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Wax Bloom on Coloured Pencils: What It Is, How to Fix It, How to Prevent It

By Carol Leather

In short

Wax bloom is a harmless, cloudy film that rises over heavily layered wax-based pencil work. It is not mould and your drawing is not ruined. Buff it gently with a soft, dry cloth and it lifts away. Seal the work with a light fixative to stop it returning.

Has this ever happened to you?

You've spent hours working on a coloured pencil drawing, carefully layering rich, dark colours to create depth and contrast. You step back, feeling proud. But when you look at it the next day, a strange, hazy film has appeared over those beautiful dark sections, making them look dull and dusty.

My first thought when I saw this years ago was, "Oh no, is it mould?!"

Let me put your mind at ease right away: it is absolutely not mould (mold for my US friends) or any kind of damage. And it is not a sign that your skills let you down.

I want to say that plainly, because it was the very first thing I assumed. When it happened to me I felt deflated, angry, and sure I had wrecked hours of work. I hadn't, and neither have you. The culprit is the wax in your pencils, not your hand.

What you're seeing is a completely normal and harmless effect called "wax bloom." It's a common characteristic of working with many popular wax-based coloured pencils, and the great news is that it's very easy to manage. Your artwork is perfectly safe.

In this guide: what wax bloom is and why it happens, how to easily remove it, ways to prevent it in future drawings, and how artist fixatives can be your ally in managing it.

What is Wax Bloom?

Wax bloom is a thin, often whitish or greyish, cloudy film that can appear on the surface of a coloured pencil drawing.

It tends to be most noticeable on darker colours or areas where you've applied many layers of pencil or used heavy pressure, such as with burnishing.

It doesn't damage your artwork, but it can obscure details and dull the vibrancy of your colours, making the piece look a bit dusty or muted.

Wax bloom: the hazy film that can settle over dark, heavily layered areas.

Why Does Wax Bloom Happen? The Role of Pencil Binders

The primary cause of wax bloom lies in the composition of certain coloured pencils.

Wax-based pencils

Many popular coloured pencils use a wax-based binder to hold the pigment together. This wax allows for soft cores, smooth application, and easy blending.

Brands like Prismacolor Premier and many in the Derwent range (such as Artist or Coloursoft) are well-known examples of pencils with a higher wax content. When you apply many layers of these pencils, or use very heavy pressure, some of the wax binder can migrate to the surface over time, creating the bloom.

Oil-based pencils

In contrast, oil-based coloured pencils (such as Faber-Castell Polychromos or Caran d'Ache Pablo) use an oil-based binder.

These pencils are generally harder, can hold a sharper point for longer, and are much less prone to causing wax bloom because they contain little to no wax that can rise to the surface.

So, if you frequently experience wax bloom, the type of pencil you're using is a key factor. You can explore the differences further in my guide: Wax vs. Oil-Based Pencils: Which One is Right for You?

So Is My Drawing Ruined?

Wax bloom is not a one-off accident to fix and forget. On wax-based pencils it can come back, especially in your darkest, most heavily layered areas. Wipe it today and a faint haze may drift up again tomorrow. That is not you failing a second time. It is simply what wax does.

So this is not really a mistake to correct. It is a small, known quirk to manage. And because it is a quirk and not a fault, you get to decide how you want to handle it, with your eyes open. Here are your choices.

How to Remove Wax Bloom (The Simple Fix)

Gently buffing the surface with a soft, dry cloth lifts the bloom away.

Fortunately, removing wax bloom is usually quite easy:

  • Take a clean, soft, dry cloth (a microfibre cloth works well) or a soft cotton bud.
  • Gently wipe the surface of your drawing where the bloom has appeared. The haze should lift away easily.
  • Be aware: while this removes the visible bloom, on pieces with very heavy wax application it might reappear over time if the artwork isn't sealed.

The same drawing with the bloom wiped clear, colours vibrant again.

Option: Leave It

Yes, this counts as a real choice. If the bloom is faint, or it sits somewhere that does not trouble you, you can simply leave it.

Give it a gentle buff with a soft cloth when it appears, and carry on. On a piece you are not framing or selling, living with the occasional haze is a perfectly reasonable decision. Not every quirk needs a permanent fix.

Preventing Wax Bloom in Your Artwork

While you can remove bloom after it appears, preventing it in the first place is often preferable. Here are some strategies.

Light layering technique

One of the most effective ways to minimise wax bloom is to build up your colours using multiple light layers of pencil, rather than fewer heavy ones. This reduces the amount of excess wax sitting on the surface. For more on this, see my layering guide.

Pencil choice considerations

If you know a piece will involve very heavy application or a lot of burnishing in dark areas, you might consider using oil-based pencils for those sections, or for the entire piece, to reduce the risk of bloom.

Using artist fixatives

Fixatives can be very effective in both preventing wax bloom and stopping it from returning after you've wiped it away.

Artist fixatives are sprays designed to create a clear, protective film over your artwork. When it comes to wax bloom, they work by sealing the pencil layers, preventing the wax from migrating to the surface.

For a comprehensive guide on choosing, testing and safely using all types of artist fixatives, please see my main fixative spray guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What exactly is wax bloom?

It's a harmless, cloudy film that appears when the natural wax binder in some coloured pencils slowly rises to the surface. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong; it's just a characteristic of wax-based pencils. It can make your colours look a bit dull or dusty, but it's easily fixed.

Is wax bloom the same as mould? How can I tell the difference?

Absolutely not, and this is the most important thing to remember. Wax bloom is waxy or slightly greasy, has no smell, and wipes away cleanly with a soft cloth. Mould would likely be fuzzy, patchy, or stain the paper, and would have a distinct musty smell. If you see that, it's a moisture problem, not a pencil problem.

Will wax bloom damage my drawing?

No, not at all. It doesn't damage the paper or the pigment underneath. It's purely a surface issue that can hide the beautiful details and colours in your work.

What's the easiest way to remove it?

Gently wipe the area with a clean, dry, soft cloth. A microfibre cloth (like the one you'd use for glasses) or even a simple cotton bud for smaller areas works perfectly. Use a light touch; you don't need to scrub.

Will the wax bloom come back after I wipe it away?

Yes, it sometimes can, especially in very dark or heavily layered areas. Wiping it removes the wax from the surface, but if there is still excess wax within the layers, it may reappear over time. The permanent solution is to seal the drawing.

Can I use fixative to stop wax bloom for good?

Yes, this is the best long-term solution. A good quality artist's fixative will create a barrier that stops the wax from rising to the surface. However, always test the fixative on a scrap piece of paper first. Some sprays can slightly change the paper's sheen or deepen the colours, so you want to know what to expect before applying it to your finished artwork.

Which pencils are most likely to cause it?

Pencils with a softer, wax-heavy formula are more prone to wax bloom. Brands like Prismacolor Premier are well-known for it. On the other hand, oil-based pencils, like Faber-Castell Polychromos, very rarely, if ever, have this issue.

How can I prevent wax bloom while I'm working?

You can minimise it with a few simple techniques:

  • Build up your colours with several light layers rather than one or two heavy ones.
  • Try not to burnish (press very hard) too much, as this pushes a lot of wax into the paper.
  • Consider using an oil-based pencil for your final dark layers.

What's Next on Your Coloured Pencil Journey?

Understanding and managing wax bloom is a fantastic step in refining your coloured pencil skills. Here are a few places you might find helpful to explore next, to build on what you've learned:

  • Master light layers to prevent bloom: one of the best ways to prevent wax bloom is by building up colour with light pressure. Dive deeper into the essential guide to layering coloured pencils to refine this core technique.
  • Explore different blending options: heavy application during blending can sometimes contribute to wax bloom. Discover alternative blending methods for coloured pencils, including those that might reduce the risk.
  • Consider your pencils: if wax bloom is a frequent concern, understanding the difference between wax-based and oil-based pencils can be very insightful. My choosing coloured pencil brands guide discusses various pencil types, which could help you choose pencils less prone to blooming.
  • Learn about fixatives: as mentioned, fixatives can be a solution for wax bloom. For more detail, see my guide on fixative sprays for coloured pencil.
  • Troubleshooting other common issues: wax bloom is just one of the challenges artists can face. For more solutions, visit my main troubleshooting common coloured pencil issues page.

Keep Experimenting!

Before you go, think back to where we started. The morning I found that haze over my work, I honestly thought it was heading for the bin. It wasn't.

With my heart in my mouth I tickled a corner with a soft cloth, and gradually the bloom lifted and my drawing was still there underneath, exactly as I had left it. Yours is too.

You did nothing wrong, and now you know what wax bloom is and how you want to handle it. That is not a disaster. That is you, drawing with your eyes open.