Drawing With Colored Pencils - A Beginner's Guide

If you've ever found yourself struggling to create realistic looking drawings with colored pencils, or maybe you're completely new to the media and looking for some tips to get started. This guide is all about how to get drawing with colored pencils as a beginner.

We'll talk about the materials you'll need along with the fundamental techniques and a process you can apply to just about any drawing.

Using this link you can claim a FREE month of Skillshare membership that can be cancelled at any time. Plenty of time to complete the class!
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Materials List

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[Jayne_Maya]

EXCELLENT video! I had never drawn with colour, only with grey leads.. I followed your guidance with a reference picture of an apple, and it’s turned out brilliant!
Friends are saying they thought it was a real apple.. great explanations and teaching! Thankyou!

[mirandapaschall]

I'm not an artist, I have always said that I cannot draw, but I have written a children's book series and I want to illustrate it myself. I am looking for instructional videos and yours was the first one I watched. It was a great and informative video. That apple looked real! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[wanderingstar]

Enjoyed the video. A lot of great colored pencil tips. Although I have the full 150 set of Prismacolor, I appreciate that you did the lesson with the 48 set. I wish more YouTube art channels would use smaller sets so that viewers don’t have to make a huge financial commitment upfront before they have discovered if they like a certain medium or various options within that medium (i.e - Prismacolor versus Polychromos). Lindsay the Frugal Crafter did some videos using the Derwent Inktense 12 set. I found that so helpful. Enjoyed the projects she did, but not enough to purchase the larger set at this time. You’re terrific!

[degrees]

The swatches are key. Swatches on multiple [different colored] papers saves so much time as well.

[JMEhill]

Ty so much the way you explain and your voice is calming for me to learn

[jf]

Gemma, I apologize if I haven't already done so. People keep telling me I was rude making the remark I did.. I thought I was constructive.
Also, I think you are a skillful pencil artist.

[MrsCoates-Reynolds]

Really useful video that will be really beneficial to my teaching this term. Thanks

[berdosof]

To observe the reference carefully it’s where I struggle a lot! At the same time I understand how important this process is and I see the improvement when I take time to observe… but it happens not every time 😅

[collsey]

Thanks for a very easy to understand, informative video.
👍

[haleybrown]

I agree more than the brand of colored pencil you are using is the ground/paper you are using. Personally for learning and experimentation Bristol board is way too expensive. My personal favorite is 80 lb Blick sulphite drawing paper. 500 sheets used to cost around $13.00. At 3 cents a sheet it doesn't matter if something doesn't turn out.

[Srujal_]

its better watching such brilliant videos than going to an art class

[nfzmprs]

I love all your lessons on coloured pencils plus what paper to use i wish you lived near me, but then I’d be a pest

[grammiejones]

Fantastic video…Thank you!

FYI- You have to be aware that the jelly pens are not archival so if you’re planning on selling your work you need to stay away from gel pens and pencils that have a very low Lightfastness.

[humanityfightingapulse]

Love your channel, and just discovered you. Thanks!!

[aniab]

Great helpful video !
Thanks a lot ❤

[KaisDinoAdventures]

Fantastic video my friend! Absolutely enjoyed it!!! It's Monday, so have a great week! BIG LIKE 91
👍❤👍❤👍

[JUANSF]

Very nice morning you have yourself...take care

[keithbateman]

Very helpful video, one question please. You recommend Bristol boards but there seem to be different makes, are you referring to any particular one?

[MelissaRippy]

Do your premium paid tutorials include step-by-step instructions or are they a "draw/paint along"? Do they include an outline sketch? Thank you!

[majelthesurreal]

What do you think about using color pencils on canvas paper? I like the tooth and texture but lots of divots for the pencil to get stuck into.