Explore Caroline Strong’s journey rediscovering coloured pencils. Dive into the intricate process of creating a detailed red squirrel drawing, blending, layering, and adding depth. Discover the secrets behind the vibrant watercolour background, including a unique salt technique. Uncover tips for adjusting and enhancing the artwork for a stunning, unpredictable result.
I have always loved drawing and just before lockdown I rediscovered coloured pencils. During lockdown, I also realised I’m still learning the many techniques that can be used with dry and water-soluble coloured pencils.
There are many ways to achieve backgrounds and I tried using watercolour, with great success, because the wax and oil content of the coloured pencils repels the watercolour. The watercolour is blendable and stays wet for longer on PastelMat, which allows more time to splash on water and add salt, which is great fun!
I drew the red squirrel freehand, but you can use your preferred method whatever gives you the confidence to proceed. When you start using the coloured pencils, every stroke is light and done in the direction – and to the length – of the squirrel’s fur. Use lighter colours over darker to soften and blend and alternate these several times to achieve the depth of fur and to create a recession. Add Derwent Lightfast Arctic White (a cold white) to the white areas of the squirrel, layered and feathered with cold greys to add shading, then use Polychromos White to soften and blend the marks. For the whiskers, use an embossing tool to indent: make sure they are curved and push harder to make them thicker nearer the face. The whiskers then stay white when other colours are placed on top.
Use shades of black for the darker areas and add Polychromos Ivory to soften and blend these. Also, add Polychromos Ivory for the light, non-white areas on the arms and legs. The eyes are the focal point so need the most contrast. Pushing slightly harder with a sharpened black pencil, use small circular strokes reserving the whitest glint in the eye, which can be enhanced with Derwent Drawing White.
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Use various shades of colour from ivory, pink, orange, Burnt Sienna, and various browns to Dark Sepia and black, in many layers.
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