Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Prismacolor Pencil Tutorial

At the request of my new coloring friend Janet, ormond on SCS, here is a tutorial on how to color using Prismacolor pencils.

Here's everything you need to get started:


A stamped image (High Hopes - Huggable Hank) in permanent ink (Archival Jet Black used here), Prismacolor pencils, pencil sharpener, blending stumps, sandpaper block, baby oil and a container with a piece of felt in it to add the baby oil to.

Step 1

I colored the main part of Hank with Apple Green. Make sure to color him completely as the color does not spread like it does when you use watercolor pencils.

Step 2

Using your blending stump, dab it into the container to pick up a little bit of baby oil. In a circular motion, go over the entire colored image. Go back to the container to get more baby oil as needed to help you blend better.

Notice the blended look above Hank's belly, that is where I have blended. You can still see the pencil lines in the places that I have not. Here is Hank after his whole body has been blended:

Step 3

Using Dark Green, add color to the areas that you want shaded. On Hank, I have outlined his head, nose, lip, body, belly and feet.

Step 4

Using your blending stumps, go over the Dark Green lines, pulling the darker color towards the inside lighter color. If it is not dark enough after you have blended it, use your pencil to add more color and re-blend to achieve the desired look.

Step 5

Using Canary Yellow, color in the wings. When using lighter colors, it is hard to tell if you colored in all the area as well as if you blended all of it.

Step 6

Using Orange, color in the top part of the wings and color over the lines on the wings to add color and depth to them.

Blend until you like the look of the wings.

Step 7

Color in the finger and toe nails using Cream and color in the horns using Beige. I personally do not shade these areas since they are too small.

Step 8

Using Cool Gray 50%, outline along the bottom of Hank to form a shadow where he is standing. Blend the color away from the image, spreading the color outwards.

Step 9

Here is your finished image.


I hope you will know try this technique. It is so much fun! It makes you feel like a kid again to enjoy coloring.

If you are looking for a place to purchase these supplies, check out Dick Blick. You can get your Prismacolor pencils, blending stumps, sandpaper blocks and pencil sharpener directly from them at reasonable prices and with quick delivery.

23 comments:

  1. TOO CUTE! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I must try soon!

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  2. This is a great tutorial!! I love working with the colored pencils and baby oil, but my results aren't quite as nice as yours. The shading under the dragon really pops it out! I need to remember to do that with my images.

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  3. Love it! I've used my stinky prismacolor colorless blender for years but never thought of Baby oil, You are brillant!

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  4. Thanks for the excellent tutorial- I've never been happy with my results with pencils and baby oil but will try again now after reading this.

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  5. What a great tutorial. I always wondered how to do this...can't wait to give it a try.

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  6. WOW, thansk so much for this tutorial. Would a Qtip work instead of a blending stump? :)

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  7. Great tutorial!! I love this method of coloring!!

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  8. I'll have to give the the baby oil a try. I have always hesitated to use it, thinking that it would leave a ring of oil around the image and eventually all over the card...and that doesn't happen?

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  9. Thanks for the post, now I will have to put my markers down and try something new. This will be hard for me, but I will try to be brave!

    Judy Workman

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  10. Wow! I have been trying FOREVEr to find Gamsol... & now I can use baby oil?! hello! genius!!!

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  11. Now, you have got my pumped to get some prisma pencils and start coloring. Plus I just love the smell of baby oil. Thanks for the tut!

    Alma =)

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  12. Thanks for the tute. Looks a great technique to work with.
    xoxo

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  13. Awesome tutorial! You make it look so easy : ) I'm hoping to get these kind of results when I give it a try. Thanks for sharing with us!

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  14. This is a really great tut. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Thank you. I've just ordered some Prisma and am looking for tutorials. Your coloring is so nice. I hope I can do half as well!

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  16. I just came across this posting by accident....this tutorial is awesome! Thank you SO much for sharing! I bought a large set of the Prismacolor pencils and some Gamsol and have yet to use it...why I don't know?! Afraid I'd mess it up but this made it so much easier...thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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  17. totally fascinating, did not know any of this, thanks for showing us!

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  18. Diane, this is a great tutorial. Thanks for telling me about it on Tiddly Inks.

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  19. Just found you and awesome tutorial...thank you for sharing......became a follower and subscriber too......

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  20. Hi! Just found your tutorial and thank you for posting it! It's great! :) I enjoy using the Prismacolors with baby oil technique, but haven't tried adding depth with the contrasting colors or adding shadows to my images before. Thanks for sharing! I'll have to try it now for sure! :)

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  21. Hi Diane, thank you for posting the prismacolor pencil tutorial. I found your blog by complete happy accident at splitcoast stampers. I have slowly been purchasing the pencils individually for a year now and have never really known how to use them to blend properly. I shall definitely give this a try.

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