Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists

Coloured Pencils - Brands and Manufacturers 

Who supplies artist quality coloured pencils?

MAKING A MARK Coloured Pencils - Brands and Manufacturers

A table providing a comparative overview of and links to reputable brands of coloured pencils PLUS product reviews

Making a Mark: Which is your favourite make of artist grade coloured pencil?

This is an update on the progress of my poll on Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists as at the end of July 2008.

Making a Mark reviews......: Which is your favourite make of artist grade coloured pencil?

Time for an update (APRIL 2009) and feedback on the poll about Which is your favourite make of artist grade coloured pencil? which has been running on my Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists website for quite some time.

The poll now comprises 509 votes.

Product reviews of coloured pencils

Product reviews of the different brands of coloured pencils on the Wet Canvas site. Only WC members can add reviews.

Caran d'Ache - artist pencils

A swiss company producing superior quality artist pencils. "Pablo" is the brand name of the artist quality pencils

Derwent

Derwent are a major UK pencil company based in Cumberland. They produce a range of pencils for artistic and graphic purposes.

Making a Mark: Derwent Coloursoft Pencils - a new brand

"Coloursoft" are Derwent's new pencils - read about what people think

Faber Castell - Art and Graphic Range

Faber Castell produces excellent oil based artist quality pencils (polychromos) with good lightfastness

Lyra Rembrandt

Lyra Rembrandt produce artist quality coloured pencils and watercolour pencils.

Sanford Prismacolor

Details of the Prismacolor range of pencils - including the new lightfast pencils. (Karismacolor - the European version - has been discontinued)

Gary Green video demonstrating Prismacolor products

If you've ever wondered how Verithin, Art Stix, Premier Colored Pencils, Watercolor Coloured Pencils or the colorless Blender worked try watching this Prismacolor video Gary Greene using them all to complete a drawing

Royal Talens: Van Gogh Lightfast pencils

This is one of only two brands tested during the initial research into a lightfastness standard. They also do very well in the CPSA lightfastness tests.
Royal Talens states: "These pencils are unique due to their guaranteed lightfastness. Royal Talens has combined its expertise in the use of pigments in artists' paints with the specific properties of pencils. The result is a complete range of fine art pencils with an excellent colour transfer and colour intensity."

(Choose country/products/pencils from the menu)

Making a Mark: Royal Talens Van Gogh Coloured Pencils

Read my review of Van Gogh coloured pencils and find out why I recommend them. They're also particularly useful for sketching.

Caran d'Ache > Products > News - the new Luminance (lightfast) range

Caran d'Ache announces the Luminance 6901 colour pencil, a combination of the highest lightfastness and the smoothness of a permanent lead. Two years of research went into developing the formulation in the greatest secrecy in the Geneva workshops.

CARAN d'ACHE > La Couleur > Artistes et Professionnels > Crayons > Luminance 6901

CARAN d'ACHE OF SWITZERLAND: LUMINANCE 6901
Smooth and permanent lead for artists and creative professionals.
Lightfastness in compliance with the highest international standard: ASTM D-6901
Wide range of colours developed with a large variety of highly concentrated pigments.

They're good pencils - but they cost a lot more than other pencils

CARAN d'ACHE > La Couleur > Artistes et Professionnels > Crayons > Pablo

CARAN d'ACHE OF SWITZERLAND: PABLO®
Dry and permanent lead resistant to any powder formation
Excellent luminance / opaqueness ratio
Wide range of colours

CARAN d'ACHE > La Couleur > Artistes et Professionnels > Crayons > Supracolor

CARAN d'ACHE OF SWITZERLAND: SUPRACOLOR® Soft Aquarelle
Soft and water-soluble lead
Excellent luminance / opaqueness ratio
Wide range of colours

CARAN d'ACHE > La Couleur > Artistes et Professionnels > Crayons > Museum

CARAN d'ACHE OF SWITZERLAND: MUSEUM
Set of watercolour leads instantly water-soluble.
Very high pigment concentration with 6 monopigmentary tints
Exceptional lightfastness

CARAN d'ACHE > La Couleur > Artistes et Professionnels > Crayons > Prismalo

CARAN d'ACHE OF SWITZERLAND: PRISMALO® Aquarelle
The first water-soluble colour pencil since 1931
Thin lead allowing a clear and precise trace
High pigment concentration

UKCPS News: News from Derwent (about Signature range)

News from Derwent
Take a good look at this lovely box of Derwent Signatures - after December 31st 2007, they will no longer be available. I have just received word from Derwent that their Signature range will be discontinued - although Derwent's commitment to lightfastness remains.

Derwent Signature Premium Lightfast Pencils

This is one of the two brands tested during the initial research into a lightfastness standard.
Derwent states "Signature is a premium quality range of 60 highly lightfast coloured pencils.``Made from the purest pigments and finest raw materials, the range has been rigorously tested for its resistance to fading and colour change."

This range has been discontinued"/b?

eBay Guides - Robs Art guide to Colored Pencils

Not all colored pencils are equal Depending on budget, personal style, how heavy your hand is and what sort of art you create, you may have to experiment before you find your favorites.

Coloured Pencils - Colours and colour charts 

Making a Mark: Coloured Pencils - Colour Comparison Charts

Bob Ebdon (founder/webmaster UKCPS)has produced some new colour comparison charts.

The main advantage of these new Colour Comparison Charts over others I have seen is that these charts compare (side by side) seven different brands from six different manufacturers in a number of colour groups.

All colours are keyed to the range of colours in the discontinued Karisma range.

Faber Castell Polychromos - colour chart

A pdf file of the colour chart for the Faber Castell polychromos range.

This colour chart lists all colours plus numbers against a block of colour which is - at least on my screen - very accurate as to the colour in reality

Making a Mark: How green is my coloured pencil collection?

How green is my pencil collection? Well, given I particularly like drawing gardens and landscapes it's pretty green!

I did a couple of sample pages of my greens a little while ago when it was announced that the Karisma pencils were definitely being discontinued in the UK. I wanted to see what my choice was in terms of what I was left with. Here are all my green pencils - as they were then - laid out in a very rough colour sample chart by brand on two pages of my sketchbook (the pages of which are a pale creamy colour).

Making a Mark: Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils

A detailed review of Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils plus colour chart

Making a Mark: Derwent Drawing Pencils and 'Drawing a Head'

Review of Derwent Drawing Pencils - in relation to portraiture. Colour chart and lightfastness information

Making a Mark: Prismacolor - new colours for 2006 but no change on breakages

At the CPSA conferences in Albuquerque, delegates were given a free pack of pencils in the new 2006 shades....
Here's my review of the colours - plus chart - and commentary on how they behave.

Making a Mark: Derwent Coloursoft Pencils - Update

Details about Derwent Colourfast pencils:
* shades
* lighfast ratings
* pricing

Making a Mark: Janet Couture's Prismacolor Colour Wheel

Janet Couture has created a colour wheel for her Prismacolor pencils and describes how she did this in her blog "Janet Colored Pencil".

Coloured Pencils - Lighfastness (Standards and Tests) 

A resource about the lightfastness of coloured pencils

CPSA Product research - Lightfastness Workbook - Version 5 (available from March 2008)

Now Available! for CPSA Members only
VERSION 5 LIGHTFASTNESS TEST RESULT WORKBOOK
available NOW Including new test results for 2005-2007
- Prismacolor Premier Lightfast
- new Prismacolors
- Caran d'Ache Neocolors
- Derwent Coloursoft
- Derwent Graphitint
- Derwent Inktense

WetCanvas! - CPSA Lightfastness Test Result Workbook Version 5 - now available

A discussion about the CPSA Lightfastness Test Result Workbook Version 5 - available March 2008

Making a Mark: How lightfast are your artist grade coloured pencils?

I tested my coloured pencils recently against the ratings for lightfastness in the CPSA Lightfastness Workbook Version 4 - and got a VERY BIG SURPRISE. You can see it in the picture in this post which include all my coloured pencils which did NOT make the cut because they are NOT listed in the CPSA Lightfastness Workbook as having an acceptable level of lightfastness. These are the ones which were in use and the picture excludes those that were in reserve and those which I've left in their boxes. Overall, we're talking a LOT of pencils - and a lot of money which has been spent on them.

Lightfastness Testing

LIGHTFASTNESS RATING - HOW IT'S DONE: A statment by CPSA about the work they have been doing with the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials), colored pencil manufacturers and art conservators towards the development of a standard of lightfastness for colored pencils.

CPSA: Lighfastness standard achieved

This CPSA press release (7.11.03) announces the achievement of a standard for testing the lightfastness of coloured pencils.

ASTM D6901-06 Standard Specification for Artists COLORED PENCILS

ACTIVE STANDARD: Pages: 5, Price: $ 35.00
This specification establishes requirements for composition, performance, and labeling of artists' COLORED PENCILS. It covers vehicles and additives. Requirements are included for identification, lightfastness, and consistency. COLORED pencil specimens are exposed to both natural daylight through window glass and simulated window glass-filtered daylight radiation to determine the lightfastness rating for each pencil.

ASTM D4303-06 Standard Test Methods for Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists Materials

This is the test standard applicable to manufacturers (as opposed to art technologists)

Four test methods are used to approximate the color change that can be expected over time in colorants used in artists' materials exposed indoors to daylight through window glass.

The color changes that result from accelerated exposure may not duplicate the results of normal indoor exposure in a home, art gallery, or museum. The relative resistance to change, however, can be established so colored materials can be assigned to categories of relative lightfastness.

ASTM D5383-02(2003) Standard Practice for Visual Determination of the Lightfastness of Art Materials by Art Technologists

This practice covers a method for exposing specimens of colored art materials indoors to sunlight coming through a closed window. A card containing eight Blue Wool References is exposed simultaneously. Blue Wool References 3, 6, and 7, are used as controls in determining when to remove test specimens from exposure and rate them. Test specimens are rated by assigning each specimen the number of the Blue Wool Reference that shows the same amount of color change.

This practice may be used to indicate art materials that will change color within a few months or years in normal indoor exposure and those that will remain unchanged for a period of years. It is not rigorous enough to verify that materials will remain unchanged for more than fifty years in a home or office environment. A major consideration in developing this method was to keep it simple and short enough to be preformed without instrumentation in a comparatively short length of time.

Review of Prismacolor Premiere Lightfast Colored Pencils

An independent unsponsored review of Prismacolor Premier Lightfast Colored Pencils by Bet Borgeson, artist, author.

Bet Borgeson: Checking Colored Pencils for Lightfastness

All art media, including oil and watercolor, have colors that fade or change with exposure to ultraviolet and visible light. This easy five-step test procedure can provide a better understanding of which of your own colors are resistant to light, without needing expensive test equipment or kits.

Sarah Longrigg's lightfastness experiments on black paper

This is an example of what one artist has done and records her results for Caran d'Ache, Derwent, Faber Castell and Schwann Stabilo. The colours have been used on Canford black paper, framed, and exposed in a window for a minimum of 2.5 years

Making a Mark: Colourfastness in coloured pencils

Results of a lighfastness test conducted in Brazil by Lucio Rubira

How to Do a Simple Lightfastness Test for a Paint Color

An explanation of how to do a simple or basic lightfastness test to see how stable a paint color is. (The basic approach is also applicable to coloured pencils)

handprint : doing your own lightfastness tests

The technical specifications, testing equipment and coding schemes that make industry lightfastness tests look difficult shouldn't scare you from doing tests of your own. Testing paints requires no more skill than making a small painting and framing it

The Identification of Organic Pigments in Colored Pencils

A National Center for Preservation Technology and Training Grant to the American Society for Testing and Materials' Subcommittee on Artists' Paints and Related Materials (ASTM D01.57), with shared support from the Kress Foundation, has resulted in a large file of new information about organic pigments used in artists' coloring materials.

Coloured Pencils - Lightfastness (Brands) 

Making a Mark: Prismacolor Premier Lightfast Colored Pencils

List of new lightfast pencils and links to which pencils are in which set

Caran d'Ache > Products > News - Luminance 6901 (lightfastness certified to ASTM standard)

Luminance 6901 -
- Every shade has been formulated using finely-ground pigments chosen for their purity, intensity and resistance to UV.
- a chromatic range which comes in sets of 16, 38 or 76 colour pencils.
- Certified lightfastness and use of FSC wood.
- 61 colours classified in the best category (Lightfastness I) under standard ASTM D-6901.
- Cut from California cedar, the Luminance 6901 colour pencils carry the FSC label, a guarantee of logging that is environmentally-friendly and socially and economically endurable.

Roz Wound Up: Derwent Graphitints Fading!

I love drawing with colored pencils. Several years ago when Derwent came out with an new line, Graphitints, I tried them as soon as I could get my hands on some. I loved that each pencil's color was muted by...

Coloured Pencils: On-Line Suppliers - UK and Europe 

Online supplies for your coloured pencil needs

Art supplies in the UK from the Heaton Cooper Studio

Heaton Cooper Studio, a fine art gallery in Cumbria which also has a well regarded (I shop there!) art materials shop with online purchasing. Provides a currency calculator to aid those shopping from other countries.
Stocks (unless stated otherwise) sets and individual pencils for the following ranges: Faber Castell Polychromos; Caran d'Ache Museum leads; Derwent Artists' Drawing, Coloursoft, Inktense, Watercolour, Metallic and Signature; Lyra 'Splender' Pencil and Grey set only plus some useful pencil aids

Artifolk - artists' coloured pencils

Top quality artists' pencils from Caran D'Ache, Derwent and Faber-Castell. Choose between individual pencils, small tins and large wooden boxes of pencils, all at great prices. Individual pencils available in the following ranges: Faber-Castell Art Grip, Polychromos, Derwent Artists' and Coloursoft,

Artifolk - watercolour pencils

Watercolour pencils provide great flexibility - use them on their own or with water to create a range of effects. These watercolour pencils from Faber-Castell (Albrecht Durer), Derwent (Watercolour) and Caran D'Ache (Supracolor) come in a range of sets as well as individual pencils.

T N Lawrence & Son Ltd Pencils and Crayons

Based in Hove - supplies Caran d'Ache (Supracolour, Pablo, Neocolour and Graphite) as individual pencils

Jackson's and Art Express - the best art suppliers in London

Stocks individual pencils for the Derwent and Faber Castell ranges. Also stocks Creta Aqua Monolith

London Graphic Centre Pencil Sets

This used to be the main place I got my stock from - but not any more! They now only have a very limited range focusing on Derwent sets.

Ken Bromley Art Supplies - Coloured Pencils & Crayons

Stocks sets only of: Derwent Graphitint pencils (only) and Caran d'Ache ache Pablo, Supracolour Pencils and Necolour Crayons

Great Art - Caran d'Ache Pablo - single pencils

Complete range of colours on display - all available as single colours

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils

complete range of colours on display - all available to order as single pencils

Paintworks.biz

Paintworks Ltd - art materials and picture framing, kingsland road, London

Stock and supply Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils and watercolour pencils (and pastel pencils) via their mail order catalogue. You can also download the catalogue from their website and order by phone

farbstifte.net - Shop für Farbstifte, Buntstifte, Prismacolor, Karismacolor, Künstlerbedarf, Künstlermaterialien, Zeichenmaterialien

A German art supplier who stocks various brands of coloured pencils including Prismacolor and Stonehenge paper.

Colored Pencils: On-Line Suppliers - based in the USA 

Online supplies for your coloured pencils needs

Colored Pencils - Blick Art Materials

Dedicated section within website

annkullberg.com - for all things Colored Pencil!

Stock sets of Prismacolors only plus some aids for using coloured pencils. Two half yearly sales with big discounts

Coloured Pencils - On-Line Suppliers in Australia 

Australian Coloured Pencils Resources

This squidoo lens was created to develop a local resource for Australian coloured pencil artists and in doing so to also provide a way to highlight and find one another. It lists suppliers in Australia.

Coloured Pencil Supports - paper, boards and the rest 

Want to know more about what you can use coloured pencils on?

CPSA: information about Paper

This link provides a summary of detailed but basic information about the characteristics and production of paper.

Daniel Smith: Deterioration of Paper: Causes and Prevention

Daniel Smith (art supplies) identifies the reasons why paper can deteriorate and how best to prevent artwork from suffering any harm

Canson USA - Arches Printmaking Sheets

Arches Cover: This famous heavyweight, mould-made sheet is 100% cotton, acid free and buffered. It has a visible, slightly flattened grain, deckle edges and a registered watermark. An excellent choice for lithography, intaglio, silkscreen, collotype and drawing, it is also suitable for embossing

Making a Mark: Legion Paper acquires Rising and Stonehenge Brands

Legion Paper announces its new ownership of and commitment to the Stonehenge and Rising Brands - much loved by some coloured pencil artists - following the closure of the mill they used to be made in. There are no concerns about future supplies.

Canson USA - Artist Papers - Mi-Teintes paper

Mi-Teintes Sheets: the manufacturer states "The most famous lightfast pastel paper in the world. In heavy weight with rough texture, these 60% cotton papers come in fifty breathtaking pulp-dyed colors that go all the way through. Acid free and archival, they are also excellent for pencil, scrapbooking and papercraft."

Colored Pencils on Colored Paper for Quick Results by Vera Curnow

Learning Section | Daniel Smith Art Supply
Colored Pencils on Colored Paper for Quick Results: A Step-by-Step Demonstration by Vera Curnow, CPSA

Making a Mark: Abrasive Supports for Pastels & Coloured Pencils #1

The first part of an overview of different abrasive surfaces which can be used with coloured pencils.

Making a Mark: Abrasive Supports for Pastels & Coloured Pencils #2

The second part of an overview of abrasive surfaces suitable for use with coloured pencils. Contains links to suppliers.

Art Spectrum Pastel Primer & Colourfix Paper

Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper and Art Spectrum Pastel Primer can help you explore your full creative potential and create new dimensions to your coloured pencil work and work in mixed media. Try using coloured pencils and Zest-It on this surface for spectacular results.

Ampersand Art Supply - Pastelbord

Pastelbord is a clay and gesso coated hardboard panel with a granular marble dust finish comparable to a sanded pastel paper except more durable and more versatile. It can be used with wet or dry traditional pastel techniques or with acrylics, and more! (I've used it with coloured pencils and fell in love with it!) The coating is pH neutral and non-yellowing, making it a truly permanent museum quality surface.Available in Gray, Green, Sand and White.

FUR IN THE PAINT: Art Materials - Part 1

Gayle Mason writes:
Although I have tried out many supports over the past few years I return to the same favourites:-
Arches Hot Press Watercolour paper or Mellotex for graphite
Polydraw Drafting Film for coloured pencil, or mixed media including acrylic
Ampersand Pastelbord for coloured pencil including Neocolor ll

In this she writes about the Polydraw Drafting Film

Fur in the Paint: Back to Black - Experiments with Claybord

Gayle Mason starts an experiment on Ampersand's black claybord - plus cat drawing

Nicole Caulfield prepares her own colourfix board

Nicole Caulfield has abandoned paper for abrasive boards. See how you can make you own boards and avoid having to mat all your coloured pencil work.

Nicole Caulfield Art Journal: Sealing Experiments

Nicole Caulfield has had loads of questions on how she seals her my colored pencil drawings on Pastelbord to make them frameable without glass.

In this post, she explains what she used and what she does and also details her current experiments with water-based varnishes.

FUR IN THE PAINT: Art Materials (Part 2) - Gayle Mason comments on Pastelbord

The other new surface I have been using this year is Pastelbord. I use Ampersand Pastelbord which is described as "a clay and gesso hardboard panel with a granular marble dust finish"

Nicole Caulfield Art Journal: Portrait on Fisher 400 Paper

I was given some sheets of Fisher 400 sanded pastel paper a long while ago to try and finally just got around to it. I am always amazed at how a different paper will completely change the colored pencil experience. Much more than different pencil brands, using good paper can completely make a piece. I always use sanded surfaces for my drawings and every one works differently.

Greywaren Art: Maggie on Art Materials, Part I

What Maggie Stiefvater uses in her day to day coloured pencil work.

Making a Mark: Saunders Waterford Hot Press - pros and cons for coloured pencils

Not all professional watercolour Hot Press papers behave in the same way.

I've been using what I think is Saunders Waterford Hot Press for coloured pencil drawings in my Drawing a Head class at the Princes Drawing School this term. It's a completely different experience from drawing on any other sort of paper and I thought I'd provide some feedback about what it's like.

Coloured Pencils - helpful products 

My electric eraser

An electric eraser can be used to erase efficiently and effectively - or as a drawing tool. Here's the one I use - a Jakar eraser pen

Eco-House Inc - Xtra Mild Citrus Thinner

A Canadian product equivalent to Zest-It. A Solvent must be capable of dissolving resins, oils, waxes and fats. This means that vital human organs are at risk when volatile solvents enter the body by inhalation. Eco-House Extra Mild Citrus Thinner combines the solving action of natural orange peel oil in food quality with highly purified mineral oils, which are 100% volatile and free of aggressive aromatics.

Panasonic Desktop Accessories Traditional Electric Pencil Sharpener KP4A

A compact battery powered pencil sharpener - produces needle points on coloured pencils. A very good back-up for an electric sharpener

Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener

(Artifolk) This electric pencil sharpener from Jakar is mains powered with an automatic stop to prevent over-sharpening and pencil waste. It is suitable for graphite and all good quality coloured pencils up to a maximum thickness of 8mm.

Zest-it

The safe, environmentaly friendly, non-toxic, non-flammable alternative to white spirit and turpentine. This product can be used safely to dissolve coloured pencils in underpaintings or to help with blending and removal of pencil marks.

Zest-It: Product Safety Data Sheet

Pdf file - Identifies composition, nature of any hazards and handling requirements

UKCPS - Sharpening Tools

This is a list of some sharpening tools that you might or might not find useful, with hopefully some indication of how they might be used and where to get them. Please bear in mind that the views expressed here are the personal views of the webmaster, Bob Ebdon, or other named artists, and should not be attributed to the UKCPS. If you have anything you wish to add here, or correct, please contact Bob.

UKCPS - Blending Tools

Blending Tools - see Bob Ebdon's Article on Blending on the UKCPS site (or in Tips and Techniques on this site) for more information on how to use these.

Ester Roi - Fine Art - Introducing the Icarus Drawing Board

The Icarus Drawing Board is a portable drawing with two temperature zones - a warm zone and a cool zone

Online Art Instruction 

Bet Borgeson Studio -- We're All About Colored Pencils

An independent reliable resource offering key concepts for handling colored pencils--techniques, tips, drawing exercises, colored pencil art, student galleries, professional tips and an innovative and popular series of online drawing courses.

annkullberg.com - for all things Colored Pencil!

Ann Kullberg is one of the most well known coloured pencil artists on the Web. teaches several workshops each year, and has created a line of coloured pencil instruction materials, including video lessons and project kits.

This is her popular website for coloured pencil artists where you can shop online for colored pencils, kits, cd-roms, video lessons, and visit the member gallery!

Welcome to BrushAndPencil.com!

The Online Colored Pencil Painting School - run by Alyona Nickelsen - has a curriculum which is based on a unique method of teaching called online personal schooling. It specializes in the latest techniques developed specifically for colored pencil painting.

Coloured Pencil workshops 

Tutors providing regular coloured pencil workshops - face to face

annkullberg.com - Workshops

Find Colored Pencil Workshops and Colored Pencil Portrait classes near you.

Linda Lucas Hardy - Workshops

PAINTING WITH A DRY MEDIUM
COLORED PENCIL ON UART SANDED PASTEL PAPER
THE PORTRAIT IN FRENCH GRAY
THE COLORS OF WHITE

Nicole Caulfield Art - classes kits workshops

Workshops focus on the use of sanded supports (Pastelbord and Fisher 400 paper) and include both still-lifes and portraiture. Email for for prices and dates available if interested in a 2010/2011 workshop for your art group

Ann Swan botanical art coloured pencil workshops and courses

Botanical art coloured pencil workshops by Ann Swan, one of the best contemporary botanical artists in the UK.

ASDM Art Institute Course Listings

Classes by Janie Gildow at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Jonathan Newey -- Workshops

Current Workshops

Workshops & Courses by Janie Pirie - Botantical Artist

Janie Pirie specialises in floral and botanical art using coloured pencils.
Workshops are held in Janie's garden studio and at various outside venues.

Coloured Pencils - Tips and Techniques 

Tips, Tricks and Techniques

a long established 'sticky' thread - which continues to be updated - in the Wet canvas coloured pencil forum. It provides a range of information and advice

The Colour Pencil Recipe Book

Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Forum develops The Colour Pencil Recipe Book

Laurelines compares the performance of coloured pencils

Laurelines compares the performance of
* Cretacolor Aquamonoliths
* Derwent Inktense
* Faber Castell water colouble coloured pencils
* Faber Castell Polychromos (a non WC pencil)

How green is my coloured pencil collection?

a blog post from "Making a Mark" providing colour charts for a multitude of greens from various brands

Using Zest-It solvent

Various artists explain how to use zest-it solvent to dissolve coloured pencils. Solvent makes the achievement of saturated colour on paper very fast.

Colourfix, solvent and scumbling - Gordon Leverton demonstrates his technique

Gordon Leverton demonstrates how he achieves a saturated yet scumbled finish to his industrial landscapes using colourfix, solvent and coloured pencils

Brush and pencil - about solvents

About Solvents © Alyona Nickelsen

Gayle Mason demonstrates which coloured pencils to use on drafting film

Gayle Mason has been experimenting with different brands of coloured pencil on Dura Lar drafting film

Sanford & A Lifetime of Color's Art Education Resources

A demonstration of Prismacolor® Professional Quality Art Pencils by Janie Gildow

Making a Mark: Janet Couture's Prismacolor Colour Wheel

Janet Couture has created a colour wheel for her Prismacolor pencils. Her colour wheel really identifies for me where there is a good choice of colours and also where there are major gaps in the range. This blog post tells you more about it.

How To: Checking Colored Pencils for Lightfastness

All art media have colors that fade or change with exposure to ultraviolet and visible light. Bet Borgeson provides an easy five-step test procedure for providing a better understanding of which of your own colors are resistant to light, without needing expensive test equipment or kits.

Borgeson Studio - Colored Pencil Techniques FAQ

Art questions are reliably answered here on one of the most popular pages on Bet Borgeson Studio site.

P R I S M A C O L O R some tips and techniques

Nadia Geller, accomplished interior designer, has teamed up with
Prismacolor providing monthly tips and techniques to fellow artists.

UKCPS - Blending by Bob Ebdon

Blending is a key skill for the CP artist. Many artists rely on using a very light touch, and putting many layers of pencil one on top of another. As long as this is done smoothly, the eye will blend the final result into one homogeneous colour or gradation of colour and you need do no blending at all. If you want to help this process along then you could use one of many aids listed in this article.

UKCPS - Burnishing by Bob Ebdon

A dictionary says burnishing means "to make shiny or smooth; to polish".
Few topics in coloured pencil techniques have more mystique associated with them than burnishing. The trouble is, burnishing means different things to different people-or maybe there are just lots of different ways to do it.
Bob Ebdon - founder and webmaster of UKCPS - has written this article to explain and demonstrate aspects of burnishing.

Making a Mark: Printing press choices - an interview with Belinda del Pesco

Belinda del Pesco produces monotype prints with an overlay of coloured pencils. This post is about how choices to be made when printing - and explains how Belinda produces monotypes without using a press.

Nicole Caulfield Art Journal - Colored Pencils vs. Pastel Pencils

Someone just asked me these questions in another post:

"What are the differences between the colored pencils [both the wax and oil based ones] and the pastel pencils? why getting involved with pastels?"

Artists Network - Colored Pencil: Getting Started by Gary Greene

Colored Pencils: Getting Started by Gary Greene

Colored Pencil Points - Help for the beginner

Colored Pencil help for beginners

Coloured Pencil Topics

Coloured Pencil Tutorials by Peter Weatherill

Coloured Pencils - Wax Bloom 

What is it and what can you do about it?

David Deen WebStudio : IMPrint Issue 12

David Deen's Web Studio features the fantasy artwork of David Deen.
This part of his site describes what to do about wax bloom.

Colored Pencil Tip - Wax Bloom

A colored pencil drawing tip - find out what to do about wax bloom. Wax bloom is a white haze that appears across heavily worked colored pencil drawings as a layer of the wax medium forms on the surface.

Colored Pencil: Fixative by Christine Taylor

The wax from wax-based pencils will "bloom" out of a colored pencil work over time, especially if the work has been burnished...The dusty white wax bloom may be gently wiped from the work with a soft tissue, once again revealing the colors. However, since it's best to handle artwork sparingly, there are times when prevention is the road to take.

So the question begins: When to fix? When not to fix? For me, the answer lies in the product itself.

Categories of Wax-Based Drawing Media

September 1997 Volume 19 Number 3
Categories of Wax-Based Drawing Mediaby Margaret Holben Ellis and M. Brigitte Yeh
excerpted from "Wax Based Drawing Media--History, Technology
and Identification: presented at AIC, June 1997

Coloured Pencils - Lessons, Projects and Themes 

This module focuses on specific aspects of using coloured pencils.

Borgeson Studio - Hands on Practice

One of the best places to find free and fun drawing exercises and projects related to improving composition, color mixing, value, rendering, achieving depth, 3-D effects.

MIGHTY ART DEMOS--Bet Borgeson Colored Pencil Demo

Colored pencil demonstration tutorial by Bet Borgeson author of The Colored Pencil

'Blessed Event' - Painting with Colored Pencils by Barbara Newton

Barbara Newton shares techniques of grisaille and juxtapositioning of colors as she paints with colored pencils.

Classy Glass Class

Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Library: Classy Glass Class
A thread started by Louise Sackett which has proved to be the most popular group project of all time in the Coloured Pencil Forum. Lots of tips for drawing glass and creating reflections and shine.

Eye Spy II - including fur tutorial

Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Library: "Eye Spy II - including fur tutorial"
Gayle Mason (Glenspey) demonstrates how to develop fur in a profile image of a cat. The artwork produced by Gayle is now a best selling cat print.

Creating Shiny Metal by Janie Gildow

Daniel Smith Art Supplies, Learning Section provides this step by step demonstration by Janie Gildow of how to create shiny metal with coloured pencils.

Eye Tutorial - by Gayle Mason

Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Library: Eye Tutorial
Gayle Mason demonstrates how to develop the eye of a cat.

Colored Pencils and Juxtaposed Color - a demo by Bet Borgeson

Daniel Smith Art Supply: Learning section - provides this lesson by Bet Borgeson

Colored Pencil and Ambient Texture

Learning Section | Daniel Smith Art Supply
Bet Borgeson Enlivens the Mood of her Art with Colored Pencil and Ambient Texture

Colored Pencils on Colored Paper for Quick Results

Learning Section | Daniel Smith Art Supply
Colored Pencils on Colored Paper for Quick Results: A Step-by-Step Demonstration by Vera Curnow, CPSA

Wax-based Colored Pencils

Learning Section | Daniel Smith Art Supply
Working bigger, bolder, faster with Wax-based Colored Pencils - A Demonstration by Vera Curnow CPSA

The Art of Alastair Lockwood - Lessons on drawing photorealistic glass and reflective surfaces

Alastaor Lockwood is a prizewinning coloured pencil artists. Here he provides two coloured pencil lessons - previously published in "Leisure Artist" (March 2004) and "Painting with Watercolour" (Issue 37 2004)reproduced in pdf format

Colored Pencil Drawing Lesson | Skin Tone Demo by Ann Kullberg

A step by step demo on skin tone in colored pencil by renowned portrait colored pencil artist Ann Kullberg

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques - Hair Demo by Ann Kullberg

A step by step demo on drawing hair in colored pencil by Ann Kullberg

Coral Poppy - Colored Pencil Demonstration by Kristy Ann Kutch

Kristy Ann Kutch draws a poppy

Roz Wound Up: Colored Pencil Demo: Red Pepper-Part 1

The following images show the steps in building a colored pencil sketch on Wallis Paper. This drawing was done as a class demo in one of my advanced colored pencil classes (where I deal with working on oddball types of surfaces). The demo was completed in under an hour, with breaks for questions, paint drying time, digressions. The finished artwork is approximately 7 x 5 inches.

Roz Wound Up: Colored Pencil Demo: Red Pepper-Part 2

This post continues the colored pencil demonstration on Wallis Paper begun in yesterday's post. A contour drawing has been made, washes of gouache (or watercolor) have been laid in and are dry. It's time to start blending and building the color pencil layers.

Ann Swan contemporary botanical art, online demonstrations and press articles

Botanical art online demos and press articles by Ann Swan, contemporary botanical artist coloured pencil work

Download
Ann Swan "Yellow Hemerocallis - Day Lily' Demonstration
The Artist - November 2007

"Working with Detail" - Careful observation is paramount for the depiction of botanical subjects. Here Ann Swan draws a single leaf using coloured pencils.
Leisure Painter - December 2005

Coloured Pencil Societies - websites and blogs 

Coloured Pencil Societies

A post on my blog providing an overview of the two main coloured pencil societies - I'm a member of both.

Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA)

the society for colored pencil artists in the USA has several local branches across the USA and two competitive exhibitions each year

United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS)

The UKPCS has two main aims (1) to promote coloured pencils as a fine art medium, and (2) to support UK based artists who use, or wish to use, coloured pencils, in any way.

UKCPS News

This blog contains news and information about the UK Coloured Pencil Society and its members

Colored Pencil Society of America News

CPSA's brand new blog - started August 2008
Keep up to date with the CPSA events and news

Colored Pencil New England - THE BLOG

The CPSA Chapter 112 Blog! If you are not a member of CPSA Chapter 112, feel free to read and comment on our group's posts. If you are a chapter 112 member, please email the webmaster to get enrolled as a contributor to this blog.

CPSA Bibliography

List of books and articles featuring coloured pencils

Japan Colored Pencil Society

Japan Colored Pencil Society - very limited translation on the site

UKCPS News: The Japan Colored Pencil Society

In September 2008, Takako founded the Japan Colored Pencil Society. It has 22 members. The society now has a website - the address is http://j-cps.org.

Australian Coloured Pencils

This is where Australian coloured pencil artists to share their news and showcase their work with a view to raising the profile of and creating interest in CP art in Australia.

Coloured Pencil Societies - International Exhibitions 

UKCPS - Exhibitions Gateway

This page is the gateway to the online shows of our Annual exhibitions. The UKCPS has two exhibitions most years. The major one of these is a juried exhibition.

UKCPS - Calendar of Events - Future International Exhibitions

The 7th UKCPS Open International Exhibition in 2008 (3rd--28th October 2008) will be held at the Royal West of England Gallery, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol

The 8th Annual International Open Exhibition (20th September - 3rd October 2009): This will be held at the RBSA Gallery, 4, St Pauls Street, Birmingham.

Making a Mark: CPSA - call for entries for 2008 annual international exhibition in Seattle

I'm a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and this week received the written call for entries for its 16th annual international exhibition at the Convention and Trade Centre in Seattle, July-September 2008. All entries will be juried.

I've highlighted extracts from the entry requirements below (with MY COMMENTS in italics) plus some tips about entering competitions and links to blog posts about this exhibition in 2006 and 2007.

Details about the 16th Annual Exhibition can also be found on the CPSA website.

International CPSA 16th Annual Exhibition

CPSA Sixteenth Annual International Exhibition will be held in Seattle, Washington from July 2nd to September 29th, 2008.

Open to all colored pencil Artists age 18 and over.

Making a Mark: CPSA 16th Annual International Exhibition 2008 - Award winners

The Colored Pencil Society of America announced the award winners for the 16th Annual International Exhibition in Seattle at the Awards banquet on 1st August 2008.

Making a Mark: CPSA and UKCPS: originality in concept, design and execution

The building blocks of original work by an artist are concept, design and execution.

The emphasis of the new rules for CPSA and UKCPS (see yesterday's post) is on work submitted for competition being solely the work of the artist ie original work. But what does this all mean? I noticed quite a few questions coming up yesterday about what is and is it not OK.

So today I'm going to try and do an overview - from my own perspective. Irrespective of whether or not you are involved in or following the current debate about the changes in the CPSA/UKCPS rules, this topic is likely to interest a lot of people and you may also have a view. So - here goes - feel free to jump in with a comment about your own perspective on this.

Making a Mark: The rules for the 2008 exhibitions of coloured pencil art

An overview of proposals for changes in rules and conditions for CPSA and UKCPS (prior to a further revision)

Making a Mark: UKCPS have changed the exhibition rules....again

The announcement of the revision in proposals for rules changes re 2008 and 2009

The new rules for UKCPS are now to be introduced from 2009

UKCPS News: UKCPS Annual Exhibition 2008 - Award Winners

The artists and works winning Awards were formally announced at the Private View for UKCPS's 7th Annual Open International Exhibition 2008 in Bristol yesterday.

UKCPS News: Carol Bramley UKCPS wins the People's Vote

The UKCPS Annual Exhibition closed on Tuesday. The final prize to be awarded for this year's Exhibition is the People's Vote. This is awarded on the basis of the public votes cast in the exhibition. 228 people in total voted for which picture they liked the best and 54 of the 63 pictures received at least one vote.

UKCPS News: 8th UKCPS Open International Exhibition - Call for Entries

Anyone, anywhere in the world, who likes to produce art using coloured pencils is invited to enter the 8th Open International Exhibition 2009 of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS) sponsored by Derwent.

Japan Colored Pencil Society - Events

JCPS held its first exhibition in 2008 and exhibited the works of all those who applied. You can see a gallery of the first exhibition on the website and you can see photographs of them hung here.

JCPS is planning to hold a second exhibition in Kobe in November 2009.

Award Winners - 2008Awards - 15th Annual Exhibition - Seattle, WA

AWARD WINNERS
CPSA 16th Annual International Exhibition • Seattle, WA
Do not copy these images. Images are copyrighted property of the artists.
 
 

CPSA 16th Annual Exhibition - List of Accepted Artists

Selected Artwork for the CPSA 16th Annual Exhibition

Making a Mark: 17th Annual CPSA International Exhibition 2009 - successful entries

Artists and Artwork Selected for the 17th Annual CPSA International Exhibition - 2009 have been announced by the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA).

Coloured pencil portrait artists - websites and blogs 

a selection of website galleries produced by coloured pencil artists specialising in portraits and figures

Nicole Caulfield - Portrait Commissions

Portrait artist Nicole Caulfield's work is shown regularly in New England galleries and has been shown nationally and internationally in shows such as the Catharine Lorillard Show and Salmagundi Show in NYC, the Guild of Realism Show in Scottsdale Arizona, and the UKCPS Show in Nottingham England where she won first prize in 2007.

Nicole teaches her unique colored pencil techniques nationally and locally near Keene, NH.

"Zen" by Nicole Caulfield recently won 3rd Place in the Portrait Society of America's 2008 Members Showcase Competition

Nicole Caulfield Art Journal (Blog)

Nicole likes experimenting with coloured pencils and the abrasive supports she uses - and explains what she does. Nicole's work is much admired, was exhibited at the CPSA International Exhibition in 2006 and won first prize at the UKCPS International Exhibition in 2007 and the people's vote for best in show in 2008.

See work in progress in the studio and completed works

John P Smolko, color pencil, color pencil drawings, John Smolko

Color pencil drawing, Realism drawings of John P Smolko. John Smolko regular wins awards at CPSA exhibitions. You can read about him in the American Artist Article: John Smolko, Grand Prize Winner of American Artist's 70th Anniversary Competition

AnnKullberg.com - colored pencil portraits

Portraits of children and young people by Ann Kullberg!

Vera Curnow - Portrait Gallery

All images %uFFFDVera Curnow. Do not use without express written permission of the artist.

Ann James Massey's Wax Pencil Gallery

Intricate drawings created through twenty to forty layers of wax pencil, achieving depth and detail not possible with charcoal or graphite.

Portraits by Maddy Swan in Fine Colour Pencil

Commissioned portraits of children

Holly Bedrosian Fine Art and Portraits

Portraits and figures by Holly Bedrosian

Holly Bedrosian Fine Art (Blog)

Insight into the fine art and portraiture of Holly Bedrosian.

Coloured pencil Botanical and Floral Artists - websites and blogs 

a selection of website galleries produced by coloured pencil artists specialising in botanical and floral work

ANN SWAN contemporary botanical art

Ann Swan contemporary botanical art, one of the UK's leading botanical artists specialising in pencil and coloured pencil drawings, limited edition prints, greeting cards and workshops. RHS Gold Medalist

Susan Christopher-Coulson ( floraleyes.co.uk) - botanical artist

Susan Christopher-Coulson. British botanical artist working in coloured pencils. RHS Gold Medalist.

Janie Pirie - Botantical Artist | Originals, Limited Edition Prints

Janie Pirie specialises in floral and botanical art using coloured pencils. She is a a full member of the Society of Botanical Artists and has been awarded a Silver-Gilt medal for her work by the RHS.

Pastels and Pencils - Fine art drawings & giclee prints of flowers and plants by Katherine Tyrrell

Fine art drawings of flowers and plants by Katherine Tyrrell. A gallery of pictures of flowers drawn in coloured pencil, soft pastel or pen and ink.

Read about Two works juried into the Society of Botanical Artists Annual Exhibition 2009 on my blog

Ester Roi - Fine Art

My art is bold and unafraid, just as I was as a child. Intense curiosity brings me close to the subject and painting becomes an intimate experience of seeing, feeling and recording. I am drawn to the details of nature, the nuances of a flower, the brilliance of the edges of a petal when light shines through it

Cynthia Brunk

Award-winning New England coloured pencil artist

Colored Pencil Paintings by artist Kristy Kutch

The colored pencil paintings by artist Kristy Kutch are vibrant in color and contrast. Her floral subjects include Poppies, Morning Glories, Lilies, Parrot Tulips, Hollyhocks, and Peonies.

Teresa Mallen Studio Floral Gallery

Coloured Pencil Artist - Floral Gallery

Coloured pencil animal and wildlife artists - websites and blogs 

ChumleysArt.com

The Fine Art Gallery of Richard Childs UKCPS - Wildlife Artist of the Year 2008

Gayle Mason Fine Art - Animal and Nature Art by Gayle Mason Society of Feline Artists

original fine art by Gayle Mason SOFA - juried member of the Society of Feline Artist and Wildlife Artist of the Year Finalist 2009
galleries of dogs , cats and wildlife in pastel and coloured pencil., limited edition giclee prints and fine art cards

Fur in the Paint (blog)

Gayle Mason's blog - used for demonstrating work in progress

Jonathan Newey Web Site

Wildlife artist Jonathan Newey - Wildlife Artist of the Year Finalist 2009

Colored pencils drawings of cats

Nicole Jahan : paintings and drawings of cats

Colored Pencil Portraits by Artist Melanie Phillips painting pet portraits in coloured pencil

Colored Pencils by portrait Artist Melanie Phillips. Extensive online gallery of pencil,colored,coloured pencil pet portraits

Coloured pencil still life artists - websites and blogs 

a selection of website galleries produced by coloured pencil artists specialising in still life

Linda Lucas Hardy CPSA

Colored Pencil Paintings by Linda Lucas Hardy. In 2007 she won
- the CPSA Award for Exceptional Merit & CIPPY Award for "Light Crisp Tasty - Fortune Inside" at the 15th Annual International Convention and Exhibition in Bethesda MD
-The CPSA Award for Exceptional Merit & EXXPY Trophy, Explore This 4! Colored Pencil Exhibition, Brea, California
You can see more of her prize-winning work here

Linda Lucas Hardy - Workshops, News & Other Great Stuff (Blog)

Workshops, News & Other Great Stuff - with colored pencil artist Linda Lucas Hardy, CPSA

Nicole Caulfield fine art and illustration Keene NH

I am drawn to realism and the subjects I render for many reasons, but I always come back to the beauty of the ordinary, and the challenge of the rendering. The beauty of ordinary objects lit perfectly sitting on a table, the light hitting a child's eyes so that sparkle comes through, the light bouncing around the inside of a box, these ordinary, yet spectacular moments, inspire me to create a piece of artwork.

Colored Pencil and Oil Still Lifes by Cecile Baird

Bold, colorful, dramatic contemporary Still Life paintings in colored pencil and oil by realist artist Cecile Baird

Barbara Edidin - Contemporary Still Life in Colored Pencil

Abundance, richness and opulence are some of the feelings that are evoked by Barbara Edidin's colored pencil drawings. evoke. She creates remarkably realistic still lifes composed of simple objects--flowers, fruit and fabric.

Alyona Nickelsen - BrushAndPencil.com!

Award-winning artist and author Alyona Nickesen CPSA

Janie Gildow - Artist, Author, Instructor

Arizona artist specializing in colored pencil works, colored pencil instruction and nurturing new artists

Kay M. Dewar

Colored Pencil - French Grey with Selected Color Areas
(Premise: only items that are 'alive' have local color. All other areas are
values of french grey and black.)

Jeffrey Smart Baisden - Colored Pencil Artist and Instructor

all images are the copyrighted property of the artist; do not use in any way
without express permission from the artist

Naomi Aho

Naomi Aho f i n e r e n d e r i n g s in colored pencil and graphite

Ikuta Takako

Founder of the Japan Colored Pencil Society

Pastels and Pencils - Still Life - Drawings by Katherine Tyrrell

Still Life - original fine art drawings in coloured pencils by Katherine Tyrrell

Coloured Pencil Forums 

With an international membership and the option of French!

Wet Canvas - Coloured Pencil Forum

A place to show your coloured pencil artwork and find help with any problems you're having.

Crayons de couleur

Forum artistique dédié à la technique des crayons de couleur.
(This is a forum in the French language for coloured pencil artists)

Scribbletalk

This is a discussion forum called ScribbleTalk for Pencil Artists hosted by Glassgems.

Australian Coloured Pencils - for Australian Coloured Pencils artists

Australian Coloured Pencils Network (on Ning) is for artists of all levels who use or are interested in coloured pencils in their art.

Websites supporting coloured pencils 

Bet Borgeson Studio -- We're All About Colored Pencils

An independent reliable resource offering key concepts for handling colored pencils--techniques, tips, drawing exercises, colored pencil art, student galleries, professional tips and an innovative and popular series of online drawing courses.

annkullberg.com - for all things Colored Pencil!

Ann Kullberg is one of the most well known coloured pencil artists on the Web. teaches several workshops each year, and has created a line of coloured pencil instruction materials, including video lessons and project kits.

This is her popular website for coloured pencil artists where you can shop online for colored pencils, kits, cd-roms, video lessons, and visit the member gallery!

Australian Coloured Pencils Resources

This lens was created in a hope to create a local resource for Australian Coloured pencil artists. I am always wanting to add new info so email: belinda.lindhardt@gmail.com if you have anything to add. I really hope to increase the awareness and profile of coloured pencil art and artists in Australi

Colored Pencil School

The Colored Pencil School site was made to be a concise
resource for the colored pencil artist, student and teacher.
We encourage you to submit short listings pertaining to color

Australian Coloured Pencils - The Blog

Here is a place for Australian coloured pencil artists to share news, showcase their work, find and talk to one another in the hopes of supporting one another and raising the profile and creating interest in CP art in Australia.

Artists who use coloured pencils 

Colored Pencil Society of America - members' wesites

This is a list of CPSA MEMBERS' WEBSITES

United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society - Members' Galleries

Click on a name in the list and you will be taken to a separate page for this artist, with three images, a biography and contact details. Many of our artists offer their work as prints/cards and also provide CP workshops and drawing classes. Others are absolute beginners.

List of coloured pencil artists

an alphabetical index of coloured pencil artists compiled by members of the CP Forum on the Wet Canvas website

Colored Pencil Central - Artists' Colored Pencil Websites

The websites of coloured pencil artists in categories - portraits, still life, animals, florals, landscapes, fantasy/abstract

Jeff George Art

Jeff George CPSA is a signature member of the CPSA (Colored Pencil Society of America) and won the Best in Show Award 2008 with this image Empty nest

Elizabeth Patterson CPSA - Fine Artist

Welcome to the online galleries of top color pencil artist Elizabeth Patterson.

Artists who blog about working with coloured pencils 

See examples of their blog posts about working with coloured pencils in the above modules

Fur in the Paint

Gayle Mason's art journal reflecting on the struggle to produce animal art, which is both 'up close and personal' and captures the essence of each animal portrayed

Gayle has pioneered the use of draughting film and Pastelbord in the UK

Workshops, News & Other Great Stuff

Workshops, News & Other Great Stuff - with colored pencil artist Linda Lucas Hardy, CPSA

Travels with a sketchbook in.......

When I travel, I sketch. When I sketch on my travels I record it here. Plus information about the history and facilities of places I visit and lots of related links for those who want to know more........ and best viewed in Firefox

Drawing a Fine Line

Colored pencil is Paula Pertile's favorite medium, but she also likes watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, and graphite.

Linda Lucas Hardy - Workshops, News & Other Great Stuff

Prizewinning CP artist Linda Lucas Hardy's blog - including details of all her workshops

Australian Coloured Pencils - The Blog

This is where Australian coloured pencil artists to share their news and showcase their work with a view to raising the profile of and creating interest in CP art in Australia.

Making a Mark reviews: Book reviews - coloured pencils 

art instruction books about working with coloured pencils

Making a Mark reviews......: Book Review: Colored Pencil Painting Bible

An excellent manual for those who prefer their coloured pencil to be realistic and their work to look like paintings. It provides very good guidance on basics for those starting out while at the same time providing detailed explanations about technical aspects which will provide an excellent refresher for more advanced artists. It also includes some excellent and practical summaries and tips for developing artwork

Making a Mark reviews......: Book Review: Colored Pencil Secrets for Success

A useful purchase for those looking to improve their work. It provides one place where you can find all Ann's critique techniques, hints and tips. For people unfamilar with Ann's structured critique approach, there's a lot of solid content which is useful to read and absorb. The book is let down by some design weaknesses.

Making a Mark: Book review: The Coloured Pencil Artist's drawing bible

If you give a book a title which includes the words "drawing bible" then expectations are created. For me 'a bible' suggests this is the only book you need if you want to be a coloured pencil artist. I'm afraid I disagree. While The Coloured Pencil Artist's Drawing Bible has its merits, it's disappointing to also find some serious weaknesses in the discussions of tools and materials and techniques for working in this media.

(NB NOT to be confused with Alyona Nickelsen's Colored Pencil Painting Bible - see above for a link to review of that book)

Pastels and Pencils - Fine Art by Katherine Tyrrell 

Pastels and Pencils

Original fine art by Katherine Tyrrell. Galleries of paintings and drawings of landscapes, still life and floral subjects in pastels and coloured pencils; drawings and sketches in pencil and pen and ink of landscapes, flowers, interiors, people and cats. Information about art materials resources and supplies