Prismacolor Colored Pencils Drawing Techniques

Prismacolor Colored Pencils are superb art materialsan object with varying angles, shapes, tonal value,
for drawing, whether you are a hobbyist, art student,depth, and perspective. Rather than draw a simple
or professional artist. Prismacolor pencils are made ofline drawing as most beginners do, they start drawing
high quality pigments, which lend themselves towhat they actually see from their unique vantage
creating drawings rich with color, tonal value, andpoint. Drawing then becomes a process of
texture. They are also excellent for black and whiteinvestigation and observation - a true composition of
drawing as well.design elements.
In most foundation art classes, before color isOnce the concept of seeing from the right side of
introduced, instruction usually begins with black andthe brain is understood, that is when I introduce
white drawing. The objective of the instructor is tocolor. My method of teaching color and value is similar
teach students how to see with their eyes - notto the way I teach line, perspective, mass, and
with their brains. For most students, this is veryproportion. The introduction to colored pencils is
confusing. It is not easy for an art instructor to makeexciting to most students, who after a while tire
their students understand that even though they canfrom doing only black and white drawing. Just as
see, their way of seeing is left-brain symbolshape is processed as a symbol in the left side of
processing, rather than right-brain creative processing.the brain, so is color. Returning to the triangle lesson,
The task of an art instructor is to get their studentslet's just say it is a red triangle - but is it really? If
to begin drawing on the right side of the brain. Inplaced under a strong light, depending upon where
every class that I have taught, that situation alwaysthe light is directed, in truth it may not really be red.
leads to a few humorous outbursts from bewilderedOn one side, the side that is not being illuminated, the
students, because at first - they just don't get it! Tocolor may be more of a maroon color. Shadows
watch their expressions change from confusion towhere the bottom of the triangle meets the pedestal
clarity is one of the wonderful gifts of teaching.may appear dark purple or blue, but that too is
To best illustrate this concept, I take a simple object,dependent upon the color of the pedestal. The
such as a three dimensional triangle - about two feetsurface color of the pedestal will reflect a certain
high and place it on a pedestal. I have the studentsamount of its color onto the base of the triangle,
set-up their easels in a circle around the still life. Forwherein a blending of color and light occurs. Shadows
demonstration purposes, I do a quick sketch fromcast from the red triangle in turn will alter the color
three different sides of the circle, while the studentsof its surrounding.
stand behind me. Before putting pencil to paperWith practice and training, I have found that almost
however, I stretch out my arm, holding up my pencilanyone can learn how to draw, and using Prismacolor
to line up with the angles of the triangle. I ask thecolored pencils eases this process, particularly
students to do the same. Granted, each one ofattributable to their wide selection of color, hardness,
those students has a different vantage point thanand composition. Applying a damp paintbrush to a
mine, as well as from the other, but that is exactlycomposition drawn with water-soluble colored pencils,
the point that I am trying to convey! Their brainsenables an artist to create watercolor like effects
begin to adjust from processing a familiar symbol, i.e.within their drawing. I find this a fun way to introduce
a triangle, and shift from seeing it as a flat symbol topainting into a drawing class.