White colored pencil is a color that often leaves people feeling unsure how to use it, but it's actually a key player in raising the overall finish of a piece. Here we'll introduce three basic techniques for white, plus some recommended white pencils.
The examples use line art of the original character "Mokota". Note that, to make the explanation clearer, other colors are colored in first and white is layered on afterward, so please feel free to download it and try it yourself.
1. Layer It Over the Area You Want to Whiten
Coloring white directly onto white paper is hard to see, so the basic approach is to add color around the area first, then layer white on top.
For example:
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Highlights on a button: Simply leaving the paper's white can look out of place, so lightly layering white over it to blend it in creates a more natural white.
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The toe of a shoe: Adding white to the area you want to look bright brings out roundness and a stronger sense of volume.
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Water droplets or sparkles of light: Keeping a highlight and then lightly layering white over it creates a sense of transparency and a soft glow.
This method also works for backgrounds. By laying down a base or surrounding colors and layering white afterward, you can give the whole piece a soft, elegant finish.
2. "Stretch" and Blend Colors Together
Layering white over other colors erases grainy unfilled specks and smooths out the surface.
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Tone adjustment: Adding white gives the whole piece a gentle, pastel-like feel.
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Gradients: Layering white at the boundary makes the transition look natural and smooth.
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Applying it to patterns: For example, after coloring polka dots with a gradient, lightly layering white over the whole area adds transparency and a sense of unity.
Think of it as "blending colors right on the paper," using white as a kind of blender.
3. Soften the Line Art for a Natural Finish
Thick black lines have a strong presence and can sometimes make a coloring look flat even after it's colored in. Lightly layering white over the black lines softens them and gives the whole piece a more natural feel. Layering color over that white makes the black lines even less noticeable and raises the overall finish.
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Start light: White tends to resist other colors, so the trick is not to press too hard at first.
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Works on printed black too: Coloring white over a printed black area once before adding color changes how the color takes dramatically.
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Soften the pencil's black: Layering white over the blackish tone of the pencil line before adding color shifts it to a softer tone. Beyond just changing the color of the line, this can also be used to control the impression of the line art and how shapes read. I call this "reshaping coloring" or "cosplay coloring," and introduce it as a new way to enjoy coloring pages.
Finishing Touches and Layering Order
Adding a light layer of white as a final touch smooths the surface and creates a sense of unity. If you want to deepen the color even more,
repeating white → color → white → color lightly a few times balances out density and transparency. As a comparison, keeping the right half with plain black lines and softening the left half with white before adding color makes the difference in mood clear. Adding a background blends things together even more and raises the finish further.
Recommended White Colored Pencils
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Holbein Artist Colored Pencil (White)
A pencil with beautiful color payoff and a soft lead that lays down color well. Even if you normally use another brand, it's worth picking up a Holbein just for white.
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Ponky Pencil (White)
A soft lead somewhere between a crayon and a colored pencil, with the entire barrel being lead so you get plenty of use out of it. Great for when you want to lay down a strong white or really soften black lines. It's affordably priced too, and both are available for individual purchase.
Bonus Technique: Using White's "Resist" Effect
White tends to resist other colors. If you draw a pattern in white first and layer color over it afterward, the white pattern rises to the surface like a simple form of masking. This can also be applied to express areas you want to keep white. Give it a try and expand your range of expression.
White isn't just for "brightening" — it's a multi-purpose color that also plays the role of blending, softening, and unifying. The better you get at using white, the more the finished quality of your work will improve. If you have any thoughts or requests, please let us know in the comments.