8 Things I Wish I Knew As a BEGINNER Colour Pencil Artist

[@shannonwolff2599]

The most important tip I would give to myself and any beginner artist is that you need to make a lot of ugly pictures before you start making beautiful ones, and it's just paper.... If your drawing doesn't turn out how you wanted it's OK!!!! You are not going to start off drawing pieces like another artist who has been doing it for 10 years!!! It doesn't come overnight, give yourself permission to fail, it takes practice and remember you are doing this for FUN!!! The whole point of art is to ENJOY it!!! The only art supplies ever wasted are the ones that aren't used ..... so USE them!!!

[@lisa4471]

Very good comment! So true!

[@jobellemangaoang6971]

The very good comment that i've ever read. Thank you so much. You don't know how much you've inspired me by saying that

[@algayomendoza]

I like the last sentence of your comment 💛

[@flickersfacts7317]

Thanks a lot for this comment it's really made my day 🥺❤️

[@drawingsoul]

Last sentence though 🥺💙💙

[@brusheswithbec]

I actually prefer to have my pencils less sharp for my lower layers, makes it easier to apply larger areas of colour, and then sharpen them for my top layers when I want to start adding detail.

[@sixmercer2504]

Have you ever used PanPastels? They make those large areas, and small ones, much much faster without killing off your expensive colored pencils nearly as fast! I just got some, haven't tried them yet but watched some tutorials and they seem to work extremely well and blend well with colored pencils as well as mixing together and layering to get the perfect hue or shade. I'm a new new artist so I am probably making a fool out of myself. You probably know all about them by now lol!

[@brusheswithbec]

@@sixmercer2504 I haven't tried them yet but definitely something to consider at some point.

[@deborahjane68]

Thank you I did not no that.

[@M33838]

That is true, and works better. Also you guys should try oil colour is the easiest lichid colour to work with. better than gouache, acrilic or watercolur. you can blend things easier.

[@Nihilistictendencies1]

Just said the same thing before I read your comment. 100% agree

[@awaytoanywhere699]

to my early self: a) don’t draw on printer paper, it crumbles too easy. b) draw small drawings on small paper if you are ‘bored’ or have a ‘writers/drawers’ block.(e.g. 5x5 inches ~ a5/a6 size) c) cut out the gray cardboard from cereal boxes, the inside gray is actually a pretty neat surface to draw on. d) use thick paper (or the one above) e) it is okay to draw on several drawings at one time f) shadows and shades - use a blue colour. g) make a test drawing sketch if you are unsure about proportions thx for a great video, - from a fantasy map drawer from Denmark.

[@mahamwaseem5207]

Thnks mate..its actually helpful..✨🙌

[@catherineplunkett7241]

thanks, I actually do iften use a blue pencil for sketching

[@gunner3actual279]

​@@catherineplunkett7241 ou 7nubyh

[@BrittanyArtPoetry]

Personally I use dark purple for my shadows, since its bordering both warm and cool colors, (red and blue), but that’s just me.

[@andreiadetavora8471]

@@BrittanyArtPoetry me too!! purple!!

[@kerryburnette5692]

Love your drawings. Thank you - I just invested in a whole large set of prisma premier pencils. I'm loving them. With joint pain, it is nice to be able to lay down colors without much effort. I heard a quote "the worst way to waste your art supplies is to not use them." Lisa Lachri

[@ContinaHarada]

Great tips! Another tip I used to teach when teaching Art lessons....Was to keep a piece or clean paper between your hand and the paper you're working on....as the oils and sweat from your hands while leaning on or rubbing on the paper can affect the surface. Than if you need to draw over that area your hand was on..pencils don't always works well or correctly. Hope this hint helps too.

[@FirstLast-zc5mu]

Dipping your pencils in Vaseline make the colors so much more vibrant and almost like a glossy oil pastel effect in a way you should give it a chance or try it out a one day and a little Vaseline goes a long way and take a rag or a paper towel and pat your paper or where you've drawn patting not rubbing to keep from smearing your work or area you've just colored in or you can use rubbing as a way or technique of blending your colors on your drawing I was skeptical when I was first given this tip from a family member and after trying I now swear by this method of using Vaseline with color pencils to give your drawings or artwork much more of a high quality vibrant result just thought I would suggest this technique I've come to love and absolutely enjoy the end results !

[@sixmercer2504]

Now! Finally! A use for my useless giant tub of Vaseline I got for....well.....um 🤔🙄😒 I don't remember! I've had it for years..hoping I didn't toss it out. I'm always interested in learning new tips and tricks for my art no matter what medium I'm using. Thank you! I'm still a fish out of water not quite a year in to my art journey (this seriously) so I still don't know much about much!

[@tbott4510]

Awesome tip, thanks!

[@snowhitegirl3]

This is a fantastic tip!!

[@garthharrison5815]

Every beginner should watch this, these are not just helpful tips, but essential guidelines.

[@mmveelee]

I definitely struggle with learning when to stop. I tend to overwork my art and make it worse. Have to practice restraint.

[@thecheshirecrafter4522]

I've just completed my first colour portrait using Polychromos and I was delighted with the result. All the time I was colouring the skin tones, my mantra was "light to dark and back to light". Your mantra! It helped me so much.

[@GemmaChambersArt]

That's fantastic to hear! I'm so glad my methods helped ❤

[@igorm8110]

You are such a sweetie Gemma, thank you so much for all you do; your advice and tutorials are phenomenal.

[@seccrecc67]

i once saw a piece a college student did. The subject was a basketball player in action, turning, muscles straining. It was taken from the floor so your looking up at him, it was colored pencil, he was drawing all wrong yet it was perfect. The foreground was the wood floor of the gym. he had smashed the pencil into the paper making it waxy. yet you could see the reflection of the player and the grain of the wood at the same time. again he really drew the player with a lot of hardness.. but the background was was layered and softly drawn. the effect was almost 3D. best piece I ever seen. I liked to mix media my color pencil drawing. india ink (to get those dark areas), glitter pens (magical effect).

[@The.Artistic.Squirrel]

My lil daughter and I LOVE watching your videos! Best part is she LOVES your name because it’s also hers! Yes - she’s a Gemma and it’s a huge drag that no one here in the US can pronounce it right But everyone in Europe & the UK get it right the first time! God bless & keep up the amazing work!

[@mrscplshields]

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be this, "never stop creating!"

[@hilaryhamilton240]

Great info, superb diction. I’ve subscribed. Many thanks. Had my Caran Dache(?) for ages but didn’t know where to start.

[@pamduncan2497]

I'm excited to have just discovered you, Gemma, as I make my entry into sketching with colored pencils! Began drawing only a few months ago and am getting tired of just using HB2 pencils on copy paper. 🤣 This is marvelous information and I'm so impressed with your talent. You'll be accompanying me on this journey . . . thank you! 🙂

[@joythornton8797]

NOW I understand why so many layers are required! Love your videos. They are short and to the point. I was following someone else that is way too commercial. I'm going to stick with you as your videos look specific to what I want to learn. You are going to teach me so much, THANK YOU!

[@colinfuerst2307]

My favorite 3 colored pencils are blue,orange,and brown I do artwork with it

[@jenniefrench1338]

I use now 140lb hp paper and add with a sponge brush (a cheapo) I put clear Liquitex over it. And sometimes I put a little ink or watercolor in the clear gesso to tone the paper. I don’t contually sharpen because the tip can flatten the tooth so I use my pencils even on the side or if not for detail I don’t sharpen. The pencils are expensive enough. And I also use pastels to save on my pencils or use the Brush and Pencil to move the pigment then the fixative. I also paint watercolor then use colored pencil on top or pastels. So those learning ideas took awhile but I am glad to pass them on. I also hand sharpen to save on pigment and am just as fast as a sharpener now and don’t need to add another sharpener to the pile. Oh one last tip. Open oms(odorless mineral spirits) even give me a headache and in the states we don’t have access to Zest it but I have the real deal blender marker. I bought a Caran’de ache waterbrush, the one with the pointy fibrous marker tip and filled it with 125 neutral thin which is an odorless non headache causing blender. Colored pencils are just oil paint and some wax, binder put in a pencil. Now I have a large side angle or a small point I can get to to blend my pencils. To clean it I just squeeze the button and it dispenses more and I wipe it on a paper towel. I do NOT recommend using any other waterbrush because this brand is completely sealed. You pull in your product through a tiny hole like a syringe and twist on the end. When done I cap it and throw it in my art bag. It can’t leak and never has. There is your real blender without overuse of messy mineral spirits.

[@maxibotha1150]

Firstly, well presented video with a beautiful voice. Easy to follow. It is now just to get the right paper and pencils. Thank you for saving me time and NOT to make the same time consuming mistakes. I am off to drawing beautiful pictures with confidence just by watching your videos.

[@GemmaChambersArt]

I'm Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your art journey ❤

[@LATriBri]

I'm a beginning drawer but am finding it so relaxing and am eager to develop my technique. This is really helpful...looking forward to digging in to more of your videos. Tks!

[@flickersfacts7317]

Thanks a lot for the guidance 😊 all the best to all the beginners keep drawing and don't worry it'll be better with time and patience ❣️

[@mn8304]

I'm a watercolor painter giving colored pencils a try, and this was very helpful, thanks!

[@JannekeVisser-h8c]

Fantastic explanation, thank you!

[@davidcompton-py2vu]

Thanks!

[@jeanlanz2344]

Great tips won thru years of experience. Your drawings are beautiful. God bless you.

[@MaryPhillipsArtist]

Thank you Gemma. A very helpful video for a complete learner with no nasty background "music" to distract the viewer or overtly hyper presentation. Well done you!

[@heydave56]

Thanks so much! For someone just getting into drawing, these are all great tips to keep in mind.

[@megperry5586]

Great tips, now I just need to practice.

[@KSM-mu3xx]

The instructor we never knew we needed 🖤

[@greekveteran2715]

Please, Is smooth Bristol paper ideal for Polychromos? Which paper should I get? Also, which paper is the best for drawing with graphite and charcoal pencils? Thanks in advance

[@ritasmith1552]

you are my kind of artist x you are brilliant x colouring pencils are my favourite way of drawing my pictures x i have learnt more tips from you xtank you Gemma x lovely x

[@geishagirlable]

Gemma this was very helpful as I’m a beginner taking classes now. Thank you so much for sharing your expert knowledge! I will be checking out your other videos.

[@dtambakaki]

Ms Gemma, you just saved me hours, days, years of unnecessary time spending with your advice. I am trully grateful! I have been using the wrong kind of paper ever since time. Congratulations for your work! Your speech is very soothing and pleasant to the ear.

[@Tradingmood]

I learned the paper rule quickly. Got a set of Crayola as a lark and was dissatisfied with the result. Bought Prismacolor Premier 36 set and was almost equally dissatisfied. Now, with decent paper the PC are still better but Crayola remain in my stockpile as base layering. I have a 150 set of PC on it's way along with two more paper styles to play with.

[@jeromybilbrey5492]

Very very helpful as I am a beginner. Thank you!

[@daveredd7759]

Just starting out. Having rheumatoid arthritis makes proper techniques difficult to develop. I find your tips easily understood, practical and useful. Glad I found you.

[@wagnernascimento-pe1lo]

Impressionante seus desenhos. Congractulations

[@bimmermom]

I too wish I’d known about layering years ago … I look at flowers I’ve drawn and as you said I’d be ‘ok I’m done cos it’s all coloured and looks lovely but now I see no depth or contrast … finally I’ve watched a few artists tutorials and discovered the knack … I just found your tutorials and I’m thoroughly enjoying them

[@gisellelopes8307]

This is Soooooo helpful. Thanks for the paper tip, that was brill!

[@JanetHadson-po2zr]

You’re a great teacher Gemma. Thank you for these invaluable tutorials. I love the oil pencils . Polychromos are amazing to use in my landscape drawing. I do tend to use the same colours all the time though as I’ve not studied colour theory . I’d like to experiment with other colours and feeling inspired to do so because of your tutorials.

[@lemonhead162]

I can't even draw a smiley face in colored pencil hardly. I bought a kit of Prismacolors yesterday and I look forward to learning. Update: I'm practicing and getting much better!

[@TheMightyJennifer]

I started with zen doodles and simple 3d shapes for weeks to train my hand, theyre fun to shade and it really worked. It took a few weeks to make lips or eyes and 2 weeks later I can do whole faces :)

[@deviantdiva702]

Basic reminders I would have told myself: 1. Fold a square of clean paper under my hand to prevent smudging. 2. When burnishing, always lightly blow the waxy buildup off so the flecks doesn't get stuck on the piece and give you more work to blend out! 😤

[@daniellejohnson199]

Great advice!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@talkingshrek7455]

I just started taking drawing seriously and this was super helpful! Thank you!!!

[@aniaphotouk]

I have only discovered that you can mix watercolours and polychromos, I went to the shop and did just what you described 🤣 bought some colours but also ordered more last night online, nice collection is coming along. I love love that mixed look, ordered hot pressed paper, which hopefully will work great with both mediums. I found your channel super useful, thank you ♥️

[@artwithjam3304]

I only just learned less than a week ago that you can blend and layer colored pencils. I'm probably doing it wrong, but I'll figure it out. If you've never blended anything just take a blue and green pencil have their colors over lap then go over it as hard as you can with a white pencil. That was some probably really bad blending, but hopefully you get the idea. Now I'm going to go study it more.

[@JoeB_BSc]

Hi, thank you Gemma for these excellent tips to bear in mind, I will certainly use them. Tips from me are eg with paper use archival light fast especially when it is coloured to save on pencil use. Always use lightfast pencils, as I learnt the hard way. Get to know one make before buying another. Regarding your chart of swatches, if using two different products of pencils, find out whar happens when each are learned with another make. If using watercolour pencils the use of oil-based on top, can help to make useful edges, especially if the oil-based is water resistant but if used under watercolour pencil it may act as a resist instead.

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

Do you know the difference between the top of the paper or the bottom of the paper? Can you feel the difference? It took me a long time to figure this out. They paper is put into a pad upside down. They put the smooth side towards the back and the rougher side facing up. I am able to run my finger and thumb along the top and bottom and feel the difference. You just run over the paper very loose. I like a smooth side so my drawings can have a very soft airbrush feel to them.

[@ybehravan8268]

As a color artist... I completely agree with things you wish you knew✏️

[@dees3179]

Well done. Very sensible tips. I unfortunately took the same route you did! We seem to be doomed as humans to endlessly repeat the same mistakes. Hopefully you’ve saved some people time, money and angst with this one.

[@springnicole]

Coming from acrylic painting, this is so valuable, because I was using my painting knowledge when using colored pencils. Darker and then Lighter. But light to dark is more like watercolor because you can’t just paint over the dark. I also see colored pencil artists work in small sections kind of like the way graphite artists do. But, I guess this is the only way you can create a seamless blend of the colors. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@GemmaChambersArt]

I've always been fascinated by colour pencil artists that can work like that section by section. It makes for great videos, like watching something come out of a printer. For me, I need the reference points of what the other areas look like to bring it all together seamlessly

[@springnicole]

@@GemmaChambersArt Yes, I think I do too.

[@sagepremoe1565]

For Bristol Board paper do you like the smooth of velum better, the 100 lb or double layered? What I would tell myself is to HAVE FUN!

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

Great advice your a gem gemma keep up the videos.

[@mariagalbraith9838]

This is so helpful. Thank you

[@shirleymalar304]

Great tips!!! Thank you.

[@alisonC4HG]

Very helpful for this beginner thanks

[@71degrees]

I would say, "Keep going kid. One day you'll be in your forties, and your time spent will show."

[@scoobytubey4514]

thank you - your videos are marvellous

[@JohnSnow-om6ks]

I just recently stumbled upon one of your videos and I'm really amazed with you talent and content! Looking forward to learning as much as I can from you!

[@brendajeannewyche]

This is so helpful. Thank you very much!❤️😁

[@allenross3857]

Your content is very informative. You talk about wax based and oil based pencils. There are watercolor pencils..what are your thoughts about them? I'm late to the show so perhaps you've already addressed them in another tutorial. And I am one that tends to over work my drawings.

[@lucie3034]

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge. It helps the beginners like me very much. Please tel me the difference between pencils B and charcoal in drawing and how I can recognize each one, also the difference between white pencils and highlight pencils.

[@wayneallen3035]

Thank you for this! So helpful and easy to listen to! 🙏🏻

[@Batx00091]

i use crayola for basic colors and ive got a set of kalour 300 colors . im quite happy with those. im no artist just like to color.

[@ChristinaThornqvist]

This is really SO helpful! I wish I had found this much earlier! 😊

[@mariekarole1621]

I found you At a perfect time. I just restarted my Berl pencil again and found a nice flip 120 pencil case on Amazon.

[@artmathilde]

Thank you for these helpful advices !! 😃

[@JG7Racer]

Anointed to teach. I can feel it. TEAR IT UP!!⚡😁👍

[@BigelowFineArts]

What lovely advice. Thankfully I knew some of these before going in but a few were definitely a learn later kind of thing. Great video.

[@antnee5150]

Just learning about polycromos, normally a prismacolor guy. Tried using my new set polycromos didn't like the look. Found your wonderful video. I learned so much not just about polycromos but also prismacolor. Your a very good instructor. Was very helpful when you showed how you actually use oval strokes. Many thank yous very excited to give it another try in moment. Thank you very much. Never really liked blending with prismacolors except blending pencil. Not too sure about using them with polycromos. I'll experiment. 😊

[@ArcNeoMasato]

So, I ended up giving that Swordfish sharpener a shot, and WOW has it impressed me right off the bat! I think sadly the pencils I use get in the way of its autostop function, as they're those Staedtler triangle barrel pencils, but it still does such a good job on them!

[@belindahugheslifestyle]

Returning to my art career. Very helpful, thanks, Gemma!

[@fredasidaravicius232]

Thank you very informative. how would I proceed with this method on a larger scale drawing? Say a4

[@juliahelland6488]

Thanks for sharing this! 💯

[@richardpaskey7192]

Your advice is amazingly helpful to me -- thank you much.

[@mariaregina3290]

I enjoyed this! 💛🧡❤❤🧡💛 I found your suggestions very helpful! Thank you!

[@mrunmai3505]

Thank you so much! Very helpful tips for a beginner - subscribed!

[@ll-sallad]

When it comes to swatches, I've used Cezan colored pencils for so long I just know what color is what lol

[@evelynsharland3030]

Thank you for sharing

[@kraznia]

Under paint with white (pencil, pastel, paint, etc.) on dark paper to make transparent colors pop. Even your "cheap" pencils will have a new life with this. Alternately, fill in backgrounds with dark colors for the illusion of dark paper rather than fight the translucency of student grade pencils. Sometimes I do this in watercolor. Prismacolor white is still one of the most opaque white pencils out there that is very easy to find open stock. Electric erasers can be useful on colored pencils for details. Use the blender pencil sold by the brand of pencils you use. You want the binder to match. A blender pencil with an wax binder won't work all that well on pencils that use a oil binder. Odorless mineral spirits and a dedicated paintbrush is much cheaper than blending pens and easier on your paper. Don't use that brush for watercolor after this! Use a small resealable glass jar and sponge so you don't over saturate your brush. Buy the OMS at a lumber store, not an art store to save money. It really is the same thing. (Gamsol, Zest It) It's ok to experiment with mix media, you don't have to be a one medium purist. Burnishing kills the tooth of the paper and is hard on your hands. Be sure you're done before you burnish. Wax bloom can continue to happen later, like months later, even in optimal temperature conditions. Acid free is far more important that lightfast. Lightfast is really only important if you intend to hang your art on the wall. If you want to improve your skill level, a small set of quality pencils that blend well is a far better investment than hundreds of children's pencils. They don't have to be Caran d'Ache Luminance or Faber Castell's Polychromos. Prismacolor Premier are a good solid product and easy to find at big box retail stores and online and are available open stock. A lot of artists on KZbin have reviewed quite a few of the new comers to the art media scene and there are some strong contenders out there cheaper than Prismacolor (Brutfuner, Arrtx, Black Widow, etc.). Worth watching some current reviews if you're looking to buy a new set. Not everybody likes the same type of pencils. Printer paper really is terrible. 😎

[@shannonwolff2599]

One more tip on accurate sketches you can also trace your reference photo on the computer screen or using a lightpad etc. Tracing the sketch is not "cheating" and it is a great way to learn HOW to draw more accurately. Many artists use tracing or using a projector to get your base sketch and it is a big time saver as well!!

[@tbott4510]

Great to know, thanks! ♥️

[@annenglish2935]

You're an excellent teacher! 18 months into watercolor... with huge chunks of time off. I'm interested in buying 36 Polychromos & 36 Albrecht Durer, just so I would have decent pencils. I've bought cheaper versions to keep for my granddaughters' visits... I checked the website for information... these two were suggested to buy together ❤️ For a while, I'm into colorbooks, so I can just have fun! Thank 😊 you! A California Gramma ♥️

[@amybalcomb607]

Amazing thanks Emma. I have my pencils and paper arriving today. Not sure I have the right paper but think I picked out wax pencils. Why are the Polychronos so expensive?

[@GemmaChambersArt]

There's a number of things expected of them that makes them 'professional grade', and it's not just the build quality of the wood casing and lead. when we say oil or wax based, this is just a binding material to mix with the pigment. professional pencils generally have more pigment in this mix, so it's less work to get the colour down on the paper. Then there's lightfastness - pigments break down and fade under UV light. Polychromos have certified many of their pencils to last over 100 years without fading, and all of this bumps up the price. All that said, you can create wonderful art with cheaper pencils. If you're just getting into it, do some experimenting and see what works best for you. Enjoy the journey!

[@Cocobird5]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@h0ckeyd]

You forgot a proportional divider. I've spent nearly a decade drawing portraits with graphite pencils and have only recently gotten around to using coloured pencils (I know) and that little plastic tool is incredible; it's an industry standard for architects and uni art students. It was for me when learning correct proportions and after a while of using it, it actually teaches you to make a reasonable judgement.

[@Jazzidoodle]

Little plastic tool ?

[@YCt37689]

Is Bristol Board only found in the UK? I cant find it here in America and I even looked online...is it a brand or a specific type of paper? I did find other brands called with paper called Bristol.

[@gurusson]

Any recommendations for process diaries?

[@yanka8561]

Hey, can you make a video showing all your material and tell us which are your favorites?

[@bimmermom]

I’ve watched this a couple of times and thank you for all the tips. Many years ago I bought a 24 pack of Prismacolor so that’s what I used back in my younger days not knowing a lot of techniques I’ve learned over the past couple of years when I started drawing again. Some of the older drawings I look at now have absolutely no depth in them 🙄. One I’ve had framed and on the wall for 25 or more years and it’s faded which I assume is due to not using a fixative? Is a fixative necessary and if so what do you use?

[@paulapeterson-warnock3030]

Beautiful art!!

[@deepoole820]

Oh l loved this thank you.

[@Nihilistictendencies1]

There are occasions when I find a blunt, smoother tip is more advantageous than a sharp tip. If you need to put down a large area, I find a blunt, wider tip works far better than a sharp tip.

[@johnrichardson4583]

What pencils should i buy tomorrow?

[@kraznia]

One more... Hold the pencil at an angle and continue to turn the pencil to maintain the point for longer.

[@clearwater7000]

❤️ Great video!

[@srishaanishetty6364]

Do you have any tips specifically for portrait sketches? I recently bought Faber Castell polychromos color pencils and made a portrait using it. It was not bad but I feel it could be much better? But I don't know how

[@GemmaChambersArt]

If you haven't seen my recent video on Polychromos portraits that's got a lot of my tips and techniques - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGGYhap5rpyCh7M

[@RockPaperStilettos]

RELAXING? 🤣 that's where I've been going wrong haha. I cannot make a mistake ever!

[@CC-ho5lw]

Good video. Thank you. So could you give some examples of which subject matter would be suitable to which paper (choices?) besides Strathmore Bristol Board? Thx.

[@supersonicracer19]

I literally only learned last week that keeping the pencils sharp makes me more motivated to color. I used to feel like coloring was a drag sometimes because my pencils were dull. Also just learned that the metal sharpeners are way better. The cheap plastic ones just kept breaking my pencils, but the cheap metal one actually sharpened them without breaking them like crazy.

[@melonieprice9855]

Thank you

[@Prathyusha44m]

Brusto paper feels costly to me for just 20 sheets. Can you please refer any other budget friendly sheet when i am still practicing ? I am a beginner and still practicing and figuring out how to do realistic way. Plz suggest a paper for practicing. 🙏

[@Herr_Vorragender]

You didn't ask me, but maybe I can give you a piece of advice anyway. Cheap printing paper isn't the worst you can do. In my experience, you can even use card boards, news papers, anything really that you physically can draw on. Also, it isn't dumb to buy cheap pencils! Pencils can be quite expensvie. And keeping them at a sharp tip means waisting a lot of pigment. For practice layering cheap pencils are perfectly fine. After all, you'll want to see the effect it has when you layer 2-3 colours on top of each other. You don't need the thick rich pigment to learn to control the effect. Maybe save the high quality and expensive paper for when you know what you are doing, you have learned your technique, you've planned your drawing and now want to do something you want to feel mighty proud of. Why cheap paper? Imagine how your drawings would feel to you (!) when you are satisfied with what you have done on a cheap piece of paper. With the oil based polychromos or derwent artists pencils, you can even create multiple layers on cheap paper. Key is to use light pressure. Lucky for us all, quality supplies do not make us quality artists. Fun fact, Van Gogh painted over his finished paintings, because he didn't have the money for new canvases. Michelangelo did his sketches and POCs on cheap papers. Rembrandt also used cheap scraps of paper and a small mirror to practice drawing his own facial expressions before he painted the breath taking portraits he is known for.