Since I started working with colored pencil on drafting film, I’ve heard many opinions about which pencils brands work best on film. I’ve heard that certain brands create lots of crumbs, other brands can’t be layered, even that some pencils “don’t work at all.”
Recently gifted with a couple of new sets of pencils and on the hunt for consensus, I posting this question in a Facebook group for colored pencil artists who work on drafting film:
What are your favorite pencils to use on drafting film? Are some types of pencils more compatible with film than others?
I received a lot of responses and a treasure trove of information. A huge thank you to everyone who commented. Some folks said they liked Polychromos better, and at least an equal amount of folks said they prefer Prismacolor. There were a couple of other brands mentioned once or twice and someone else really likes using graphite. A few people had directly opposite experiences with the same brands.
This was puzzling, so I decided to do a little experiment of my own. I grabbed seven sets of pencils and did my own testing. And the results are below.
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Some amazing things happened this past spring/summer. It’s like suddenly my art life went on overdrive. And I get windblown just writing it all down (I’ve listed everything at the bottom, if you are just curious).
But I know; I can hear you. You are saying “stop already with all the accomplishments!” Okay, no problem. I know there is a fine line between sharing and bragging. (Believe me, I am not bragging… I think I am just incredibly surprised.) But there is really one BIG thing I have to tell you about. Because this is my dream come true. The wishes granted from the genie.
And you know, those don’t come along every day.
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Recently, a colored pencil artist asked me for help. She wanted to create a large finished piece, had a good quality photo, and figured the best way to get her image transferred to paper would be to enlarge the photo and then trace it. The problem? The largest image her home printer can print is shy of 8-1/2” x 11”.
So how do you create a large photo for tracing?
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Every colored pencil artist seems to have their favorite blender. I’ve never been very consistent in my choice of which blender to use for any given project, so today I created a set of charts to compare how each performs. I thought you might like to see the results.
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I have a secret and I’m just not gonna hide it anymore. I’ll just feel better when I admit this.
I am not really an artist.
Wait! What? Not an artist?
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Normally, you can’t wait to get the chores done so you can grab the colored pencils and dive-in. It’s bliss.
But every once in awhile, for few days or a few weeks, you hit the wall. It’s like some dark ick seeps into your bloodstream and you feel kinda bored with your art. You feel dry. Creativity has fled. The thrill is gone.
What do you do then?
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When I was a kid, the original Vans store was a bike ride away. and it was where we all got our shoes. Heck, some friends of mine even worked there. Plus, for a few extra dollars you could bring in a hunk of your favorite canvas fabric and Vans would turn it into a spiffy new pair of their comfy slip-ons.
Though I’ve been away a long time, the California surfer culture is soaked into my bones and it’s no surprise that the other day, while wasting a few minutes online, I got to thinking about those custom Vans and found myself exploring their website.
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Do you work with your hands? While you are creating eye candy, here are some treats for your ears.
Sure, the act of creating is a meditation, and that quiet time can be the best part of your week. But sometimes you just want to be entertained while you work.
My perfect solution? Podcasts! And below are some great ones!
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I am always up for a challenge, and this was an interesting one: draw an abstract. The founder of the Colored Pencil Society put out this call to CP artists, who traditionally render subjects in a more realistic manner. She wanted to challenge us.
Sounds simple, right? Not quite. When you are new to art and don’t even really grok the concept of abstract art, creating it can be a tall order.
So I did what most folks do when the big question mark appears: start Googling.
Good idea, right? Not quite. Google offered “helpful” suggestions like putting your paper on the floor and splattering paint on it. Sounds like a recipe for creating a drop cloth. This method also doesn’t play nice with pencils. When you splatter them, they break.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. One day last summer, I pulled into my bank’s parking lot next to the most beautiful motorcycle, ever. The Harley was chromed everywhere and sparkled in the sun, throwing little reflected fireballs every direction.
I spent the next five or ten minutes taking photos of that wondrous ride, and the next six months knowing I was going to draw it. But how could I really show it off?
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