Today we'll cover the basics of how to use colored pencils. Just mastering this will dramatically improve your coloring. The key points are "how you hold the pencil," "how you move it," and "how much pressure you apply." Once you can do these, all kinds of expression become possible.
■Preparing your colored pencil
Always sharpen your colored pencil well before use. If the tip isn't sharp, you won't be able to color cleanly and you may go outside the lines in fine details. Also, if the wooden part touches the paper, it can scratch the paper and ruin your artwork.
■How to hold and move the pencil
First, hold the pencil the way you would when writing. Keep your wrist firmly on the table and move only your fingertips.
The way you color changes depending on where you hold the pencil.
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Holding near the tip: lets you color small areas with strong color.
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Holding near the top: lets you color larger areas with lighter color.
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Holding in the middle: gives you a medium size and depth of color.
Don't just use the very tip of the lead — tilt it slightly and use the wider side surface too. Try out different grips to find what works best for you.
Another way to hold the pencil is to wrap your hand over the top of it, guiding it with your index finger. With this grip you can lift your wrist off the table. Tilting the lead and moving it sideways produces thick, soft lines. This is handy for coloring wide areas.
■Basic coloring technique
If you move the pencil carelessly, gaps appear, creating unevenness and a sloppy look.
The key is to color little by little, with no gaps, using consistent pressure. This is the basic method for solid coloring — keep using it no matter what you're coloring.
■"Swirl stroke" technique (kuru-kuru nuri)
This is an original technique I named myself.
Just like the basic method, you move the pencil in small circles with no gaps and consistent pressure. It has a soft touch and leaves few stroke marks — great for skin tones and gradients on people.
However, be careful — if you leave gaps while doing the swirl stroke, it will look sloppy.
■"Flick stroke" technique (shasha nuri)
This is also a name I coined myself.
Draw lines from top to bottom while releasing pressure as you go. Aim to make the top thick and the bottom thin. Once you get the hang of it, move little by little with no gaps, flicking as you color.
The flick stroke is very useful when coloring fur, gradients, and hair. Try practicing from bottom to top as well. You can create many different effects — long flicking strokes, short quick movements, and more.
■Pinch grip technique
This method involves holding the pencil right down near the wood, as if pinching it. It's easy to apply strong pressure, making it well-suited for deep, dark colors. If you tilt the lead, you can also color wide areas relatively quickly.
■Summary
As you can see, changing how you hold the pencil, how you move it, how much pressure you use, and the angle of the lead opens up a wide range of expression. Combine these and practice, and you'll be able to depict just about anything.
Be sure to master these basics and try out all kinds of coloring techniques. Let's keep enjoying coloring together going forward.