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The main couple of things are to not use a sharp pencil and create a bit of a flat colouring surface with it. Instead of outlining (as you might have done as a kid) you colour small circles with the flat surface around the eges, then really, really, really lightly, add a bit of colour inside that 'border'. Then take the stump and OMS or gamsol and work the darker colour with small circles to blend. You can work with all the dark colour first if you want, or as you do sections, start working into the lighter colour. As you work through the really light part, your pressure decreases, meanwhile you're dragging/spreading/blending the colour.
I'm sure others do it many different ways and I'm definitely not suggesting this is 'the' way but it works for me and I love the results. I wasn't creating any kind of gradient effect prior to class. I was blending or smoothing out the colour but not the effect I'm getting now. hth
Quote:
Originally Posted by danac
Charlene, what did you learn to do differently? I know that might be a hard question to answer but I've only learned by trial and error, so if there is something you could share, I would love to hear
I agree Brandy, your projects on your blog are amazing!
Thanks so much Charlene for sharing those tips. I've just started an "art journal" and basically I am just using it to try new techniques and to practice drawing. Most of the pages have been gessoed so I have been trying more burnishing and layering as opposed to oms. What a whole new learning curve!!
In this article, the writer shows a picture of what does look like Prisma Blending Pens. If you go to the link, Cheap Joe's, they call it a "marker" and to me that indicates it is used with Prisma markers. On page 61 of this thread, these remarks are posted:
...Do you know what kind of blending marker that was? I liked her tip about keeping three to use on light, medium and dark colors. She also mentioned you could refill it, I guess she means with the 90% stuff (I am not sure what denatured alcohol is)?
...Are some of our blender pens the same, like the Dove blender, where you could refill it with alcohol? I would be more inclined to buy some if they were refillable, I have never purchased a blender pen before.
Response...It looks like it is a Prismacolor clear blender. See a close up at Cheap Joes...
I am not loving stumps for blending Prismacolor pencils. Can't locate a replacement for a blending pen by "National" I was using, (not really sure if I want another, $4 and it lasted no time at all) so if this is a blending pen for Prismacolor PENCILS for $1.99 at Cheap Joe's I want to order some...it it's actually for markers, then no. Can anyone clear this issue up for me? Thanks in advance!
They are alcohol based markers sold along with their other markers, but they will work to blend pencil as well because the alcohol acts as a solvent. The blender markers actually remove marker coloring rather than combining colors, so the technique with markers is a little different, and the title is a bit confusing. There is some debate as to how 'good' the wax pencil residue is for the marker tips... (that was from the Copic people), but they do work for pencil blending. I have used a Copic blender for markers and pencil and I don't see a problem.
I'm new to using Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and I'm still having trouble getting it to blend well...but sometimes it works out really well so I'm not sure why I get better results some days and not others. I've tried gamsol, baby oil and some "odour free" (which isn't) solvent and the gamsol seems to work the best. The paper I'm using is Neema which is what the scrapbook store here sells for Prismacolor.
To check out my cards feel free to go to my blog: Crafty Violet's Chaos
be warned - I'm a multi crafter so not just cards will show - but mostly cards.
[QUOTE=I'm not sure why I get better results some days and not others. [/QUOTE]
Hi. I'm no expert, but I've been playing around with Prismas and OMS for a while and love them. There's been much talk about the blendability of the newer Prismas which are now being produced in Mexico.. as opposed to the US ones. I've found that some pencils do blend better than others. There are many more experienced pencil artists on this thread and I know you'll be hearing from them.
I have been having a play with my newly acquired set of Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils - and oh - they are just awesome IMHO! They are very different to my Faber Castell watercolour pencils and it has taken a bit of getting used to the vibrancy when I add water in comparison to my other pencils. I will need to do a chart for them though (ie: wet v. dry) as the Inktense pencils look so different once water is added. Here is a card I just uploaded tonight and I have added a close-up pic of the wooden pole as an attachment below. The wood really came to life once I wet the colours. Next I will experiment with adding OMS (my understanding is that you can use OMS with them) and see what happens - will be interesting to see how vibrant they are with OMS. {happy sigh} - it's so fun to play with pencils
i was just reading through and getting caught up! like others have said - it takes practice! last i posted i had just gotten the rest of my polycolors before heading off on vacation. the cruise was awesome! best time ever with my family. the getting caught up part after was not so fun. not only getting caught up but i got really sick when i came home AND found out i have skin cancer so will be going into surgery for that tomorrow to remove the area. luckily if you have to get cancer, skin cancer is the best kind to get and if you have to get skin cancer the kind i have is the best kind to get :P
BUT i have been coloring with the polycolors and boy oh boy do i love them! the colors are just so vibrant and the color goes on so smooth and blendy! i am still using PTI paper. here are some things i have done recently - more info is on my blog if you want to check it out:
this was for the last Through the Craft Room Door mag challenge - the full project is in the current issue. the challenge right now is fairytale themed
oh and i forgot to mention a prisma focused challenge i hope you all checkout. it's actually POM - Prismas and other mediums so my [project this week does not have colored pencils but next week it will.
This is an anniversary card I made using a Stampin' Bella stamp that I coloured in with my Prismacolour pencils and gamsol. It's getting there but I feel I need to practice more to get a nice blend.
I have been having a play with my newly acquired set of Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils - and oh - they are just awesome IMHO! They are very different to my Faber Castell watercolour pencils and it has taken a bit of getting used to the vibrancy when I add water in comparison to my other pencils. I will need to do a chart for them though (ie: wet v. dry) as the Inktense pencils look so different once water is added. Here is a card I just uploaded tonight and I have added a close-up pic of the wooden pole as an attachment below. The wood really came to life once I wet the colours. Next I will experiment with adding OMS (my understanding is that you can use OMS with them) and see what happens - will be interesting to see how vibrant they are with OMS. {happy sigh} - it's so fun to play with pencils
I'm glad you like them Jo! They're my favorites. They do color beautifully with OMS. They're brighter than regular pencils done that way, but the true beauty requires water. I have wet and dry charts. It's super handy to know which blending medium is going to give me the color I want.
jo your card is wonderful - inktense are next on my list to add to my pencil arsenal!
Thanks so much for your compliment. And thanks Auntangie too.
The Inktense pencils do take a bit of getting used to being so "vibrant" in comparison to my regular Faber Castell watercolor pencils. When you look at the pencil lead, the color that it becomes when it is wet is alot different to what you expect. With my Faber Castells, what you see in the lead is what you get which makes it easier to match up colours to dp's or cardstock. I am finding that I need to scribble on a scrap of watercolor paper and wet it to see if that is the color I really want - which is why I need to do a wet and dry color chart.
JCI~~~I have grandchildren for most of the summer, so can't get to coloring, forums, or cards, EEEEEK! August 1st should be better! BTW, the Prisma challenge is great over at Outlawz, the one Marti is referring to~~Also, Hambo stamps has one on Wednesdays that is outstanding! I have entered both of them several times.
JoBear and Violet, your cards are beautiful! Marti, awesome coloring as usual! When I get time, I am going to try the pencils on a dark image, that is what is next in class for me I think! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I am headed to Nashville for a week to celebrate my 3 yr. old's b'day, but there is a Jerry's Artarama right up the street, YEAH! You know I will be visiting! I might pick up a few of the Inktense, I tried them before and did not like them, but I think I'm a bit more confident now after taking Marti's classes~~we'll see! Have a great week everyone~~~!!!!!
They work differently, so it's a little hard to compare. I'll say this - I use mine together but usually go for the watercolor pencils first and then grab the Inktense to add deeper shading.
Alright am going to order the 132 prisma premiers from dick blick. they have so much has anyone used their papers? let me know if you have had great luck with one or the other please.
I really like Bristol for colored pencils.it is uber smooth. Strathmoore is also good..and stonehenge is the BEST IMO..but I use it for professional drawings and teaching too.
i don't use blending mediums so i like paper that is a bit less smooth.
i was using my coloursoft pencils today - i have not used them very often yet and today was the first time i needed to sharpen them - they were very crumbly if i got them sharp the way i like them...of course the whole reason i like them so much is the softness of the lead so it will take some getting used to. i don't have any pics - maybe i can get some tomorrow to share.
A question... I just bought a set of 60 Prismacolor (Scholar). The class I took a few weeks ago she mentioned the pencils by color name. All my pencils have numbers only. How or where do I get a lst of nameswith their numbers. TFS Linda...Fleurkid
The Scholar pencils are a student grade line, which might have a little harder lead and maybe lower pigment ratio. The ones she is referring to are the Premier or Soft Core pencils.
This page on the PC site might be helpful, if you can match the colors up... the scholar pencils aren't sold individually so they aren't listed by stock number.
A question... I just bought a set of 60 Prismacolor (Scholar). The class I took a few weeks ago she mentioned the pencils by color name. All my pencils have numbers only. How or where do I get a lst of nameswith their numbers. TFS Linda...Fleurkid
On Dick Blick, where you can buy individual pencils, it lists all the names and numbers. Just scroll down a ways:
Derwent Inktense pencils rock!
