How to Blend Colored Pencils Smoothly (Real-Time 3D Sphere Shading), by art_by_smitha on YouTube. 43 min 12 s.
- Video length
- 43 min 12 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Draw a clean circle on your paper and mark where the light hits and where the shadow falls. Decide which side is the highlight and which is the core shadow.
Start with your lightest blue and fill the whole sphere using very light pressure. Keep strokes small and overlapping so no white paper shows through.
Add a second layer with the same light pencil, still using light pressure, and build the mid tones. Let the pencil layers sit on top of each other rather than pressing hard.
Switch to a medium blue and layer over the shadow side with medium pressure. Blend the edge where light meets shadow by feathering short strokes.
Deepen the core shadow with a darker blue at medium-high pressure. Keep the transition gradual and check the sphere from a distance.
Apply heavy pressure with the darkest blue only in the deepest shadow. This burnishes the surface and removes the grainy paper texture.
Blend the boundary between shadow and light by going back over it with the lightest pencil at light pressure. Repeat until the gradient looks smooth.
Erase a small clean area for the highlight, or lift color with a kneaded eraser. Add a soft reflected light along the lower edge of the sphere.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your pencil sharp and rotate it often so the point stays fine and strokes stay even.
Press too hard too early and the paper burnishes before you can add more layers, so save heavy pressure for the end.
Work in small circular or oval strokes instead of long lines to avoid visible direction changes.
Check your sphere in a mirror or from arm's length to spot uneven blending.
Questions
Do I need the exact Prismacolor pencils shown?
No. Any soft colored pencil set with a few blues in light, medium and dark shades will work. The key is layering light to dark.
Why does my blending look scratchy?
Scratchy results usually come from pressing too hard too soon or using a dull point. Use light pressure, keep the pencil sharp and build many thin layers.
What paper works best for smooth blending?
Smooth or fine-tooth mixed media paper holds many layers without tearing. Rough paper eats up the pencil and makes blending harder.
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.
