How to Sharpen a Colored Pencil (and create a long super sharp tip)

Learn how to sharpen a colored pencil and create a long sharp tip using the Derwent Super Point sharpener and sandpaper block. You'll also learn how to prevent the pencil tip from snapping and keep the pencil tip sharp longer.
Join Cindys Drawing Club
yt.drawpj.com/...
One-to-One Art Coaching and Mentoring
yt.drawpj.com/...
Want to see more from me?
Visit my website
yt.drawpj.com/...
Follow me here:
Facebook: / drawpj
Instagram: / cindywider

[@ishasmemories]

The super point mini is also wonderful if anyone is considering that smaller one. It will give you that same lovely long sharp tip - its just a smaller version of the larger one thats all.

[@lindasimmons7983]

Glad that I watched this! I was sharpening on the sandpaper block all wrong!!! Thanks, Cindy!

[@CC-ho5lw]

Great vid. Very helpful. Tannis directed me to this. I love how your nail polish is the EXACT shade of your pencil lol.

[@ArtFadil]

Thank you so much for the beautiful demonstration. I bought this sharpener after watching your video and its just awesome. I can now easily sharpen even the very soft cored pencils without a single breakage.

[@ishasmemories]

Thanks very much and all the best for happy sharpening!

[@ishasmemories]

Your work is wonderful, have you used the gorgeous Derwent Coloursoft pencils much? I love them! They are fine enough to get into the grain of the paper and they are gorgeous for burnishing too! Nice and creamy, a great pencil.

[@ArtFadil]

Thank you :D Yes i have a set of them. They are perfect for portraits. The colors are natural.

[@ArtFadil]

I also have a full set of derwent artists pencils. They are excellent for detailed works.

[@ishasmemories]

Yes I agree and use them as well for some finer work.

[@tristanlovell392]

Thank you so much Cindy for doing this video! I definitely needed to see this so I can sharpen my colorured pencils properly!

[@CindyWiderArtist]

Thanks Tristan and all the best sharpening your pencils.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Awesome video, I have just recently purchased the Derwent Superpoint sharpener and I absolutely love it, but you are so right, it is important to be very delicate with the pencil. I am very lucky in that I live very close to Keswick which is where Derwent are based, my family and I also holiday in Keswick as it is in the heart of the Lake District, one of the most beautiful places on earth, so I must confess that I am very partial to Derwent products, especially the Artists range and the Coloursoft. Excellent video and fantastic tips.

[@CindyWiderArtist]

Thank you very much! Wow how wonderful that you live in such a gorgeous place.

[@ishasmemories]

Update: I believe that Derwent no longer sell the sandpaper blocks, and now I simply use sand paper from the hardware store. I use a P 240 grit.

[@vapsman88]

Another option is the sanding sponges at the Hardware or Home Improvement stores. Also they can be re-used by cleaning with water and a stiff brush.

[@lessatwi1]

What a useful video.thnx.

[@chainsawkitten3321]

Does this derwent sharpener work well for prismacolor color pencils?

[@ishasmemories]

Yes it sure does!

[@chainsawkitten3321]

Cindy Wider. Just got the prisma 132 set on Amazon for $56 (!!). My last set was bought in the early 1990s, my dad bought them for my aunt, who gave them to me, they are the older ones that were made better. Had very few problems with them. The new ones, I tried sharpening them with a KUM handheld metal sharpener, which usually works pretty well....I'd get a nice long point, but every single time, it broke. This derwent sharpener looks promising, and the reviews on Amazon are great. I have polychromos, colorsoft, and luminance pencils too, and they are just too pricy to take chances. Going to order it today, thanks for your review.

[@ishasmemories]

Just be very careful when you have that super point tip not to press too hard. The Derwent Coloursoft pencils are the ones that I use all the time and I find that you don't have to press at all. No pressure at all! And the super sharp point just gently glides accross the paper allowing tiny particles of the gorgeous Coloursoft pigment to settle into the paper. If you are using other pencil brands they may not be such a fine pigment to settle into the paper or they might be not as bright as the Coloursoft...but whatever you do still don't press hard...just gently, light like a feather and stroke the paper several times rather than once with hard pressure. All the best with your new sharpener! Hope you try it out with your Derwent Coloursoft pencils!

[@chainsawkitten3321]

Cindy Wider haha, do you work for Derwent? Great company, for sure. I have yet to buy a set of Colorsoft, I have around 10 that I have bought singly, but I agree that they are a great pencil. I also love the Graphitint line, and the watercolor pencil line, of which I do have a full set. Ordered the sharpener, looking forward to getting it. Thanks for your advice.

[@ishasmemories]

I don't work for Derwent, but I am an official Ambassador and you can see my profile on their website, but its only because I adore Derwent that I have accepted this honour. Its great that you like Derwent too. I like the Graphic pencils for shading in Graphite.