Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing from Udemy

Welcome to the “Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing” course.

This course is designed to teach you all the tips and hacks, all the basics and different methods of drawing with color pencils, as well as teaching you how to observe your subject and draw portraits in your own style.

With this medium, you require a good understanding of colors, this is why we teach you all about the color wheel and how to mix them perfectly together. You will then learn about different color combinations, tones and more importantly textures. Learn how your pencil and hand pressure control affects your result on the paper.

But more importantly this course is designed to break the traditional perspective of color pencil as a slow medium. This is why we focus on teaching color pencil drawings with a modern style.

What is more exciting about these tutorials is that you will get access to all freebie drawing outlines for each course but also each lesson will teach you how to draw in free hand style without tracing or measurement tools. So you will both improve your drawing skills as well as color pencil techniques.

Different techniques such as burnishing, layering and hatching are all taught in this course with carefully designed step by step tutorials and downloadable guidance for each lesson.

Then, you will get to know more about the source of light and how it affects the subject you are going to draw, teaching you how different shadows are created in color pencil drawings. If you want to find out what you may be doing wrong in your drawings, we have a do’s and don’ts lesson in this course which will teach you about the main things to avoid in your color pencil drawings.

Later on in this step by step tutorial, we will apply the acquired skills from the previous lessons onto a still life sample, before then going through the different facial features.

This course will cover all human facial features from the basics all the way through to modern realistic drawing with faster hand movements. This will include eyes, lips, nose and different hairstyle colors. Each of these features have been taught in two different brands so you can compare and learn more about them, such as Faber Castell and Caran d’Ache.

We all know skin tone colors have always been confusing but now you will get to know how to create all different skin tones with color pencils. Let’s unlock all the different colour combinations together by mixing multiple pencils to create a variety of skin tones.

The final step of this course is to learn how to draw and color beginner to advanced portraits.

In this course, you will have access, step by step tutorials, alongside assignments and freebie articles to help you improve your color pencil drawing skills with your teacher's online guidance throughout your art journey.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Fundamental color pencil techniques
Unique personalised color pencil methods
Do’s and don’ts
Basic to advanced level
Still life drawings

How to draw realistic hair
Facial features
Advanced portrait drawing
Free hand drawing

Fundamental color pencil techniques
Unique personalised color pencil methods
Do’s and don’ts
Basic to advanced level
Still life drawings
How to draw realistic hair
Facial features
Advanced portrait drawing
Free hand drawing

Syllabus

Introduction

You will learn the different hatching, blending and burnishing techniques with color pencil.

Learn different color pencil techniques with color mixing and color wheels.

You will be applying the color pencil techniques you have learned in the introduction section to a cherries drawing whilst practising your blending skills.

Learn the important do's and don'ts of color pencil drawing!

How to draw and color realistic blonde hair.

How to draw and color realistic brown hair.

How to draw and color realistic red hair.

How to draw and colour realistic white hair.

How to create different skin tones and colors using Faber Castell Polychromos color pencils.

How to create different skin tones and colors using Caran d'Ache Luminance Color Pencils.

How to draw and color a blue eye using Faber Castell Polychromos color pencils.

Complete two eye tutorial using Caran d'Ache Luminance Color Pencils.

How to draw and color a brown eye using Caran d'Ache Luminance Color Pencils.

How to draw a front view nose using Faber Castell Polychromos Color Pencils.

How to draw a front view nose using Caran d'Ache Luminance Color Pencils.

Learn how to draw realistic lips whilst practising your color pencil blending techniques using Faber Castell Polychromos.

Complete pouting lips drawing and coloring tutorial using Caran d'Ache Luminance.

Draw and color a female side profile portrait.

How to draw and color a front view advanced style portrait, applying everything you have learnt in this course.

If you send us your artworks from this lesson, we will send you a free coupon code for our next course!

Complete portrait and hair tutorial.

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Teaches techniques like burnishing, layering, and hatching, which are fundamental for creating depth and texture in color pencil drawings

Explores color mixing and color wheels, which are essential for understanding color relationships and creating harmonious color palettes in artwork

Covers drawing various facial features, such as eyes, lips, and noses, providing a focused approach to portrait drawing and enhancing realism

Includes a 'do's and don'ts' lesson, which can help learners identify and correct common mistakes in their color pencil drawings

Features tutorials using both Faber Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils, allowing learners to compare and contrast these brands

Requires specific brands of color pencils, such as Faber Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Luminance, which may be an additional cost

Reviews summary

Comprehensive color pencil techniques and portraits

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation in color pencil techniques, covering everything from basics like blending and layering to advanced topics such as realistic portraits, skin tones, and hair. Many found the step-by-step tutorials and instructor guidance to be very helpful for improving their skills. Reviewers often highlighted the detailed sections on facial features and the comparison of different pencil brands like Faber Castell and Caran d'Ache as particularly useful. While the course is generally seen as highly positive and valuable, a few beginners mentioned the pacing could be fast in some areas, suggesting it's most beneficial for those with some prior drawing familiarity or a willingness to pause and practice extensively. The focus on freehand drawing was appreciated by many looking to develop core skills.

Helpful comparison of popular pencil brands.

"Seeing how different brands like Faber Castell and Caran d'Ache perform side-by-side was incredibly valuable."

"The comparison of pencils helped me decide which materials I wanted to invest in."

"I appreciated learning how to achieve similar results using different types of pencils."

"The insights into Faber Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Luminance were very practical."

Responsive and helpful teacher guidance.

"The instructor was very responsive to questions and provided helpful feedback on assignments."

"Online guidance throughout the art journey was a great bonus."

"I felt supported by the teacher and encouraged to continue practicing."

"Instructor feedback helped me identify areas for improvement."

Covers essential color pencil methods effectively.

"The lessons on blending, hatching, and burnishing were very clear and easy to follow."

"I finally understand how pressure control affects my results thanks to this course."

"It covered all the fundamental techniques I needed to get started with color pencils."

"The course breaks down core color pencil techniques into manageable steps."

Master drawing realistic faces, hair, and skin.

"I loved the detailed breakdown of drawing realistic eyes, noses, and lips. This was incredibly helpful."

"The sections on skin tones and hair colors were a game-changer for my portrait work."

"Learning to draw different hair types realistically was a key takeaway for me from this course."

"The portrait drawing section tied everything together and helped me create lifelike results."

Some find the pace challenging for beginners.

"As a complete beginner, I sometimes felt the pace was a bit fast, especially in the application parts."

"While comprehensive, absolute newcomers might need to pause and rewatch sections frequently."

"It helps to have some basic drawing skills before taking this course, as it moves quickly into detailed rendering."

"Experienced students might find some early parts slow, but beginners might find later parts challenging to keep up with."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing with these activities:

Review Color Theory Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of color theory to better grasp color pencil mixing and application techniques.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Review the color wheel and its components.
Practice mixing primary colors to create secondary and tertiary colors.
Study different color schemes (e.g., complementary, analogous, triadic).

Explore 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'

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Improve your observational skills and drawing techniques, which are essential for creating accurate and realistic color pencil drawings.

View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on Amazon

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Read the chapters on contour drawing and negative space.
Practice the exercises in the book to improve your hand-eye coordination.
Apply the learned techniques to your color pencil drawings.

Create a Color Pencil Swatch Chart

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Develop a comprehensive reference for your color pencil collection, aiding in color selection and mixing.

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Gather all your color pencils and a sheet of drawing paper.
Create a grid on the paper with spaces for each color.
Fill each space with a sample of the corresponding color pencil, including layering and blending examples.

Four other activities

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Read 'Color and Light' by James Gurney

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Deepen your understanding of color and light principles, which are crucial for realistic color pencil drawings.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Read the chapters on color temperature and harmony.
Study the examples of how different light sources affect color.
Apply the concepts learned to your color pencil drawings.

Practice Hatching and Blending Techniques

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Improve your control over color pencil application through repetitive exercises focusing on hatching, layering, and blending.

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Create a series of small squares and fill them using different hatching patterns.
Practice layering different colors to achieve smooth gradients.
Experiment with blending techniques using a blending stump or tortillon.

Draw a Still Life with Color Pencils

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Apply the learned techniques to create a complete still life drawing, reinforcing your understanding of form, light, and color.

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Choose a simple still life arrangement with interesting shapes and colors.
Sketch the basic forms and establish the light source.
Layer colors gradually, paying attention to values and blending.
Add details and refine the drawing to create a realistic representation.

Share Your Work and Provide Feedback

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Reinforce your learning by sharing your color pencil drawings and providing constructive feedback to other students.

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Join an online art community or forum.
Share your color pencil drawings and ask for feedback.
Provide constructive feedback to other students on their artwork.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Portrait Artist

A Portrait Artist specializes in creating likenesses of individuals, often commissioned by clients to capture a person's unique features and personality. This role demands a strong understanding of anatomy, light, shadow, and color theory. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course is designed to teach you all the basics and methods of drawing with color pencils, with a focus on drawing portraits in your own style. The course covers human facial features, skin tones, realistic hair, and advanced portrait drawing, preparing students to create beautiful portraits. You will also learn about light, shadow, and what to avoid in your drawings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portrait Artist

Illustrator

An Illustrator creates images for various media, including books, magazines, and digital platforms. This role often involves translating ideas and concepts into visual representations, requiring a strong understanding of color theory, composition, and various artistic techniques. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you learn the fundamentals of color pencil techniques and develop personalized methods, both of which can be directly applied to illustration work that employs color pencils. The focus on freehand drawing and avoiding tracing, as covered in the course, builds a foundation for creating original illustrations. Learning to create different skin tones, along with rendering hair and facial features, may be especially useful for character design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Visual Development Artist

A Visual Development Artist works in animation and film to create the overall visual style, mood, and color palette of a project. This role involves designing characters, environments, and props, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing aesthetic. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you understand color theory and create different skin tones, which are directly applicable to character and environment design. The course on creating a realistic portrait may be beneficial to develop compelling visual concepts.

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Character Designer

A Character Designer creates the visual appearance, personality, and backstory of characters for animation, video games, and other media. This role demands a keen eye for detail, a strong understanding of human anatomy, and the ability to convey emotion through visual design. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you develop the skills needed to render realistic facial features, hair, and skin tones through a variety of color pencil techniques. The course's emphasis on both basic and advanced portrait drawing techniques provides a solid foundation for creating compelling character designs. The training in freehand drawing, without tracing or measurement, is invaluable for capturing the essence of a character.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer

Comic Book Artist

A Comic Book Artist creates the visual narrative for comic books and graphic novels. This role demands a strong understanding of storytelling, character design, and sequential art techniques. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you develop essential drawing skills, particularly in rendering realistic hair, facial features, and skin tones. The course's focus on freehand drawing and portraiture builds a foundation for creating compelling and expressive comic book characters. Learning different color combinations and techniques can enhance the visual impact of your comic book panels.

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Concept Artist

A Concept Artist develops visual representations of ideas for use in films, video games, and other media. Concept artists work to create the overall look and feel of a project, often involving character design, environment design, and prop design. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be very useful because it provides a solid grounding in color pencil techniques, including hatching, blending, and burnishing. Learning to draw realistic hair and facial features, also taught in this course, builds essential skills for character concept art. The practical application of techniques to still life and portraits is a good foundation for developing compelling visual concepts.

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Fine Artist

Fine Artists create original works of art, often for exhibition and sale. This career path allows for a high degree of creative freedom and personal expression, demanding a strong understanding of artistic principles, techniques, and materials. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you explore the potential of color pencils as a fine art medium, covering various techniques, color theory, and freehand drawing skills. The course's focus on developing a personal style and mastering advanced portrait drawing provides a platform for creating unique and expressive artwork. The combination of technical skill and artistic vision can lead to a rewarding career as a fine artist.

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Art teacher

An Art Teacher educates students of all ages in various art forms, fostering creativity, technical skills, and art appreciation. This role requires not only artistic expertise but also strong communication and pedagogical skills. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you master fundamental color pencil techniques, color mixing, and freehand drawing— all essential components of a comprehensive art education. The course's step by step tutorials and downloadable guidance provide resources that you can adapt for your own teaching materials. The focus on both basic and advanced techniques ensures that you can cater to students of varying skill levels.

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Medical Illustrator

A Medical Illustrator creates visual representations of medical information, such as anatomical structures, surgical procedures, and disease processes, for use in textbooks, patient education materials, and medical publications. This role demands a strong understanding of both art and science, often requiring an advanced degree in medical illustration. While a specialized degree is generally needed, the 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be useful for building foundational drawing skills, particularly in rendering realistic anatomical details and creating accurate color representations. The course's focus on light, shadow, and facial features helps in creating detailed and informative medical illustrations.

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Fashion Illustrator

A Fashion Illustrator creates drawings or paintings of clothing and accessories for use in fashion magazines, advertising campaigns, and design presentations. This role demands a strong understanding of fashion trends, body proportions, and rendering techniques. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be useful to practice hair and skin tones. The course's focus on color combinations and creating different skin tones can be valuable for accurately representing diverse skin tones in fashion illustrations.

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Animator

An Animator creates the illusion of movement by sequencing drawings, computer-generated images, or other objects. Animators bring characters and stories to life, working in various media, including film, television, video games, and web content. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course helps you develop fundamental drawing skills, particularly in rendering facial features and creating different skin tones. The course's emphasis on freehand drawing and understanding light and shadow may be incredibly beneficial for creating expressive and dynamic animations. The work of an animator may require a bachelor's degree.

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Textile Designer

A Textile Designer creates patterns and designs for fabrics used in clothing, home furnishings, and other products. This requires a strong understanding of color palettes, pattern repeats, and production processes. While not directly related to fabric, the 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be useful to learn color pencil techniques for creating textures and patterns. The course teaches you how to observe your subject and draw portraits in your own style. As a textile designer, you can apply these methods to design new fabrics.

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Muralist

A Muralist creates large-scale artworks, typically painted directly onto walls or other surfaces. This role requires not only artistic skill but also a strong understanding of composition, color theory, and the ability to adapt designs to various architectural spaces. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be useful to learn about different color combinations, tones and textures. The ability to avoid tracing, as covered in the course, builds a foundation for creating original murals. Learning to create different skin tones, along with rendering hair and facial features, may be especially useful for incorporating portraits into mural designs.

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Surface Pattern Designer

A Surface Pattern Designer creates artwork and patterns for various surfaces, such as wallpaper, fabric, stationery, and home decor. This role blends artistic creativity with technical skills, requiring a keen eye for detail, color theory, and market trends. 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' may be useful for creating a new aesthetic for a surface pattern. Techniques such as burnishing, layering and hatching are all taught in the course.

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Tattoo Artist

A Tattoo Artist creates permanent designs on clients' skin using needles and ink. This role requires not only artistic skill but also a strong understanding of sterilization techniques and client consultation. The 'Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing' course may be useful to learn freehand drawing without tracing or measurement. The course's focus on blending techniques may be useful to accurately represent diverse skin tones. Please note that this job requires the health and safety standards of your local region to be upheld.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

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Comprehensive guide to understanding color and light in art. It covers a wide range of topics, including color theory, light sources, and atmospheric effects. It is particularly useful for artists working in realistic styles, as it provides practical advice on how to accurately depict color and light in their paintings. This book is commonly used by art students and professionals alike.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

Hardcover

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

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Focuses on techniques to improve drawing skills by tapping into different modes of perception. While not specific to color pencils, it enhances observational skills and hand-eye coordination. It is more valuable as additional reading to improve general drawing abilities. It commonly recommended book for beginners learning to draw.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Paperback

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Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Kindle Edition

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Introduction to Color Pencil Drawing

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive color pencil techniques and portraits

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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