Colored Pencil Shading
17 March 2009
Author: Elisabeth Ledig
You're looking at the canvas for a pencil-by-number design, comparing it to the full color picture on the package, and you're wondering how with just 12 pencils you're going to get all of that color and all of that detail. With a few techniques, you can master the art of colored pencil shading to achieve the look you want in your pencil-by-number projects; it's easy!
Pressure, pressure, pressure: This image shows the same pencil color applied softly, with medium pressure, and with lots of pressure. Just imagine the range of shades you can create just by altering the pressure with which you use the pencil!
The angle of the pencil point: If you want a light shade, hold the pencil as low as you can—at about a 15 to 20 degree angle. When you do that, you are coloring with the side of the tip which will give you a softer, lighter shade. To deepen the shade, increase the angle, up to almost 90 degrees, or straight up and down.
Over and over: Another way to adjust the shade of the color is simply by varying the number of times you use the pencil in the same area. The more you color the same place, the darker the shade will be. Just remember—you can always make the shade darker, but not lighter; so always begin lighter and work to darker shade.
Use these simple colored pencil shading tips on your next pencil-by-number project!