Do you struggle with backgrounds and always end up leaving them blank?
Not knowing what to draw and feeling anxious about it?
If that's you, we'd love for you to try this background technique where you **just move your colored pencil up and down**.
It's incredibly simple, yet surprisingly artistic.
Anyone can try it, even without confidence in drawing.
Basic Technique | Just Move Vertically
① First, Pick One Color
Choose one color you like.
The key to this technique is keeping the pencil on the paper and moving it up and down.
Move your fingers rather than your wrist — it's less tiring and gives a cleaner result.
You don't need to color densely from the start.
It's fine to leave small gaps — just color it roughly.
② Layer Another Color
Next, layer a different color in the same vertical motion.
The color can be from the same family, or a totally different one.
Since the mood changes greatly depending on which color you layer, the variations are endless.
The key is not to trace precisely.
Just move roughly, the same as the first layer, to create a natural overlap.
Even with just two colors, you'll get a surprisingly rich range of tones.
Tips for Adding Contrast
Once you've layered a few colors, try keeping the following in mind.
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Intentionally create some darker areas
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Color as if filling in the gaps
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Deliberately vary the length of your strokes
You don't need to make it perfectly even.
In fact, unevenness gives the background a sense of movement.
Points to Keep in Mind While Coloring
■ Coloring Inside a Frame
When applying this to an actual piece, try coloring inside a rectangular frame.
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Move in small motions at the edges
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Move boldly and broadly in the center
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Don't press too hard
Edges are easy to leave patchy, so finish those areas a bit more carefully.
■ How to Think About Color Choices
Sticking to colors from the same family creates a calm mood and is less likely to fail.
On the other hand, mixing warm and cool colors gives a colorful, energetic impression.
When using colors from different families, it's best not to cover the whole area at once — layer them gradually while checking how it looks in parts.
Once you feel confident, go ahead and expand it boldly.
The Appeal of This Technique
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Anyone can do it, even without artistic confidence
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You can color without feeling nervous
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You naturally learn how colors layer together
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It's great practice for hand movement
Even if you usually feel tense trying to "color carefully," this method lets you enjoy it with a clear mind.
Even with the same color combination, you'll never get exactly the same result twice.
That's part of the appeal of this technique too.
Finishing Tips
Finally, keep layering colors, filling in gaps, until you're happy with the result.
You can use as many or as few colors as you like.
Adjust freely to match the mood of your piece.
Layering a color you've already used again will add even more depth.
Once You Try It in Practice…
Even when using a lot of colors, the result feels surprisingly cohesive.
It's simple, yet it takes on a strikingly artistic mood.
If you finish it with just one color or colors from the same family, you'll get a calm, understated background.
It won't be too loud, and it'll have a warm, gentle finish.
Advanced Use | Great for Illustrations Too
Once you get comfortable, you can use this vertical-motion technique to draw not just backgrounds, but illustrations themselves.
You can also try:
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Moving horizontally
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Moving diagonally
as arrangements.
Simply changing the direction of your strokes can dramatically change the expression.
Recap
You don't need to draw any specific detail.
Just move vertically and layer the colors you love.
This is a method we especially recommend for anyone who's been avoiding backgrounds because they find them difficult.
It's incredibly simple, yet remarkably versatile.
It'll become a background that really makes your artwork shine.
Please give it a try.