Today’s post continues the series on colored pencil strokes. Our topic today is striking strokes with colored pencils.
In case you missed the previous posts or would like to review them, you can read about stippling strokes, hatching and crosshatching strokes, and directional strokes at these links.
Striking Strokes with Colored Pencils
I actually include two strokes in this category: Striking strokes and flicking strokes. They are essentially the same. Both strokes are used with less than the normal amount of control.
Neither stroke is useful for drawing smooth color. Even if you include blending layers, the strokes remain easy to see. Solvent blending doesn’t even remove them completely.
Both strokes are excellent for drawing textures like hair, grass, and foliage. You can use both strokes to add accents and highlights, too.
But there is one major difference: The amount of pressure you use.
Striking Strokes
Striking strokes are pretty much what they sound like. You hold your pencil normally and strike the paper with the tip. You can use different levels of pressure, but this stroke works best with medium or heavier pressure.
In this sample, I used striking strokes on Colourfix paper, and used a lot of pressure.
Striking strokes are useful for adding details to grassy areas in landscape drawings. They’re especially effective in the near foreground, where you might want stronger accents.
One thing I like about striking strokes is that the pencil sometimes makes unexpected movements when it hits to the paper. That can give unplanned realism to a grassy field.
I want to stress a few warnings with striking strokes, though. Don’t use too many of them. It’s very easy to overdo them and they can be difficult to cover or tone down, since they’re applied with so much pressure.
Second, use them with caution on softer papers. If your pencil is very sharp, you could damage or tear the paper. I get the best results using striking strokes on Pastelmat, but they are also useful on other papers that are sturdy and/or textured (Colourfix, UArt, etc.)
Finally, even on textured paper, it’s easy to break the tips when you use striking strokes. So don’t bother using needle-sharp pencils for this technique. A pencil with a slightly rounded tip works just as well in most cases, and works better in some situations.
Flicking Strokes
Flicking strokes are similar to striking strokes in that you’re not using a lot of control as you make the mark.
But with a flicking stroke, you use light pressure and you don’t actually strike the paper. Instead, you place the pencil tip on the paper, then flick your wrist or fingers, letting the pencil skim across the paper’s surface.
In this sample, I used the same two colors as above on the same paper to more accurately illustrate the difference between striking and flicking strokes.
Striking strokes are most useful at the end of the drawing process. You can use flicking strokes throughout the drawing process.
One Tip for Using Striking and Flicking Strokes
I’ve had the best success with both of these strokes when I move the pencil away from myself.
With the flicking stroke, I rest the heel of my hand on my drawing surface and move only my fingers. I don’t rest my hand on the drawing surface for striking strokes, but I do still move my hand away from my body.
The main reason, I think, is because that’s the most natural direction of movement.
This method also naturally reduces the amount of pressure on the pencil has the stroke moves away from me. That creates a more tapered mark and that makes both strokes more effective.
When I Use Striking and Flicking Strokes
When do I use flicking strokes? They’re great for adding flyaway hairs to a horse’s mane or forelock, and whiskers for any animal.
But I use them most in landscapes.
Both strokes are good for drawing grass when paired with blending layers. I like to combine different colors with flicking strokes to add depth to grassy areas in my landscape art.
I use striking strokes mostly for adding accents and random highlights to grassy areas and to trees. This detail of Old Red Barn shows how effective striking strokes can be. Note especially two things.
There aren’t very many striking strokes.
They don’t all follow the direction of the rest of the grass.
That sense of random-ness is one of the reasons I use striking strokes to finish landscapes.
Using Striking Strokes with Colored Pencils
The striking stroke is not a stroke you’re likely to use all the time. You may not have much use for it at all. But if you draw landscapes, it can be very useful for adding those random and unexpected details.
Flicking strokes are more helpful if you draw animals. I’ve even learned to use them for drawing whiskers when necessary.
Both strokes require practice to master and skill in using them. But if you learn when and how to use them, and avoid over using them, they can be very helpful.
Especially if you’re looking for a way to add a little bit of extra “oomph” to your work!
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