Note: All reference photos used for my artwork are either my own or my sister's (used with permission, of course), unless otherwise stated. I have two confessions to make. One, I love trying new things! And when it comes to colored pencils, there is a whole plethora of things to try! Different brands, wax or oil or water, blenders, erasers, papers and surfaces to experiment on, other mediums to mix with...the list is endless! However, secondly, I'm cheap. Actually frugal, I mean, frugal. We live on a tight budget and so no matter how badly I may want to try the works, the reality is- I have to make-do. So what are the bare necessities, the essentials I can't do without? Below is a photo of my main tools. Pretty basic. I use Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils, which are featured on the turn table and in the container to the right (pencils I'm using on my current project). To the left is a jar of paper stubs for blending. I usually use those for the tight spots. For most areas, I use the universally recognized item next to it. Yes, that's toilet paper. Did I mention I'm cheap? The reality is, it does just what I need it to, blending and mixing color on paper, and you can't beat the price! I usually have a white eraser on hand (the one pictured is not my favorite, but it's what I"m using at the moment) and I'm NEVER without kneaded rubber! It is what I use for lifting color in areas that need shine or lightened for contrast. Or I may use it for areas I have gotten too dark or need color adjustment. I usually have some kind of sharp pencil sharpener and then a soft bristle brush for 'crumbs' if erasing. What's the roll? Frisket film! I'm never without it either! Sticky on one side, I use it for lifting color, such as when making whiskers or hairs in dark areas. Not pictured is workable fixative that I use when I'm done with a piece and pencil extenders, that are actually on pencils in the jars. So there you have it. Nothing fancy. Please understand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a studio full of fun things to work with and try! The purpose of this blog post, however, is to reassure artists just starting out that you need not get overwhelmed with all the products out there. You may feel like you need all of it and then feel like you can't afford to get started in the first place. My advice? Splurge on a set of high-quality pencils and a few inexpensive tools and then add things as you learn, gain experience, and can afford them. Tip to take away: A great variety of tools don't make great art. Artists who practice, struggle, learn, and practice some more with what they have available make great art. "Paha", 20x27 Colored Pencil on Bristol Smooth Paper. Original in Private Collection.
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Note: All reference photos used for my artwork are either my own or my sister's (used with permission, of course), unless otherwise stated. Last Monday, I talked about the pencils I use (Click HERE to read that post). This Monday, I'll talk about my preferred papers. First off, let me make one thing clear. I love paper almost as much as I love pencils and all their colors! I love trying new ones and I'm always carting home (or ordering) something different to try. Later on, I'll be running some blog posts and papers I'm checking out. For today, though, I'm going to talk about the tried-and-true papers that are my go-tos for my main pieces. The majority of my artwork has been done on Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, a paper that continues to be my favorite. It is 140 lb and I've used both the soft press and hot press. This is a wonderful paper as it is smooth enough to blend colors without difficulty and colors easily cover the paper, but it has just enough tooth to it that it accepts color readily . And it has no trouble holding up to all the layering! I always buy it 22x30 inches in size. I love putting up that big, blank piece of potential on the easel! My drawings are usually between 11x14 and 16x20 in size so this allows me to have enough space around the drawing itself to experiment with colors. And, of course, so important for professional, long-lasting art, it is 100% cotton, acid-free/pH neutral, and chlorine-free. "Cricket", 19x25 colored pencil on hot press water color paper. Original available, $195. Contact artist if interested. Prints and note cards will be available soon! Another paper that I use often is Bristol board, either vellum or plate and I purchase 2-ply or greater. Vellum has more tooth than the plate, meaning it's easier to achieve saturated colors and the heavier ply handles the work load. It is a bit less expensive than the Fabriano Artistico and the brands I purchase are 100% cotton and acid-free. And, like the rest of my paper stock, it arrives to the studio in the larger sizes. "Caleb", worked on 9x12 board, a little smaller than usual for me, this little guy (who is not so little anymore!) was my first piece on Bristol vellum. This is one of my favorites, even though there were a few firsts on it that I would probably change if I did it now. However, it definitely got me hooked on Bristol! Original in private collection. Lastly is the newest paper I've tried and completed pieces on, Canson Mi-Teintes drawing paper. I've found drawing on colored paper to be exciting. The colors layer and blend differently and you do things a bit backwards. It involves having to think in the 'negative', like a photo negative. Instead of shading in the dark parts on a white background, you are tinting in the whites on a dark background. And you can use the color of the paper when blending the needed colors. I find this challenging and fun! And pieces generally come together faster as I don't have to layer and mix as much. This paper is smooth on one side and a bit more textured on the other for your preferred surface. I usually work on the smoother side. All of the colors offered are acid-free and highly light-resistant. This is something very important to look for when using colored paper as you don't want paper fading or 'bleaching out' after all your hard work! The only con for me is it a lighter-weight paper than I'm used to using as it's only 98 lb. This requires gentler handling to avoid finger-dents and sensitivity when layering or making indentations with the pencil. Although the range of colors are not offered, I've discovered that it comes as a board. Guess what I'll be ordering next! "Christmas Colt", 13x20 Colored Pencil on Canson Mi-Teintes Colored Paper. I'm not sure which was more fun- meeting this little guy or drawing him! Original in Private Collection. So there you have it! A look at the papers I most commonly use and why! I'm looking forward to some future paper reviews and I'd love to hear what your favorites are! Want to try one of these papers yourself? Here are some links to what DickBlick offers. Feel free to shop around, of course!
Fabriano Artistico Bristol Paper and Boards Canson Mi-Teintes I've always loved to draw. From the time I could hold a pencil, I was sketching out horses. For years, I used just graphite pencils and charcoal which, as it turns out, was laying a good foundation for what was coming next! In 2001, I became intrigued with the idea of using colored pencil. I was ready to move beyond black and white and gray scale! I was undecided on which ones to use, but I knew that I wanted a professional, high-quality brand. I ordered complete sets of 120 of both Prismacolor and Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils. I had used Prismacolor some already, but wanted to experiment with the Polychromos pencils. I'm so glad I did! I discovered that Faber-Castell offered pencils with less of a learning curve for me. I was hooked and they have been the main medium I have used ever since! I love their softness and that I can 'smear' the colors much like I do with the graphite and charcoal. It is much easier to blend colors on paper and to lift color off where needed. And mistakes are more easily corrected. I'm not sure why Faber-Castell describes them as non-smudge, but I'm happy that I can get the color to 'move around' on the paper! So what makes these pencils different? Polychromos pencils are oil-based versus waxed-based. Waxed-based don't flow as smoothly and are harder to layer, mix, and achieve gradient color blends. As an example of what I mean, think of the cheaper colored pencils you've used. It was hard getting a vibrant color right? That is because of the amount of wax used as a binder (more wax, less color). While professional quality pencils don't use as much and therefore offer better color saturation, they can still be a bit more challenging to use. Oil-based are similar to pastels when applied to paper and more forgiving! Look at all the pretty colors! Some other perks of Faber-Castell Polychormos pencils?
They don't break nearly as easily. Thank goodness! Because, yes, I've dropped them (I'm not known for my grace). And you know what? I've never had a broken one! Ever had a pencil that you couldn't sharpen or use because its insides were in pieces? Not with Polychromos pencils! The pigments used are incredibly light-fast. They are said to resist fading for over 100 years! Perfect when you are wanting to create long-lasting, professional quality artwork. Another reason I chose them. And their colors are matched to their other lines! Is there a down-side? Well, yes, but not one I've not been able to overcome so far. It's actually the flip-side of their upside. I love how easy it is to blend the color I need as the colors are a bit translucent. However, this means that they are not necessarily opaque so it can be harder to achieve intense colors. But it can be done! Am I open to experimenting with other brands and mediums? You bet! But Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils will always be my favorite. And you can take that to the bank! Here's chart with the Polychromos colors and their light-fastness ratings: http://www.fabercastell.com/service/color-charts While more expensive than most other brands, I've found Jerry's Artarama has them at a good price. And you can get them open stock, as well! http://www.jerrysartarama.com/drawing-illustration/colored-pencils/faber-castell-polychromos-pencils-and-sets A great blog post from Color Your World comparing Prismacolor pencils to Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils: http://coloururworld15.weebly.com/a-coloristas-blog/faber-castell-polychromos-vs-prismacolor-pencils-review |
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Wendi Gunter is a colored pencil artist living in north-central Idaho with her husband, 5 children, and a menagerie of farm animals and pets. Drawing keeps her sane. Archives
June 2019
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