6 Dec 2025

You Only Ever Needed Three Pencils and a Brown Paper Bag

 

If you're starting with coloured pencils with no art background - I salute you.

 

Picture this: me, 20 years ago, abandoning my early sketching attempts, never imagining I'd become the artist I am today. Those seemingly forgotten years of basic sketching in my teens? They were my secret weapon when I finally picked up coloured pencils.

 

This week, I want to talk about why coloured pencils might just be the most challenging medium for aspiring artists. Unlike paints that mix easily and can layer to forgive your mistakes, coloured pencils are the perfectionists of the art world. Once down they generally don’t like to move. You have to think a few steps ahead and preserve your lights. They don't mix easily (unless you were aiming for that greeny brown). They demand precision, patience, and a whole lot of layers.

 

But here's why we love them: They allow for slow, mindful drawing. For those of us who love control, who enjoy building something meticulously, they're pure joy. You can work precisely, create intricate details, and tidy up your whole studio in a few minutes.

 

The catch? You're learning multiple skills simultaneously. Form. Value. Texture. Colour theory. Pencil holding techniques. Stroke variations. It's like learning to play chess while simultaneously performing a tango and speaking a new language.

Build Your Skills

 

‘Just draw what you see’ - the artist's mantra. The problem - you see everything. But don't know which colour to pick, how sharp your pencil needs to be, or what stroke to use.

 

Let's simplify. The trio for realism - shape, value (your lights and darks), and texture. (We'll put a pin in colour for now.)

 

When you add layers, think about texture - e.g. follow fur direction. If you're heavy-handed and precise, try loosening up e.g. flicking to get tapered ends and add slight bends to your strokes. Knock back some highlights with your mid-tone by using it on its side (not the point). Play with varying pressure and layers. Work quickly. Experiment.

 

Moving to full coloured portraits? Remember these foundational strokes and what worked for you. Instead of one light and one dark pencil, choose a range. Same for mid-tones. But don't get lost in colour swatching - keep those foundations solid.

Creative Task

 

Toned Paper Challenge Add "toned paper" to your Christmas list (or save brown parcel paper).

 

Choose an object. Grab three pencils. Draw its essence using only shape, value, and texture. No pressure on colour.

 

Don’t show anyone. Allow yourself to play. See how quickly you can get something that looks sketchy but real.