Color Blending Tips

The human eye can distinguish over 10 million colors. 

However, most artists don’t own 10 million colored pencils. So how can you achieve a specific color when you don’t have the exact shade colored pencil within reach? 
 
Blending different shades of colored pencils together is a great way to create unique and customized colors. 
 
It's also a great way to add lifelike detail to artwork, as everyday objects are not just one solid color—they feature subtle color variation, shadows and highlights. Blending a base color is the perfect way to capture those nuances and make the object as realistic as possible. 
 
When blending colors with Prismacolor Premier® Soft Core Colored Pencils, it can be helpful to employ a technique known as burnishing. Burnishing involves layering different shades of colored pencils using heavy pressure. When burnishing, try layering a color that is lighter on top of a darker color in order to achieve optimal results. 

Be sure to clean the tips of the lighter colored pencils before highlighting on top of darker colors. This will prevent the colored pencil from transferring the color to another area. 

Keep in mind that it may be helpful to go back over the layered colors with a Prismacolor Premier® Blender Pencil to smooth out edges and transitions. Try a white colored pencil if your collection lacks a blender pencil to achieve a similar effect. 

Some artists skip the blending pencil altogether, favoring solvents that are readily available in their home. For example, dipping a cotton swab in a little bit of baby oil or water can help spread color around more easily and yield excellent results. 

Don't forget to use a piece of paper under the hand you are coloring with to prevent sweat and grease from smearing the color, or your hand! Coloring with your hand resting directly on the surface can result in unwanted smudging or transferring of colors that can ruin your creation. 

As always, practice makes perfect. Learn what works and what doesn't. Your confidence will grow alongside your blending skills.

Tools used: Prismacolor Premier® Soft Core Colored Pencils, Prismacolor Premier® Pencil Blender