Colored Pencil Basics for Beginners

@ The Tip of a Pencil: Colored Pencil Basics s for Beginners

Second Edition

by Sulet Hofmeyr

Copyright 2015 Sulet Hofmeyr

Smashwords Edition

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ISBN: 9781310815256

The information contained in this book is for general information purposes only and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to this book or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on this book for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

Preface

Introduction

Materials needed

Pencils

Paper

Blending tools

Other tools

Pencil control

Pencil grip

Pressure control

Pencil strokes

Layering

Direction

The color wheel

Attributes of the color wheel

Color terminology

Hue

Changing hues

Value

Changing values

Intensity

Changing intensity

How to decrease intensity

How to increase intensity

Contrast

Something about perspective

Proportions

Grid

Reference pictures and copyright

Draw from life

Structural sketches

Color combinations

Complementary colors

Monochromatic colors

Analogous colors

Shading

Light sources

Colored pencil techniques

Different ways of coloring

Hatching and cross-hatching

Blending

Texture

Tonal edges

Burnishing

Tonal underdrawings

Good composition

Primary focal point

Rule of thirds

Visual flow

Arrangement of objects

Use value to create visual flow

Line

Spaces

Planes

Bibliography

About the author

Contact the author online

I used to be one of the many people who wished I could draw beautifully realistic pictures, but try as I might, my attempts always left me frustrated and on the verge of giving up. I started believing everyone, including myself, who told me that I didn’t have the talent. Fear of failure set in, but I do love a challenge.

In 1988, I enrolled for a graphic arts course in my rebellion against becoming a teacher as my family tradition dictated. During that year I was introduced to Betty Edward’s book Drawing on the right side of the brain and I discovered that one doesn’t have to be born brilliantly talented - in fact few are so lucky - and that the ability to make art, is a skill that can be learned. Some of the exercises in this book was inspired by and modeled to Betty Edward’s teachings.

After the graphic arts course, I enrolled for an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences with Psychology as my major. There I learned how the brain works and how one learns new skills. The path for my life was paved … I didn’t want to go into psycho-analysis or art therapy. I wanted to make a difference by teaching art. Teaching, right? Did you catch the irony?

Think of learning to create art in the same way we think of learning to play the piano. You need to learn how to handle your instrument, you learn the muscle control for playing at different volumes and rhythms and how to make different volumes and rhythms flow into each other naturally, you master all the basic little things to succeed at playing complicated pieces. You start by learning to read music so that you can observe what to do, you learn to play simple scales over and over until your fingers glide across the notes effortlessly. The only way to master any new skill, is to practise, practise, practise the scales until you can do it in your sleep. It is the same when learning to create art.

So, here is a bit of background information and your first lesson: Inside your brain, there are billions of neurons forming trillions of neural pathways. They are the hallways along which information travels around in your brain and to your body. When you learn a new skill new neural pathways are established that disappear when not used often and improve when used often and frequently. Frequently used neural pathways become so strong over time that the actions become second nature.

For example, it will feel uncomfortable at first (it is new) when you practise holding your pencil correctly for drawing and coloring , but you will get used to it and soon it will be second nature.

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell examines the 10, 0000-hour rule as a general rule of success. Gladwell quotes John Lennon in an interview about the eight hours per day seven days per week The Beatles performed at a strip club in Hamburg: "We got better and got more confidence. We couldn’t help it with all the experience playing all night