Colored pencils possess a unique charm, offering precision and control right out of the box. Yet, achieving those seamless transitions, deep velvety tones, and truly professional finishes often requires moving beyond simple layering. The secret lies in blending – techniques that merge colors, smooth textures, and elevate your artwork from good to breathtaking. Whether you prefer a completely dry approach or venturing into the world of solvents, understanding the tools and methods available can unlock a new level of artistry.
Why Bother Blending Colored Pencils?
You might wonder why blending is necessary. After all, layering pencils carefully can achieve decent results. Blending, however, offers distinct advantages. It helps to eliminate the inherent graininess that can sometimes show through pencil strokes, especially on textured paper. This creates a smoother, more painterly appearance. Blending allows you to create subtle gradients and transitions between colors that are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve through layering alone. It can also deepen and unify colors, pushing the pigment into the paper grain for a richer, more saturated look. Finally, mastering blending techniques gives you greater control over values and textures, enabling more realistic or stylized effects.
Exploring the Dry Blending Toolkit
Dry blending methods rely on physical manipulation of the pencil pigment already on the paper, without introducing liquids. These techniques are generally cleaner, require less setup, and offer excellent control.
The Colorless Blender Pencil
Often mistaken for just another pencil, the colorless blender is a core tool for many colored pencil artists. It typically contains the same wax or oil-based binder as the pencils themselves, but without any pigment. When applied over layered colors with pressure, it essentially burnishes the pigments together, pushing them deeper into the paper’s tooth and smoothing the transition between them. It’s great for fusing layers and achieving a polished look. However, be mindful that excessive burnishing with a colorless blender can flatten the paper’s texture, making it difficult to add further layers on top. It works best when you have sufficient pigment already down.
Using White or Light-Colored Pencils
A simple yet effective dry blending method involves using a white or very light-colored pencil (like cream, light grey, or a pale version of one of the colors being blended). Applied with gentle to moderate pressure over existing layers, the light pencil helps to merge the colors beneath it. It can soften edges, create subtle highlights within a blend, and slightly desaturate areas if needed. The key is using a light touch initially and building pressure gradually. Remember that this method will inevitably lighten the overall color slightly and shift the hue towards the blending pencil’s color.
Burnishing with Pressure
Burnishing is less about a specific tool and more about a technique. It involves applying heavy pressure with either a colored pencil (often a light one, similar to the previous method) or a colorless blender over heavily layered areas. The intense pressure crushes the pigment down into the paper fibers, filling the tooth completely and creating a smooth, almost glossy finish. This method excels at creating rich, saturated areas and very seamless blends. Its main drawback is that it significantly reduces or eliminates the paper’s tooth, making subsequent layering nearly impossible. Reserve burnishing for final stages or areas you’re certain are complete.
Paper Stumps and Tortillons
These are essentially tightly rolled paper sticks, pointed at one or both ends (stumps are usually double-ended and denser, tortillons single-ended and more pointed). They work by physically rubbing and smudging the pigment on the paper surface. You gently rub the stump or tortillon over the area you want to blend, moving pigment particles to fill gaps and soften transitions. They are inexpensive and versatile, excellent for soft, hazy effects or blending in tight corners. The downside is they can get dirty quickly, potentially muddying colors if not cleaned regularly (by rubbing on sandpaper or an emery board). They can also sometimes lift pigment rather than just move it, potentially dulling the colors if used too aggressively.
Keep Your Tools Clean: Regularly cleaning paper stumps and tortillons is crucial. Dedicate specific stumps to certain color families (e.g., reds, blues, yellows) to prevent unwanted color mixing. A small piece of fine-grit sandpaper or an emery board works perfectly for refreshing the tips.
Unlocking Painterly Effects with Solvents
Solvent blending introduces a liquid element to dissolve the wax or oil binder in your colored pencils. This allows the pigment to flow and merge in a way that mimics painting, often creating incredibly smooth results while preserving the paper’s tooth for further layering.
Understanding How Solvents Work
Colored pencils consist of pigment held together by a binder, usually wax or oil-based. Solvents work by temporarily dissolving this binder. Once the binder is liquefied, the pigment particles are free to move and intermingle. As the solvent evaporates, the binder re-hardens, locking the smoothly blended pigment in place. This process can fill the paper’s tooth effectively without requiring the heavy pressure of burnishing, thus preserving the texture for potential additional layers once dry.
Common Solvents for Colored Pencil Blending
Several types of solvents are popular among artists, each with its characteristics:
Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS)
Perhaps the most widely recommended solvent, particularly artist-grade versions like Gamsol. OMS effectively dissolves both wax and oil binders, creating smooth, seamless blends. It evaporates at a moderate rate, giving you some working time. While labeled ‘odorless’, it still emits fumes, and proper ventilation is essential. Apply it sparingly using a paper stump, cotton swab, or a small, stiff brush. OMS generally requires sturdy paper (like Bristol board or heavier drawing paper) that can handle moisture without buckling or degrading.
Pros: Very effective blending, preserves paper tooth well, good working time.
Cons: Requires good ventilation, can be harmful if inhaled excessively or ingested, potential skin irritant, requires robust paper.
Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
A readily available and inexpensive option. Higher concentrations (90% or above) tend to work better as they contain less water. Alcohol also dissolves the binder but evaporates much faster than OMS. This means less working time, which can be a pro or con depending on your style. The rapid evaporation also reduces the risk of paper buckling. However, it can sometimes be harsher, potentially lifting pigment more readily or not producing quite as smooth a blend as OMS for some pencil brands.
Pros: Cheap, widely available, evaporates very quickly (less paper buckling).
Cons: Very fast evaporation (limited working time), can be harsh on some papers/pencils, fumes (needs ventilation), may not blend as smoothly as OMS.
Specialized Blending Fluids
Various companies produce fluids specifically marketed for blending colored pencils, such as Zest-it Pencil Blend or Lyra Splender Blender. These are often citrus-based or use alternative formulations designed to be effective while potentially having less odor or perceived lower toxicity than traditional OMS. Their performance can vary, but many artists find them pleasant to use and effective. They often function similarly to OMS, dissolving the binder for smooth blending.
Pros: Often designed for lower odor/toxicity, effective blending.
Cons: Can be more expensive, availability might be limited, performance varies by brand.
Application Techniques for Solvents
Regardless of the solvent chosen, the application method is key:
- Prepare your layers: Ensure you have enough pigment layered down on the paper. Solvents need pigment to move around; they won’t create color where none exists.
- Apply Solvent Sparingly: Never pour solvent directly onto your artwork. Dip your chosen applicator (paper stump, cotton swab, small synthetic brush) into the solvent, then blot excess on a paper towel. You want the applicator damp, not soaking wet.
- Gentle Application: Lightly glide the damp applicator over the colored pencil areas you wish to blend. Use gentle circular or back-and-forth motions. Start softly; you can always add a tiny bit more solvent if needed.
- Work in Sections: Especially with faster-evaporating solvents like alcohol, work in small manageable sections.
- Clean Applicators: Just like with dry blending, keep your applicators clean or use different ones for different color areas to avoid muddying.
- Allow Drying Time: Solvents need time to evaporate completely before the binder re-hardens. Do not attempt to add more pencil layers until the area is thoroughly dry to the touch, which can take minutes to an hour or more depending on the solvent and amount used.
Safety First with Solvents: Always work in a well-ventilated area when using any solvent, including OMS, alcohol, or specialized fluids. Avoid prolonged skin contact; consider wearing gloves. Keep solvents away from open flames or sparks, and store them safely according to manufacturer instructions. Never ingest solvents.
The Importance of Paper Choice
The paper you use significantly impacts blending results, both dry and with solvents. Paper has a ‘tooth’ – the texture or surface quality. A paper with more tooth (like pastel paper or some drawing papers) grabs more pigment, allowing for many layers, but the texture might remain visible after dry blending. Smoother papers (like Bristol board Vellum or Smooth surfaces) allow for easier blending with less effort but hold fewer layers. When using solvents, thicker, sturdier paper (at least 100lb / 200gsm or higher) is generally recommended to prevent buckling, warping, or bleed-through. Experimenting with different paper types is essential to find what suits your chosen pencils and blending techniques best.
Dry vs. Solvent: Which Path to Choose?
Neither method is inherently superior; they offer different results and suit different workflows.
Dry Blending is ideal when:
- You prefer maximum control.
- You want to avoid fumes or liquids.
- You need a quick, clean method.
- You are working on thinner paper.
- You enjoy the polished, slightly waxy look of burnishing.
Solvent Blending shines when:
- You desire ultra-smooth, painterly transitions.
- You want to preserve the paper’s tooth for extensive layering.
- You need to blend large areas relatively quickly.
- You are working on sturdy paper that can handle moisture.
- You are working in a well-ventilated space.
Many artists utilize both techniques within the same piece, using solvents for large smooth areas like skies or backgrounds, and dry blending or burnishing for finer details or specific textures.
Experimentation Breeds Mastery
Reading about techniques is one thing; applying them is another. The best way to master blending is through practice. Try different colorless blenders, experiment with light pencils for burnishing, get a feel for stumps versus tortillons. If you venture into solvents, test OMS against rubbing alcohol on scraps of your favorite paper. See how different pencil brands react. Notice how much solvent is needed, how long it takes to dry, and how it affects your ability to layer afterwards. Don’t be afraid to make “mistakes” – they are learning opportunities. The more you experiment, the more intuitive blending will become, allowing you to choose the perfect technique for the effect you envision.
Consistent Practice is Key: Dedicate time to simply practicing blending techniques. Create swatches, blend simple shapes, and try combining colors you normally wouldn’t. This focused practice, away from the pressure of creating a finished piece, builds muscle memory and understanding faster than anything else.
Blending colored pencils opens up a world of possibilities, transforming simple strokes into fused, vibrant, and sophisticated artwork. By understanding the nuances of dry tools like colorless blenders and stumps, and exploring the painterly potential of solvents like OMS and alcohol, you gain a powerful arsenal of techniques. Master these, adapt them to your style, and watch your colored pencil art reach new heights of realism and expression.
