Home
Start Here
- Get started
- Drawing Fundamentals
Skills
- Colour Basics
- Core Pencil Techniques
Subjects
- Landscape Drawing
- Still Life
Resources
Tutorials
WC Pencils
Pastel Pencils
Mixed media

All Topics

Coloured pencil brands

What to draw on

Papers - All about suitable drawing and watercolour papers

Paper and pencil tests - how different brands of paper and pencil work together

The best paper for coloured pencil? - how the same picture looks on different types of paper

Pastel paper - papers and boards suitable for pastel and coloured pencils

Traditional pastel papers - put to the test
Velour pastel paper - soft to the touch
Pastelmat pastel paper - LOTS of layers!
Sanded pastel papers - in depth review

Stretching watercolour paper - to prevent it from buckling when wet

Working on black paper - using coloured pencil on black paper

Learn coloured pencil

Beginner's guide to coloured pencil - Start here

Why choose coloured pencils?
Essential coloured pencil supplies - What do you need?
How to sharpen coloured pencils - we all need sharp points
The grid method - get your drawing on the paper
Using tracing paper - to get the drawing on the paper
Setting up your drawing space
Coloured pencil pressure

Fundamentals of drawing

Understanding value in drawing - getting the lights and darks right
Understanding colour basics - choosing and mixing colours
Colour in shadows - they are not all grey!
Composition basics
Perspective basics
Using photo references
Preparing your coloured pencil drawing
What is a thumbnail sketch

About coloured pencils

Wax vs Oil based pencils - the difference between wax and oil based pencils
Pencil core - What is inside your pencil?
Sharpening your pencil - which is the best method of getting a sharp point?
Wax bloom - how to prevent wax bloom from spoiling your pictures
Coloured pencil solvents - blending coloured pencil pigment with solvents
Using fixative spray - Is it safe for coloured pencils?
Coloured pencil accessories - those odds and ends that prove useful when drawing

Learn to use coloured pencils

Coloured pencil techniques - learn the skills to make the most of the medium
Colored pencil strokes - ways of applying the pencil to the paper
Layering techniques - learn how to build colours with layers
Underpainting to achieve depth - five ways to use underpainting
Burnishing coloured pencil - how to create a smooth finish to your artwork
Paper blending stumps - learn how to put these tools to good use
Coloured pencil backgrounds - how to cover large areas
Applying powdered pigment - ideal for drawing clouds and skies

Art Basics

Art basics - Start here for all things related to art
Colour Theory - learn how light works to allow your eyes to see colours
Limited color palette challenge - try this landscape using just 6 colors!
Contrast and value - this is more important than using the 'right' colours!
UK Copyright Law - how to avoid getting into trouble
Gridding and other methods of transferring your line drawing
How to tracing paper to transfer your drawing
How to photograph pets - tips for clear photos to draw from - NEW
Using photo references - what to be aware of when drawing from photos
Composition for still life drawings
The Golden Section - a composition technique

Landscape art

Landscape drawing - an introduction to drawing landscapes in coloured pencil

Landscape composition basics - how to pick the scene and focal point to draw

What is a thumbnail sketch? - and why they are useful
The Golden Section - An excellent tool for composition

Perspective drawing - getting the right angle on things

One point perspective drawing NEW - how to draw things that are facing you
Two point perspective drawing NEW - how to draw things from the corner

How to draw trees - part 1 shows how to get the shape of your trees correct

Drawing trees in the distance - how to draw trees on a distant hillside
Draw trees with watercolour pencils - no green blobs

Drawing skies and clouds - ways to approach large areas in coloured pencils

Drawing buildings - brick, stone and rock textures are included here

How to draw a roof - we cover tiles of many types along with thatched roofs

Drawing a boat - and its reflections in water

Drawing reflections - about getting the reflections correct in your drawing

Watercolour pencils

Watercolour pencils - an introduction to these versatile pencils
Watercolour brushes - what type of brushes are best for watercolour pencils
Underpainting coloured pencil - underpaint a country lane scene
How to use watercolour pencils - learn the basic techniques
Beginner easy watercolour pencil art - a pair of pears
Background painting with watercolor pencils - paint a Scottish Hillside scene
How to draw trees in watercolour pencil - a simple foliage exercise
Watercolour pencil landscape - Coventry canal step by step
Watercolour pencil techniques - Brokken Bridge landscape tutorial

Pastel pencils

Pastel pencil brands - find out the best brand for YOU
Pastel pencil primer - the pros and cons - how they differ from wax coloured pencils
Sharpening pastel pencils - the knack of using a knife to sharpen
Pastel pencil tutorial - for beginners to the medium, paint a simple still life
Pastel pencil drawing - Annecy Reflections step by step project

Mixed Media

Mixed media techniques - coloured pencil and other media
Pan pastels - Using pan pastels in coloured pencil art
Combining colored pencil and pastels - the Abbey of Bellapais
Drawing on black paper - Cottage Doorway in pastel pencil and coloured pencil
Coloured pencil and pastel drawing - usng pastel pencils as a base

Step by step projects

The fruit bowl - coloured pencil still life for beginners
Draw a garden archway - Rectory Garden in coloured pencil
Sweet Jar - Glass on black paper
Realistic Cat's head - Draw a wild cat
The Bowerman Stone - How to draw stone and rocks in coloured pencil
Tavy Rocks - Devon river scene using polychromos pencils
Grand Union Canal - composing a scene from two photographs
A pair of pears - a beginner project for using watercolour pencils
Coventry Canal - a landscape using watercolour pencils
Polperro harbour - an exercise in line and wash
Italian street scene - watercolour pencil step by step
Scottish hillside - quick demo using watercolour pencils
Brokken Bridge - an old packhorse bridge in watercolour pencils
Country Lane - watercolour pencils and coloured pencils
Simple still life - vase in pastel pencils
Annecy reflections - step by step pastel pencil drawing
Cottage doorway - pastel pencil and coloured pencil on black paper
Abbey of Bellapais - mixed media tutorial using pastel and coloured pencils
Allerford, Somerset - landscape drawing step by step
Gondolas - student step by step
Painting realistic water - student step by step (3 page series)

Venice Grand Canal Project

I'm Carol Leather, a coloured pencil artist for over 15 years. Most of my teaching comes back to the same idea: realistic coloured pencil starts with structure, light and observation long before the colour goes down.

My work has featured in Ann Kullberg's Color Magazine, CP Magic and Color Pencil Treasures (vol 7). I'm a member of the UKCPS and was a prize winner in the Nature section of their Annual Open Exhibition in 2020.

About Me