This Colored Pencil Technique Makes Gold Look 3D!, by It's Easy To Draw on YouTube. 10 min 22 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 22 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Start with dry blending. Layer light pencil strokes over each other and press gently to smooth the color, so you do not need solvents or specialty blenders.
Study how real metal looks. Gold has bright highlights, mid-tone yellows and darker brown shadows, so plan those three zones before you color.
Build the base with a mid yellow. Fill the shape with light, even strokes and leave the brightest highlight areas mostly bare paper.
Deepen the color with color. Add orange and light brown over the yellow to make richer tones, then layer darker brown in the shadow areas.
Use a white colored pencil as your main blender. Go over the transitions between colors with light pressure to soften edges and merge the layers.
Draw the reflections. Add curved bands of lighter and darker color that follow the shape, since reflections are what make metal read as shiny.
Change your blending pressure for different effects. Press harder for smooth, glossy areas and keep strokes light for softer, duller metal.
Add a surprise color. Work a small amount of an unexpected hue, such as blue or purple, into the shadows to make the gold look more alive.
Finish the highlights with a white gel pen. Dot or stroke pure white on the brightest spots last, once the pencil layers are done.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your pencils sharp so the layers stay smooth and you avoid scratchy marks.
Build color in thin layers instead of pressing hard at once, which flattens the paper and limits blending.
Leave the brightest highlight spots as bare paper until the very end.
Test the white gel pen on scrap paper first so it does not blob on your drawing.
Questions
Do I need solvents or special blenders?
No. The method relies on layering colored pencils and blending with a white pencil, so ordinary pencils are enough.
Which white pencil should I use?
A soft white pencil such as Prismacolor works well because it blends over other colors without scratching.
Can I use this on any paper?
Yes, but smoother drawing paper blends better than rough paper, which can leave a grainy texture.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
