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New to Coloured Pencil? This Beginner's Guide is Your First Step

Welcome to the world of coloured pencils!

If you're a beginner looking to learn coloured pencil art, or perhaps you're exploring this wonderful medium for the first time, you've come to the right place.

This 'Getting Started Hub' is designed to be your friendly first guide on your UK coloured pencil journey.

Overwhelmed by where to begin?

Don't worry! We'll walk you through the absolute coloured pencil basics for beginners, taking you step-by-step through your first steps in coloured pencil.

Think of this Hub as your foundational mini-course, covering everything from choosing your initial supplies and setting up your workspace, to mastering how to sharpen your pencils and trying your very first exciting exercises.

Our goal is to help you build confidence and discover the joy of creating with coloured pencils, right from the very start.

What You'll Achieve in this Hub

By following these first essential steps, you'll:

  • Feel confident you've chosen a wonderfully rewarding art medium
  • Know exactly which core supplies you need to begin your coloured pencil journey – no more guesswork, overspending, or wasted time on confusing research!
  • Learn the simple knack of sharpening your pencils for the best results.
  • Discover easy ways to get your drawing outline onto paper accurately.
  • Set up a comfortable and inspiring workspace, no matter how much room you have
  • Successfully complete your very first coloured pencil exercise and get a real feel for the magic of pencil pressure.
  • Find a clear, step-by-step path that respects your time and helps you start creating sooner, avoiding common beginner roadblocks
  • Move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling excited and ready to make beautiful art!

Your Learning Path in the Getting Started Hub

Here’s what we’ll cover together:

1: Why Choose Coloured Pencils?

Wondering if coloured pencils are the right artistic fit for you? We dive into the many advantages of using coloured pencils, explaining why they are a beloved choice for both beginners and professional artists looking for control, vibrancy, and a wonderfully portable way to create.

➡️ Why Choose Coloured Pencils?

2: Essential Coloured Pencil Supplies for UK Beginners

Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of pencils and papers? We cut through the confusion, guiding you to the essential art supplies for coloured pencil that a UK beginner truly needs to start effectively, all while keeping your budget in mind.

➡️ Your Essential Starter Supplies

3: How to Sharpen Your Pencils Correctly

Get the most from your pencils! We show you how to sharpen coloured pencils effectively, ensuring a good, strong point for better control while minimizing waste and preventing damage to those precious cores.

➡️ How to Sharpen Your Coloured Pencils Effectively

4: Getting an Accurate Outline onto Your Paper

Ready to draw but not feeling confident about sketching your subject freehand yet? No problem! A neat and accurate outline is a fantastic foundation for your coloured pencil work. We'll show you two popular beginner drawing methods to transfer your image to paper easily, so you can focus on the joy of adding colour.

➡️ Using the Pencil Drawing Grid Method - A classic artist's technique that not only helps you achieve an accurate outline but also trains your eye for observation and proportion.

➡️ Learn how to use Tracing Paper - a quick and straightforward technique perfect for transferring any design directly to your drawing surface, getting you ready to add colour in no time.

5: Set Up Your Drawing Space

You don't need a large studio! Discover how to create a comfortable and inspiring art workspace setup in almost any corner of your home, making your creative time more focused and enjoyable.

➡️ Setting Up Your Workspace

6:  Your Very First Coloured Pencil Exercise: Understanding Pressure

Let's get pencils to paper! Discover how varying your touch can dramatically change your colours with this easy coloured pencil exercise. Getting a feel for pressure is your first big step towards confidence in your creations.

➡️ Your First Coloured Pencil Exercise: Pressure Control

Once you've worked through these initial steps, you'll have your supplies ready, your workspace set up, and you'll have made your first marks! Congratulations – you're well on your way.

When you feel comfortable here, the next stage is to explore the building blocks of creating beautiful art:

➡️ Ready for the next step? Let's head over to the Foundation Skills Hub!

Feeling inspired and ready to get started with your coloured pencils?

We certainly hope so!

This Getting Started Hub is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Every artist, no matter how skilled, started with these very same basics. Select the lesson that sparks your interest most from the 'Learning Path' above, and let's begin exploring the wonderful world of coloured pencils together!

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