Colorful Creations: Exploring Cathy Dement's Use of Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are more than just tools for coloring; they're versatile instruments that can unlock a world of creativity and expression. In this blog post, I invite you to delve into my world of colorful creations and discover the magic of colored pencils.
Approach to Using Colored Pencils
For me, colored pencils are a medium of choice when it comes to capturing intricate details and vibrant hues in my artwork. My approach to using colored pencils is one of careful layering and blending, allowing me to achieve depth and richness in my compositions. I often start with a light sketch to outline the basic forms and then gradually build up layers of color, paying close attention to values and contrasts. Blending is key to achieving smooth transitions between colors, and I often use blending tools such as blending stumps to achieve the desired effect.
Recommendations for High-Quality Colored Pencils
If you're looking to invest in high-quality colored pencils, I recommend brands such as Prismacolor, Faber-Castell Polychromos, and Caran d'Ache Luminance. These brands offer a wide range of colors, excellent pigmentation, and smooth, creamy leads that are perfect for layering and blending. Additionally, investing in good quality paper specifically designed for colored pencils can make a significant difference in the final result of your artwork. I have used Prismacolor pencils for most of my adult life. Although they may not be as high quality as Caran d'Ache, the price point is much better, and they are available in most craft stores. I do reach for a few Polychromos pencils from time to time as well. They are a little harder of a "lead". Although I find that it can make it hard to get the color to lay down vibrantly, they do keep a fine tip longer than the softer Prismacolor pencils. Ultimately, it is nice to have more than one brand to choose from!
Cathy
P.S. the featured artwork for this post is a piece that I did with Prismacolor Premier pencils on Stonhenge paper.