Are paper holes showing through colored pencil layers a problem area for you? You’re not alone!
Today’s question comes from an artist who asked about that very thing. Here’s her question.
Hi Carrie,
I’m painting a subject in CP that I first planned to paint in WC, and it was drawn on a paper that is very textured. I only realized my error when I started the very dark parts. I’ve tried sharp pencils, burnishing, solvent, but nothing changed. I don’t mind the white showing through, but I don’t know if it’s acceptable.
And thank you for the tips on plants. My photo has lots of grass and I didn’t know how to approach it.
By the way, may I mix watercolor and colored pencils for the grass?
Thank you!
Mirian
Thank you for your question, Mirian. Your project sounds quite intriguing!
Personally, I usually don’t like paper holes showing through colored pencil in my finished art.
However, there have been times when it can be a great tool, especially in landscape drawings. Letting a bit of paper show through the color can help create the illusion of distance in a landscape. It’s also good for drawing fog or mist, or for creating texture.
In the end, it’s an entirely personal choice.
Paper Holes showing through Colored Pencil
Most colored pencil artists seem to prefer full color saturation (no paper showing through,) but it’s perfectly acceptable to have paper showing through the color.
Back when colored pencils first started coming into their own as a fine art medium, a lot of works had that sort of “grainy” look. That seemed to be the standard for colored pencil art.
I don’t know if artists consciously made that decision, or if it was due to the newness of the medium and the tools being used.
This is one of my first colored pencil horse portraits. The color is not at all as saturated as I now prefer it, but it’s what I knew to do (and what I knew HOW to do at the time.)
As I look at this again, I wonder what it would look like if I were to do it over.
You have to admit colored pencils, colored pencil artists, and colored pencil art has come a long way in the last few decades.
So if having a bit of paper showing through the color layers gives you the result you want, then use it.
Otherwise, keep layering and blending until you fill in those paper holes.
How to Fill in Paper Holes
There are several ways to fill in all the paper holes (also known as saturated color.)
Layering
My preferred method is simply adding color until the combination of layers covers the paper completely.
I used light pressure for this test sample, building up value and filling paper holes with several layers of blue. I used heavier pressure in the darkest area, but only after putting down quite a few layers with light pressure.
I did this sample on Bristol, which is a very smooth paper, but I could get similar results on toothier papers or even sanded papers. It just takes more layers.
Now, I have a naturally light hand, so I can add dozens of layers if I want to. That helps fill in paper holes. But that’s not the only method out there.
Solvents
Blending periodically with solvent is a great way to blend smooth color and fill in paper holes. Make sure you have enough color on the paper to be blended, then use solvent sparingly. Don’t soak the paper! That could actually remove color.
If necessary, layer more color, then blend with solvent until the paper tooth is filled.
I’m surprised solvent didn’t work on the paper Mirian is using. It must be very toothy. But she should be able to alternate between laying and blending until the tooth is filled.
Burnishing
Burnishing is also a good way to fill paper holes. I burnished the salmon colored leaf in the upper left, and the three purple or pink leaves in the lower right.
Burnish sparingly and toward the end of the drawing process. Once you burnish, it’s difficult to layer more color over the top.
It’s possible that Mirian needs to use all three methods together, alternating between layering followed by solvent blending and layering followed by burnishing. I’ve never burnished and then blended with solvent, but it’s possible that might also help fill in the paper holes on Mirian’s drawing.
Mixing Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Another alternative is starting with water soluble media to lay down base colors, then applying colored pencil over the top.
This works with watercolors and watercolor pencils. Many artists also use inks or Derwent Inktense for base layers.
How to do a Water Soluble Under Drawing for a Landscape shows you one way to use water-based media under colored pencils for a landscape.
Just make sure to do all the watercolor work first. Then let the paper dry completely and you can layer colored pencil over that.
You can use the same methods to combine watercolor paint and colored pencils. Watercolors and watercolor pencils are a great way to lay down base colors quickly and fill all the paper holes.
You will probably want to use a paper made for wet media, though. Otherwise you’ll have problems with the paper warping, buckling, and possibly falling apart!
The Bottom Line on Paper Holes and Colored Pencils
Whether or not you allow paper holes to show through layers of colored pencil in your finished work is up to you.
Some artists like that look. Some do not.
If you prefer smooth, saturated color, the tips I’ve shared will help you achieve it.
Got a question? Ask Carrie!
