Color Strategy for the Colored Pencil Artist

[@needlemuse367]

Never in my life had I seen a video this good. I learned a lot from it. You go direct to the content, you don't ramble, your thinking process is organized and coherent, and therefore the content is easy to understand and inspiring. I will watch this video again and take copious notes. So excited to put this into practice! Thank you for the generous lesson, Jeanette.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Fantastic! So glad it has worked for you. Cheers

[@ArdentlyAusten]

Thank you so much, best video I have ever seen about color strategy. It was like attending an art class. I made a lot of notes. ☺️ Keep up the great work 💯❤

[@Drawingwithcolour]

@@ArdentlyAusten You’re so welcome and I’m glad it has helped. LOL, in fact just recently I’m seeing other KZbin creators using my colour theories and information in their videos. Gotta love it!

[@dorisjimison7590]

Amen!

[@Art_by_Nicole]

I’ve seen many videos/tutorials about coloured pencils, but your videos are so different in a good way! It’s a bit like: step 1: do this Step 2: do that Step 3: tadaa! 🤩 I love it!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment. That's about it! Cheers

[@importantinsaan6350]

The best colour pencil tutorial I've ever seen thank you so much you video helped me a lot😍

[@manthasagittarius1]

I love this! It is addressing every mystery or sorcery of "How do they DO that?" that I've felt since I turned to good colored pencil use this year in my retirement. I have subscribed to your instructional videos, and I'm excited to see what comes next.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

So glad and many thanks for subscribing. Cheers

[@melkmb]

This is a great video for artists that struggle with color choices! As a newer artist I have always struggled with defining cool versus warm colors and where and when to apply them. Your explanation and examples are a great help and the charts are something I will definitely be using! Thank you!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Glad it was helpful! It is not easy sometimes, some colours are definitely very warm/cool defined, some are more neutrals, anytime you can’t really define the warmth or coolness look at it as a neutral. Thanks so much for the comment. Cheers

[@melkmb]

@@Drawingwithcolour thanks for the extra tip!

[@kjeldversleijen1067]

This is the best explanaition I have ever experienced! Even better than my illustrator coach from my art school. And it is Free! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge! I have been wanting to uprade my knowlegde for some time now and stop using charcoal all the time to hide from color

[@mustanggirl1204]

I have always been lost with the color theory til I stumbled onto this video. You have it so easy to understand how to use the colors and balance them out. Now I understand what I was doing wrong. thank you very much for your knowledge.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi and thank you for the kind comment. I’m so happy to hear this. Color theory is so amazing, and often a conundrum . So glad it has helped. Many for color videos to come, all to help out with getting great with art. Cheers

[@pairof3s]

I can relate to the Kitty image you showed for “Colour anxiety”. Exactly how I feel. I put your color chart on my phone and tablet for reference.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

LOL, that’s too funny. I thought some folks would relate to that. Thanks for the comment, and I’m so happy to hear you’re using the chart, I really hope it helps. cheers

[@rascalz4539]

This tutorial is so well done! Thank you so much for creating this video and sharing! I am saving it to my playlist as a resource to watch again and again!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Fantastic and thanks for the comment. Cheers

[@nesiahrampersad9790]

Thank you so much for the tips ma'am. Your tips gained my confidence back in colored pencils. ☺️ Keep making these videos

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Fantastic.

[@queeneywarren9474]

I love this I love the way you put different colors in I didn't realize that I like color pencils just beautiful ❤️

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi and thank you for commenting and I’m so glad this has helped. Colored pencils are amazing. Cheers

[@tabbylynn4130]

Excellent video !! So much helpful information. Ty.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you for the kind comment. Cheers

[@gnostie]

An excellent video and a great channel in general. Thank you for making these videos.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@adanfrancf.2762]

Gracias por la explicacion,cada video,que usted sube, es un verdadero tesoro, de información, estoy aprendiendo mucho ,con lo que enseña, quiero mejorar, mi técnica, y mi comprensión, sobre como funcionan los lápices de colores,mil gracias, saludos desde Guatemala sigo su canal, con gran admiración...

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you soooo much for the kind words and for watching and hello to you in Guatemala. This is a wonderful medium to use, it can do so much. Let me know if you have any questions. Cheers

[@loripeterson5403]

Fabulous tutorial!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

thank you, cheers

[@thelionheart3562]

The base color in the last example (the flower) is a bit confusing. Since you used red as the main color, wouldn’t a lighter version of red be the base color instead of yellow? Great tutorial lesson. ! We would love to see your videos more often .

[@pinkthom4871]

This a great and insightful video. Your walkthrough to the guides and techniques are easy to follow and understand. with that said, I would like to say thank you. This has been helpful especially we are using colored pencils as medium for my VT class. For question, I think would like to know how do you color lights(like sunlight) or fire, i find them a bit challenging. All the best.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi and thank you for your comment and kind words. I’m so glad you like the video. Great question about the fire, sunlight. That is a challenge for sure. As I don’t have a reference, let me speak in general. Fire or sunlight (depending on where the sunlight is) are abstract objects, it is not defined by a form that is easily recognizable like a cup which has solid defined lines. Our brains get a bit overwhelmed with all that abstract image and we often can’t interpret it correctly. It’s a normal thing to happen with artists new to drawing and you are not alone in your struggle. I hear it all the time. So try this, again this will work best if you have a photo. Look at the subject as an abstract object. Option 1-Zoom in very very close so you don’t see any defined shape, and then just draw what you see. Colours, layers, and soft soft blending. Another idea is flip the image and your drawing upside down and draw what you see and not what your brain is thinking what you see. Doing this, creates a non recognizable shape for the brain to process making you just focus on colours and blending. Good luck on your drawing. Cheers

[@vivian9187]

That was so interesting and helpful. I'm just starting with coloured pencils and sooo much info but this has really tied a lot of that up into one easy foolproof section so thank you for your advice

[@Drawingwithcolour]

You are so welcome. I know it was a lot of information but I’m so glad it will help you. Cheers

[@vivian9187]

I've used watercolour mainly but kept seeing so many beautiful pictures on KZbin that I really wanted to give pencils a go and then found I didn't know where to start and your tutorial was the just what i needed. I'm really looking forward to watching more once I've practised from this one. Ordered a lovely big box of luminance pencils for my birthday 🤩 I know!! My partner just raised his eyes in despair, but they are so beautiful to use. Thank you so much for the inspirational lesson

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi, Luminance are soooo beautiful to work with, I like to call them the Rolls Royce of coloured pencils. I love your enthusiasm and highly recommend this medium, it’s so lovely to use, great control, but does take practice for sure. I wish you much luck on your art journey, reach out anytime. Cheers @@vivian9187

[@Itsmeandadd]

Over a year in and this is first time saw 4 color system. SOOOO helpful. Thank you!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

@@Itsmeandadd so glad it has helped. Cheers

[@mamtabafna6720]

Thank you for sharing this valuable techniques It's a depth knowledge given for any colour theory, mixing & application.....

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@antoniocastiello7792]

AN EXCELLENT VIDEO,VERY INTERESTING

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you for the kind comment. Cheers

[@eramartmypassion8578]

Great 🎉🎉🎉

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you, cheers

[@Nicomacobr]

This is "The Class "

[@bullshitsphilosophy1825]

Thanks for the tip! Very interesting for a beginner like me to see how purple can be used as a shading color for green. Is there a way to understand which shading color using for other colors? Let's take for example blue. Should some orange-ish shade be chosen as shading colour, since it sits more or less on the other side of the color wheel? And how about shading red? Thanks again :)

[@gillianfernie9376]

Hi. Thank you for this really informative video. I struggle with shading, knowing where to leave highlights and the delicacy of transitioning between colours. Maybe it’s just experience but any tips you have would be most appreciated! Thanks

[@Itsmeandadd]

? At the end of the holly layering the yellow/ purple i think you said to use compliment of the shads color or did you use yellow because it was the base color? I understand about why it greys it down but is that always a goal, to grey it down? Or only if needed on areas? Thank you!

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi and thanks for the great question. You said it exactly and that is why it might be a bit confusing. The yellow is the base color but it is also as you know a complimentary of purple. And as you also know those two colors cancel each other out and create a grey/brown color. I’m using yellow because it is the base and the fact that it is also a complimentary is a bonus. It won’t always be that way with a base and a shade. The yellow is used towards the end because as we build up the layers the initial yellow that was put down at the beginning starts to look dull and not vibrant with the rest of the layers, this is a normal part of the process, the yellow is so light it looks faded. Because of this we need to keep adding it so the final colour is richer, more vibrant. So yes, it does a great job of creating shadows/working with the purple, but it’s there more to build up the colors and helps to make that green look more vibrant. You want to use the yellow all over, but in the areas where it is lighter/reflection don’t press so hard, on the areas where the colours are darker, in the shadows you can add a bit more, just don’t let the yellow cancel out the green. It’s all, as you know with coloured pencils, that crazy balancing act. Let me know if this makes sense. Cheers

[@Itsmeandadd]

Thank you so much Jeannette. Explained it perfectly. Unfortunately I'm not to familiar with the balancing act. I haven't put in much practice. Can't wait for you4 4 series!@@Drawingwithcolour

[@needlemuse367]

Jeannette, how does that approach work when the main color of the object is gray, as in a winter scene or item of clothing? Thank you.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

You have warm and cool greys and even brownish greys like French greys. You apply the same idea, when working with a warm grey main colour add a cool grey as the boost and for base use a lighter warm grey and shade as a darker grey, can be either a warm or cool grey, depending on how much you need to - based on subject - add in that colour temperature. Follow the video when the grey of the subject is cool. add the warm grey to the lighter areas. Remeber 70/30 rule or split when you can. Cheers

[@needlemuse367]

@@Drawingwithcolour Thank you so much for the explanation. I've just watched the video for the second time (when I finished, I saw you had replied to my question). The process became clearer after I watched it again, I took lots of notes and now I feel more encouraged to trying this approach. Thank you.

[@needlemuse367]

Jeannette, I tried the 4-color approach today and a new question came up. If my main color is a tertiary color (let's say, teal), what is the base color? Teal is blue mixed with green; so, is the base color the lightest of these two colors? Or is it still yellow, since teal is partially green, and all greens have yellow?

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi, great question. You could go either way, really depends on the warmth of the teal. I've got some amazing virtual classes coming up through my web site. These might be a great idea to consider to help you with lots of these questions. You can join the wait list on my website, just follow the Creator Studio links. Link is in the description box below to my web address. Cheers

[@user-bi6eg1lo7v]

Was a mistake made in the video? From the analogous color example, shouldn't the base color of cool red be either cool orange or cool purple?

[@bullshitsphilosophy1825]

Are there any books available that describe all this? :)

[@rosemarlijn9529]

Great explanation, but please take a breath between sentences 😊. I had a hard time to take in the valuable information you share. Had to pause and rewind a lot to get what you were actually saying. Besides that, love your explanation on colours

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi, thank you for your comment. Cheers

[@manthasagittarius1]

rosemarlijn9529 -- I agree that the information is coming fast, and for those of us getting this for the first time, like me, it needs to be paused. As a classroom teacher, I feel, and somewhat regret, the difference in the teaching medium and speed of info delivery. But as you say, this medium offers the chance to pause and repeat. What I find best is to first time listen all the way through, not expecting fine detail to be perceived, but to prep the topic. Like laying down that first light coat of base color, perhaps. Maybe even twice, and you will be surprised how much more even a single repeat gives you. Do it in smaller chunks, as the video itself is so well designed, and trust your perception as you feed it with short reruns. My area was psychology, and I taught basic cognition in general intro courses. I promise, learning is a sturdy gift and it will deliver as I describe.

[@andrewfrankovic6821]

I've made that observation, and find iT very hard to come back for a second look. Right now she's just going on and on and on and my only take-away is her ridiculous scarf.@@manthasagittarius1

[@Art_by_Nicole]

@@manthasagittarius1I totally agree, fellow-teacher :)

[@Drawingwithcolour]

great, thank for the feedback. I'm always open to learning and fixing and helping. Cheers@@manthasagittarius1

[@saravillicana4143]

Confusing

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi Sara, Thank you so much for commenting. I appreciate you taking the time to do that. I did want to ask, if you have the time, let me know what you mean by confusing and I would be so happy to clarify. Cheers

[@ksimpson3952]

Thank you for going in depth about color. I love using colored pencils but really trying to grasp color theory. I look forward to your videos I hope you make many many many more.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you so much for the kind comment, color theory is one of fav things to talk about and upcoming videos will talk about basics to advanced techniques for Colored pencil artists. So glad you’re watching. Cheers@@ksimpson3952

[@saravillicana4143]

HI thank you for paying attention to my comment. I guess it is too much information in a short time and I just can follow it. @@Drawingwithcolour

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Hi, absolutely, I completely understand. It is a lot of information and the best I can suggest is go over it again, stop and start along the way. There is valuable information for the beginner colored pencil artist. If there is anything I can help with please ask. Cheers@@saravillicana4143

[@kristinlamonda5862]

I love your style so much. And your videos are wonderful. You are clearly a teacher. However, I can barely stand to watch the furious sped up scribbling nearly the entire time while you explain. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it's so distracting it's like it scrambles my brain and I can't take in what you're saying. I tried to look away and listen, but want so badly to glance back and see what you're doing to help me understand the teaching. I'm sorry! I hate complaining like this, but I love your work so much and would love to offer what I hope is constructive criticism.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Oh course I completely completely understand, I am good with your concerns. Unfortunately most of these drawings especially this one as it has 2 sets of drawings they were each about 4-5 hours of drawing time. It is very difficult to do these videos in real time, so I have to speed them up. and I do try my best to provide great content to you folks who are so important to me. It’s a balance, to get what I need said and somehow do it in a reasonable time frame. LOL. Try scrubbing meaning keeping your finger/mouse on the time line or even just hit the space bar to stop and start. I am working hard also to get long form videos on my website that might make things easier. I’ll keep my lovely community updated when this happens. Cheers and best and thank you for watching and reaching out.

[@claudiawilson2322]

This is a very informative video however, I think you talk too fast. Slow it down a bit please.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Thank you. Cheers

[@deidra1350]

Totally confusing. Very frustrating.

[@Drawingwithcolour]

Lots of information for sure. Let me know if i can help explain anything and the concept. Cheers

[@ЛенаЛев-ш4х]

Большое спасибо за урок ❤