How to layer coloured pencil to create realistic looking fur - the ugly stages!

Part 1. This is the ugly stage, where many people become frustrated because everything looks grainy and there's no detail. But with perseverance, and patience, you can create beautiful realistic looking fur with such depth of colour. In this 43 minute real time video with live voice over, I explain how I layer my coloured pencils to create realistic looking fur. This is the first 40 or so minutes, and this is where all the hard work happens and the belief that all the layering will create an amazing base for the more details layers to come. I'm using Clairefontaine Pastelmat in Dark Grey, and am using mostly Faber Castell Polychromos with some Caran Dache Pablos and Derwent Lightfast.
I have another video to come which take you through a further 40 minutes of layering, and then will add a final video showing how to create the final layers to create soft, realistic looking fur.

[@cathyeberhardt7356]

Thank you! I'm learning a lot! Can't wait for part 2.

[@maibritthansen4540]

Thank you so much for chairing and explaining the process of layers

[@kimbearlysoriginal4276]

Fantastic Bonny. Great explanation of the process of layers. Another great video. Thank you very much! I LOVE your artwork.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Thank you :)

[@alexissalazar2579]

Espectacular tus vídeos te agradezco por enseñarnos tan bien!! Sigue montando videos. Mil gracias por compartir tu conocimiento!!😘😘

[@lisasabine2923]

Thank you for these videos! You explain everything so well and I love the tip about imagining feeling the texture of the surface/hair/fur to reflect it in each pencil stroke!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

My pleasure :)

[@lynnetownsend8945]

Really excellent tutorial! Thank you for doing this in real time.

[@davinabirchenall6261]

Thank you so much. I only took up drawing/painting in September 2020 and your videos are so instructive.

[@Pendarr7]

I've been doing portraits with acrylics but just starting out with colored pencil. Thank you so much for this!!

[@jeanninemorgan3526]

Bonny, thank you for this det ailed video. I find it vert helpful to j able to watch and listen to your thought process.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Jeannine Morgan my pleasure 😊

[@rianjones6142]

What a fantastic tutorial, thank you very much..!!

[@dblsr2]

Loved it Bonny! Really learned a lot!

[@christicovington]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful and informative. Subscribed and greetings from Nashville TN USA.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Christi Wiley thank you 😊

[@corinnestatesart]

I always struggle with the ugly stages. Im so glad we have encouragement to push through it! Phenomenal talent!

[@valeriedaly8459]

Love

[@karenbarth8908]

Thank you for the video, Bonny! I love to see how someone else does this, and I laugh at your idea of an ugly stage. I always call them the ugly stage when I first forge ahead and it doesn't feel polished. It is the perfectionist in us. :)

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Karen Barth i think it’s so hard for people just starting out seeing amazing artwork and not knowing the processes to get to that stage. Showing the awful bits and the bits that don’t look so pretty aren’t often available

[@user-no2px7zs6l]

Good afternoon. Your work is wonderful. Tell me, please, what kind of pencil sharpener Do you have?

[@dreambug8831]

I've got a spaniel comission to do so this is really helpful, thank you!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Dream bug 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Kalimbarima]

Thank you! This is super helpful. I'm used to drawing human portraits and want to try out animals and i immediately see new techniques, pretty satisfying😂😍

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Thank you :)

[@eedamuhi8916]

This helped me improve in my drawings so mach, so thank you so much

[@michaeljschneider]

It’s an honor to subscribe. Great work!

[@ml09baker8]

Very very helpful. Thank you so much!!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

ML09 Baker thank you 😊

[@jeaner2966]

Look at the eyes on that dog!! Amazing!!!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

jeaner29 thank you 🥰

[@Kokoh15]

amazing!! I add-icted!!

[@SAVIRGOwrites]

Very helpful tutorial for bigners, you are great artist, beautiful art, ❤❤❤👍👍👍

[@MichelleMoreusArt]

Great tutorials Bonnie!

[@dianehoweart6084]

This is the first video of yours that I have watched and it was wonderful. Like you I tend to imagine I am touching the animal that I am working on and I really think it helps. You can always tell when someone is familiar with a certain species or just using ref photos. I love your layering technique. I have worked in Oil paints for many years and am only just starting with pencils, I love the fact that they will layer like oils. Thank you for sharing :-)

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Diane Howe Art thank you so much 😊

[@user-wickedflower]

Lovely piece thank you. I highly recommend Colourfix smooth sanded paper ,similar in feel to Pastelmat & very quick to put down layers but you cover alot more I think. I love it & it comes in plenty of colours.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Kate thank you 😊 I have the colourful smooth - it’s ok but it doesn’t allow as many layers as pastelmat

[@MrDispleyy]

Io ti adoro!grazie per i tuoi preziosi insegnamenti! Spero di vedere presto come disegni dei gatti bianchi ❤

[@luthien0902]

To be honest, I'm working on this perseverance and patience thing. :-D Building up layers is so much easier and not so frustrated since I use polychromos pencils. Holy moly, this wax build up thing with the prismacolor pencils has cost me a lot of nerves. I love your work, a very helpful video. Thank you. And by the way, I'm a new subscriber.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

luthien0902 I’m so glad my videos are useful 😊

[@bezmontazha6562]

cool work

[@valeriestephen9617]

Thank you for showing us this video. It’s so beneficial to see how it should be done! I am learning how patience is so important in coloured pencils and I have a lot to learn. Your tutorial is teaching me I need to slow down a bit when I’m layering. Is there a rule of layering light to dark/dark to light or does it matter? Thank you!

[@paintcolourj.e.m.3960]

Very nice picture

[@MarikaJochumsen]

This is a fantastic tutorial and I have returned to I maybe 5-6 times already. Thank you so much for sharing. I had never done curls or longer fur before. Now that I am sitting with a spaniel on my drawing board this video has not only taught me a lot of techniques but also really helped me feel less daunted by the task. So thank you! ^_^

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Oh that's brilliant!! I'm so glad it's helped :)

[@MarikaJochumsen]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy It has! I am slowly but steadily getting there. Might share a photo in the group today or tomorrow. I will have to say that I am spending a lot more than three hours on it though 😂😂

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Marika Jochumsen oh yes please do - I’d love to see how you’re getting on 🥰

[@yakuzaman5074]

This is amazing,! How could anyone hit dislike on this I dunno!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Kay the Drawing thing thank you 😊

[@christophertudor4727]

Beautiful demonstration and drawing Bonnie! I'm new to your channel and new to drawing infact. My favourite coloured pencils are Polychromos and are the finest professional quality pencils you can buy in my opinion. I primarily use mine for adult colouring as a way of managing my bipolar and anxiety. Both the medium and outlet have assisted me no end...... However, I've always dreamed of becoming masterly at drawing, and although I am reasonably proficient in oils and have dabbled in watercolour paints and the occasional acrylics before now, I have always had a love of coloured pencils. To me where has say, the harmonica is the much underappreciated musical instrument, I feel the same applies to coloured pencils - they don't get the recognition they deserve. This is evident on KZbin as there aren't many channels with artists such as yourself who demonstrate on great detail, how wonderful coloured pencils are. I'm writing a novel at the moment, but would like to learn to draw in coloured pencils inbetween writing. It's the basic skill of drawing that I struggle with and usually cheat by tracing before applying paint. This has helped and INSPIRED me Bonnie and thank you! Many thanks for showing us and sharing with us your fantastic talents. 🖒❤ I've subscribed. Chris (Cymru).

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Christopher Tudor thank you so much for this lovely message 🥰 I’d be very happy to help if you wanted any - you can message me any time 😊

[@christophertudor4727]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy Thank you so much Bonny. It's very kind of you to offer to help me with my art, should I need a little advice. If so, I'll message you. That's very good of you to offer and I thank you for that. Thanks Bonnie 🖒😀, Chris.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

@@christophertudor4727 my pleasure :)

[@reelynn77]

This is a great video! Pastelmat is so expensive and I only do art for fun - not money - can you use this technique with less expensive paper? If so, what less expensive paper do you recommend?

[@grantharper6033]

Hi, lovely piece and a great help being in real-time with your instruction explaining the why as well as the how. Just out of interest, what was the app called for colour identifying and changeable to brand used?

[@bobbin33]

Such a big help for me a beginner. Thank you! Love your descriptions and explanations. You mentioned an app hat helps with choosing colour. Please could you tell me what to look for. Like the idea of being helped with which colour to use. I'm currently using Photoscape which has a tool for you to highlight an area called colour picker.

[@whiskerske3218]

I use this he “Colored Pencil Picker”, works great to me.

[@helenbenard6476]

Thank you for showing your work. Would you be able to show the photo that your working from. It would help so much to visualize your technique. Thank you!

[@lindzmckinnon8849]

LOVE the video as always. You mention a colour picker app; can you say w hi hi one is best please as there are a few 🥰

[@deweycutie]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! You are amazing! As a beginning artist, this was very helpful. Ever heard of this type of paper. Can I do this on canvas? Btw, any negative comments by people is because they are jealous of your talent!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Thank you :) You can use this technique on any paper, the only thing you need to be aware of is the amount of layers you can add, and if you're using smooth paper you won't have the ability to use lighter over dark as well :)

[@helleholmgaardbak2814]

Hello Bonny - amazing video! You mention something about some apps about finding the right colors - what apps? Do you have any names? 😊

[@susaneckles5417]

Bonny, I noticed you used PanPastels for the background. Do you ever use them for your base layers?

[@bobrutan4735]

Very nice Bonny! I am very, very new to all of this. I did not see you do any blending between layers. Do you blend much with dog portraits, or just keep adding detail as it appears you did here? I guess I am referring to alcohol or other liquid blender as opposed to using a lighter colored pencil?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Bob Rutan the blending happens on its own as you add the layers - because of the light pressure the pigment almost sits on the tooth - so you’re able to ‘push’ the pigment around and blend 😊

[@deeznutts1742]

I don't know about you but she is amazingly awesome at what she does 😃😃😃😃😆😀😁😆😊😆☺😅😇😇😇

[@13Moondancer]

Superb explanation of why you use the colours you select. Many thanks for your time. (Perhaps try to use less ‘you know’ in your voiceover - it drove me to distraction). Have subscribed. Thanks again 🙏

[@laurencowles1959]

Evening, I got back into colored pencil 3 yes ago after a long break. I would like a full tutorial to buy from you that is on pastelmat. I work well with pan pastel, but I'm a little nervous to use my wonderful polychromos. Thanks for any info.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I have some tutorials and courses available on my website 🥰 I'll link them here for you: www.bonnysnowdonacademy.com/coloured-pencil-workshops

[@lisvandergeer]

Hi Bonny, saw this one just yet. In the text you are telling about coming part 2 and 3 to follow. But they are not on KZbin?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

There are two parts - and then I ended up not having enough time. However I am going to be starting a live draw along every week I think, where I draw a subject and people can either follow along or watch. Spaniel ears are going to be the first thing that I do :)

[@margclement5606]

thank you , great tutorial. Could you show the original picture

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Marg cLEMENT I’ve included it in the second part of the video at the end. The second part is just uploading now 😊

[@chrisd4459]

What pencils do I need. I have pencils but I can't use white pencil over no color. I guess I don't have the right pencils

[@christreanor6637]

Great video, just subbed you. I have got a terrier cross with some kind of spaniel, anyway, the ears are very much like this and I just know them ears will be a disaster. I hope your video will work a miracle for me..lol

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Chris Treanor thank you 😊 I’m sure it’ll be fab 😍

[@alicelundhpapiernik8630]

This is the First video i love I love when you do the pencil drawing and show us from the start Do you have a video from the first sketch to the first color to the end from start to finish I love when video Are this slow but I would love so if the war from the beginning from the sketch Do you have a video like that I love this video I wish I could Pain like you and now I'm gonna The Try it in Stay Everyday You are amazing never stop and show was More please 😍😍😍😍😍😍.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I have hundreds by they’re on my teaching channels 🥰

[@SVOD69]

Beautiful ! ❤ Do you only use polychromos ? I have pitt pastels ... are polychromos better ? What is the difference please ? What do you use for sharpening your pencils (find it very difficult to sharpen my pitt pencils ! Tried sharpener and cutter but tip of pencils often break or can't have my pencils sharp enough !)

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I only use coloured pencils 🥰 pastels are a different medium, chalk based. I use a swordfish multi point sharpener 🥰 for pastels they recommend a knife to sharpen

[@gerryjunpyo2462]

Bonny that pencil extended is so pretty what brand is it ?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Gerry Anthony I think it’s just one I got from amazon. Set of five in different colours 🥰

[@freewheelinguy2]

If you could, I would greatly appreciate if you could explain how you choose what paper to use for this drawing and is putting down the lightest color in the area the typical choice? Would white Pastelmat mat work for this drawing as well? Also I would like to thank you for posting this tutorial.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Leonard Zanetich i choose the colour usually depending on what my mid tones will be - a darker animal on dark paper, lighter on light. White pastelmat would work but because of the nature of it you might have to work longer to fill the tooth. I always add the white first layer on dark paper as it helps me to see the form of the subject and gives me something to work to - but I don’t do that on white paper. And thank you 😊

[@freewheelinguy2]

Thank you so much for the reply. Since this comment, I have become one of your Patreon members which I am thoroughly enjoying. This allows me to follow along with your real time drawing process with actual downloaded reference that you provide for each detailed video and outline drawing and material list. Wishing you great success with Patreon. The $10 is quite a bargain No reply needed on my other comment. You are now including ref pic in frame. @@BonnySnowdonAcademy

[@pam7366]

Hi Bonny :) this vídeo is so helpful, I'm going to do my first pet drawing of a really cute Golden retriever

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I don't use an app but some people find the colour pencil picker app very useful - I think there are a few :)

[@jasminscott5054]

Hi, was just wondering what paper you use to draw your coloured pencils on?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I use Pastelmat and Drafting Film :)

[@suzannemckenzie7035]

If you showed the subject picture once or twice that would also help in your tutorial so we could see what you're accomplishing. Thanks for the tutorial !

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

You’ll see this is a video from when I first started. Free info is a gift which should be received with grace and gratitude 🙏

[@susanadamo6400]

Thank you so much for this video. Bonnie! I have purchased the 60 set of Poly Chromos,/colored pencils,Is that sufficient for most dog and horse drawings?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Susan Adamo my pleasure 😊 I’m not sure what is included in the 60 set. I’d say ensure you have some dark reds, blues and some pinks 😊

[@BabySquirrelBeading]

Hi Susan, I've been doing dog portraits for 9 months now and only purchased a Polychromos 60 set and have been doing fine. I did however recently purchased a set of 40 Luminance. I just finished doing a Sheppard and pulled out all the colours needed from both sets. I found myself reaching for the Luminance more but I did a practice drawing in my tonned sketchbook with the Polychromos and the colours were beautifully brilliant. My thought is that a 60 set would be perfect.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Emma Devost thank you!! Does the 60 set have the dark reds in? And the luminance are so lovely aren’t they 😍

[@susanadamo6400]

Thank you Bonnie!

[@susanadamo6400]

Thank you Emma!

[@peterpoggi]

Hi Bonny, Being new to colored pencils, choosing the colors has been one of my challenges. I am often times not satisfied with the result of my choices. I’m looking at my pencils and realizing there are similar colors you could have chosen. I am wondering what process you (or others) use toward making your color selections? Do you use a software application like Colored Pencil Picker, your own color chart, trial and error on scratch paper, or is it just coming from prior experiences with those specific pencils that lead you to choose for example, Ivory and Caput Mortum Violet, instead of WarmGrey I and Red Violet?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Hi Peter, I find colour wheels really useful in learning what colours are going to work well together. Then as you become more experienced and after lots of trial and error you learn what colours are going to work best 🥰

[@the_big_bang_artist256]

what would u reccomend for the first few layers on white paper and would u ever do a eye turtorial on white paper

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

the_big_bang_artist 25 I’d still go with the lightest colour I can see so a cream or ivory or very pale orange. And I’m just videoing an eye on white 😉

[@the_big_bang_artist256]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy wooooow thank u so much your such a helpful teacher and i appreciate what u do please continue making videos😊

[@wixieee]

Where do you But your paper? And How many sheets do you usually Buy at a time?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I usually buy from SAA.co.uk and buy 5 large sheets at a time.

[@EggHeadJo]

Yeah that paper is way out of my budget on Amazon. What’s a cheaper alternative?

[@chloebartz6730]

Hi I am just starting to commission my portraits and I was wondering how much this portrait would go for? Thank you!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Hi Chloe - my portraits start at £500 for a 10x12” this one was part of a Double portrait and a big bigger so it would be around £900

[@cobykroone-heisterkamp954]

Graag uitleg over potloden kleurpotloden enz.

[@cobykroone-heisterkamp954]

En uiteraard ook het papier waarop je tekent.ik vertaal het wel in het Nederlands

[@trudyhines5269]

What is the name of her paper and the color of the paper?

[@marygraydon6522]

Does your book out September have tracings as I would find that usefil

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I have five totally different tutorials in it so I’m sure there will be something :)

[@freddysoto6540]

Someone of You can tell me wath kind of pencils we should use,? Maybe the brands please

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I always encourage people to use what they have and just get drawing, but the pencils I use and recommend are Polychromos, Luminance and Pablos 🥰

[@michaelgaleone5226]

Does this tutorial come with a list of materials needed?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

This is quite an old one so no sadly.

[@nishitshah6396]

Which oil pencils do you use, or is it a mixture ?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Nishit Shah I use polychromos but also mix in luminance and pablos 🥰

[@nishitshah6396]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy many thanks 😊

[@CherryBlossomHill]

Do you show the photo in real time in your Patreon classes?

[@MarthaDamron-is5gm]

do you have a videio of this eye?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I don’t but I have lots of others 🥰

[@maryhull448]

Which paper are you using please

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

It's Pastelmat in Dark Grey 🥰

[@jessicasobel4287]

I use the app Arty to try and get an idea of what color to use, but I find it's not usually accurate...

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Jessica Sobel yes I had a look at that - I think the problem will be it just picks a colour but with layering you get so many colours

[@kennethbutzer4467]

This would have been more helpful for me if I could see the reference picture so I would have the comparison to be able to understand better why you’re doing what you’re doing or where you are doing it.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

When you’re just starting out creating many times you don’t have the equipment or know how - this is an old video - I think anything that artists share for free is a really good thing 🥰

[@swadt1]

Hoe maakt u uw schets?

[@mlk1965]

Can someone please explain what happened to all the replies on this forum? When I try to read Bonnys reply to questions, the screen is blank.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

jillferry1956 that’s odd I can see them all

[@mlk1965]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy maybe one of the internets weird and annoying tricks! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I follow you on Instagram, and aspire to draw as realistically as you do. I started two years ago, at 62! I enjoy the challenge and the satisfaction when it turns out well.

[@josephcobiac6920]

Whats the colour app please?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

I think some people use pencil picker app - I don't actually recommend any apps now as I feel they really don't help as they are picking up tiny portions of colour

[@JoannMctaggart]

i am so sorry, I absolutely love your work, but i cannot hear which colors you are using. do you perhaps have a list of the colors that i can take out and have ready

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Ahh this is a very old video before I upgraded my equipment

[@lindamclean8809]

The thing about pastelmat over paper is that you can put light over dark......not so easy on paper..........Fabriano hot press has quite a grain to it these days... I don't like it much at all

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

yes I agree, pastelmat is a lovely surface to draw on :)

[@Mixcky_Shadow]

Is part 3 put yet?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

This is a very old video - there’s only two parts. If you’re looking for full tutorials then do consider joining my patreon 😊

[@Mixcky_Shadow]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy How much is the patreon? I am considering it but I don't know how expensive it'll be monthly or what you can get in the smaller packages of patreon compared to the big ones or if it'll be worth it. I do adore your artwork and videos - I'm actually apart of your group on Facebook. How long did it take you to improve your artwork? Or if the patreon will most likely help me with my artwork becoming more realistic. I have heard countless amounts of good things about the patreon and seen your amazing artwork but I'm just a little weary of actually signing up to a patreon even though I do want to.

[@Mixcky_Shadow]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy Amazing artwork BTW. What's your favourite animal to draw?

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

@@Mixcky_Shadow HI :) it starts from £5 a month and my students all progress amazingly :) I've been drawing since 2016 :)

[@mattmanning7999]

Good deal, watch.

[@jaydee177]

Wish you would fo a WHOLE video that cover the whole part of what you’re drawing. Even a slower time lapse.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Jay Dee I have to split them down as my pieces take 25* hours to create. I will have some full length tutorials on my patreon which launches 1 Feb 😊

[@patriciaward7090]

Jay Dee, did you know if you tap the top right hand corner of the screen, three dots come up. If you tap these, you can either quicken or slow the speed down. Patsy

[@freewheelinguy2]

Would be nice, if the reference was in frame.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Leonard Zanetich the reference was never intended to be in frame it was just at the side of me 😊

[@myapinion7532]

She shows the reference photo at the end of the part two video.

[@maryamnazary3405]

@@BonnySnowdonAcademy I have problem in color pencil

[@Jazzidoodle]

Treating myself to set of polychromos ssh dont tell hubby hiw much 120 cost!!

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

😂🥰

[@EggHeadJo]

I’m really new to this and you’ve already lost me

[@user-wickedflower]

I absolutely hate colour pickers, artists can ponder if tracing is somehow cheating when painting a art work which i think is simple, if you are creating a drawing then dont trace, if you are painting then true representation onto the paper is needed because the skill you are showing is the painting of it ..colour picking is part of that skill so you need to develop that through artistic trails. Using an app to show you what colour to paint is not showing your artistic interpretation of the ref picture IMO.

[@BonnySnowdonAcademy]

Kate but - if you’re starting out it’s useful. I don’t use one but we all see colours differently. If it’s a hobby and you’re developing your skills then something like the colour picker can be the difference between carrying on and stopping. Encouragement from all angles is what is needed and enabling people to make their own choices. Tracing of course is never cheating and usually it’s the artist who says it is who has a weakness somewhere. Positivity and helping people is how I work and I’d never pull anyone down for using the variety of tools available to them 😊