitions just by layering.
Step 3
I continued layering Walnut Brown over the paper, and I continued focusing most on the darkest values.
But I also added color to the rest of the sample, as well.
It’s worth noting that I didn’t increase pressure at all until right at the end. Even then, I increased pressure only slightly; probably to no more than medium-light. The reason is that I wanted to show you how dark you can get with light pressure if you add enough layers.
I also worked on smooth transitions in values. I didn’t want any clear edges between the value shifts. In that, I think I was pretty successful.
Exercise #2: Layering with Two Colors
“That’s all well and good,” you say, “but what about mixing colors? Can I do the same thing with more than one color?”
Absolutely. Let me show you how that works.
For this exercise, I once again used Polychromos pencils, but I chose two colors: Green and blue.
Step 1
I started by layering green from left to right using vertical strokes. Then I started layering blue from the right and working to the left. But despite my being careful in applying color, there is still a lot of paper showing through.
My point in mentioning this is that unless you’re very careful in how you stroke, paper will show through your first layers. That’s okay. Work with it and let the subsequent layers fill in the paper holes.
Step 2
I continued layering green on the left and blue on the right. With each layer, I started at the edge of the paper and worked my way toward the middle.
With each layer, I also worked into the middle a little bit more until the two colors met near the center. I used light pressure and sharp pencils, but as you may be able to see in the blue area, I also used horizontal strokes for some layers.
Step 3
I continued layering the same colors, working with green from the left and blue from the right. I didn’t change pressure, but I kept my pencils sharp.
In addition, I hatched and crosshatched, being careful in how I put marks on the paper.
Step 4
Here’s my finished sample. I did the same thing with this sample that I did to finish the brown sample: Continue layering. I didn’t increase pressure much and I kept my pencils sharp.
The one thing I did do differently was blending the two colors together by overlapping each layer in the middle. For each new layer, I overlapped the green and blue a little bit more because I wanted the smoothest possible transition from green to blue.
Easy Layering Exercises
I could continue layering this way until I couldn’t get anymore color on the paper if I wanted to. For the sake of getting this post to you on time, I stopped before reaching that point with each sample.
One additional note. The rougher the paper you use, the more layers you’ll need to get smooth color. You will be able to get smooth color on almost any paper, but it will take more time with rougher papers.
I hope you take time to practice these two very easy layering exercises. It will be well worth the time and effort, and I know you won’t be sorry!
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