How To Use A Blending Stump Properly (And How To Clean Them)

[@JoeB_BSc]

Hi, thank you for these interesting and useful tips. In my opinion 3 other helps I find useful: one of the thin metal slotted shields to ensure fine edges and assist in erasure, using the new non-shine pencils, and application of various amounts of graphite to blending stumps then using the stumps on the drawing surface. I have subscribed. Thanks and Regards JB

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Great tips, thanks for sharing! Pinned your comment 😊

[@itsgoubie]

I do not know how to use a blending stump properly, it always comes out as a smudge. I'll apply these techniques. Thank you. Cheers from Brazil!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Best thing is actually to learn to shade without using them at all to start with. They should really only be used once you already have the correct shading down, just to smooth things out a little bit. If its very smudgy, it could be not shading enough, or the paper and pencil types. Sometimes I find just a piece of tissue or a soft paint brush or a Q-tip works well too, so try different things (just not your finger!) 🙂

[@itsgoubie]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline Awesome, thank you! I do need to practice shading, I'm very much a complete beginner.

[@kcphotographystudios8836]

Hi Emily! Thanks for sharing this. Very informative!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Hello again, glad it was helpful! Hope you are well 😊

[@keepershoes]

I'm a beginner hobbyist at sketching and found myself here searching about blending stumps after another channel used it in a portrait sketch. I still dont know whether I need to get some for myself. Thank you for the video and tips.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

If you are already buying other materials or visiting an art shop then they are worth adding to your purchase just to have a play with them but you definitely don't need to use them. They are good for getting a smooth skin effect in portraits but it's more important to learn how to draw portraits first! In many ways I think it's better to work on your shading without them when you are learning. You might like to check out my video on shading skills WITHOUT using a blending stump: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6WqfXqepK-Hars

[@keepershoes]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline thank you for your response. It helped make my decision. I will consider getting some when I transition into portrait sketches or sketches that require the smooth skin effect. for now, I will put my focus into shading.

[@MythBoyPro]

I want a video of pencil colour blending

[@Charlize_the_only_one]

Search it lol

[@chitrasangle]

Ok 😂 jsnjxndjdnhdjdodnidkdoka

[@AllyHiggins-e5j]

There are books on drawing and shapes too. :)

[@Aeronwen813]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much for sharing your advice and skills.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You're very welcome!

[@billinrio]

Very useful for one just getting started with charcoal drawing. I can't place your accent, but I love it!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Ha thanks its a New Zealand accent with a few years of Ireland thrown in 😆

[@lobstermash]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline Kia Ora! I thought so.

[@trudychinn8980]

Excellent explanation, thank you

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You're welcome and thanks for watching!

[@laurastone1564]

Great informative video, thank you!!!

[@DISRSTEROUS_EIDTZ]

Hi! Congratulations for 20k🎉❤ subs .Nice advice and great tips😊🎉🎉can you also make a video of how to blend pencil colours please?😅

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Thanks! 🎉 Coloured pencils are not my area of expertise sorry but try this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpa8mqeNpaZpkLcsi=GU7PSL1b5Ak-sHGn

[@divyanshaverma10adiptansh54]

Thank you it realy helps ❤

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching :)

[@mohamedbenallal7465]

Just Excellent !

[@MRBRADART]

Great tips and advice! 😊

[@Ariashi-san]

This helped sm!! Thank youuu!!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching 😊

[@CoeurD_Amaris22]

Can you use these with colored pencils or are there other tools specifically for blending colored pencil? Thank you!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

These are best for graphite pencil or anything powdery like charcoal or pastel pencils. Regular coloured pencils are usually wax or oil based so other than careful layering, you can use solvents or some brands sell a colourless pencil for blending coloured pencils - not my area of expertise tho so best to find a channel focusing specifically on coloured pencil techniques!

[@Ctatarelli]

Thank you!!

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You're welcome 😊

[@sunflower711]

Thank you for the tips.👌

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You're most welcome 🙂

[@sharonh988]

Thank You.

[@Zothiqueness]

Thank you very helpful.

[@amexjam55]

Hello. What size(s) of blending stumps/tortillons would you recommend for beginners to use. Thank you.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

It really depends on how big the area you are drawing is. The bigger ones can be quite cumbersome so Id go for a medium to small size like a #2. Not sure if the numbering system is always consistent!

[@gedhuffadine1873]

Hi from England just subbed

[@marcinpiwonski1479]

❤thank you☀️

[@lesleyevans6938]

Thanks Emily x

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You're welcome 😊

[@marialuisa5200]

Grazie!!!

[@SamA-xu9gy]

I heard advice that it is not preferable to use this tool of blending in drawing. What is your opinion ?

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Hi Sam, I think they can be useful in certain situations if they are used correctly... There are many reasons not to use them: If they are overused then the drawing will be grey and bland If the shading is not done correctly first, the result will be blotchy If the paper is not quality or if the user pushes too hard then it will also be blotchy But, there are times when I find them handy, particularly when blending small details or smooth curves like in the icecream tutorial in the video. So I think they have a place but only use them where it is suitable. It's worth trying them out to see if they suit the drawings you do. You can also get a similar result (and faster) just by gently rubbing a tissue over your shading. Thanks for your question!

[@minumathew7430]

Baie dankie skat.... ❤

[@mmiadragonz]

I prefer using qtips for small detail areas or make up remover pads folded over for larger areas

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Q-tips work great and are cheap. I sometimes just use a piece of tissue for larger areas - haven't tried using make up remover pads but I imagine they would work even better!

[@joan_artandnature3646]

Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@appleknocker56]

I can’t find any colored pencils (graphite) not big at drawing but practicing. Do these blending stumps get old & not work? As tried my best to blend just two colors (Prisma) & pressure had to use for “poor” results feel try using a lil stick (burn at tip) & is that same as “graphite”? As had colored pencils in 2016 that did put something down. Then try to find “decent” pencil for light “easier to erase” for watercolor drawings & now using one my grandfather had in the 40’s. Great tips as like to shade images first so know shadows/highlight’s. Ty.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Blending stumps don't stop working but they will get dirty and need to be cleaned or sanded down. I wouldn't use them for blending coloured pencils as you would have to sand them between each different colour or things will get muddy. For tips on blending coloured pencils and best coloured pencils check out Sarah Renae Clark kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHKrZ42Mbb-EgK8si=SGQiA2U3YGQgVDRy Coloured pencils are wax or oil mixed with pigment. Graphite pencils generally only come in shades of grey :)

[@manimations9219]

Hello, can i use your video for my website, its for educational purpose, by the way great video 😊

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Hi, feel free to link to or embed the video using the Share button but please don't download it. Thanks for asking!

[@JohnQuiman]

What do you mean with fine sandpaper? "Fine" could mean 100 mesh or 200 mesh or as well 1000 mesh.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

I use 220 and 400 grit so perhaps I should say 'very fine' sandpaper. Thanks for the question :)

[@JohnQuiman]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline - Thanks for the rapid and useful answer.

[@TopherChris-i7x]

Why are my blending sticks marking the paper with small lines which are permanent. I think they are damaging the paper …. Then the picture is blemished. Thanks for any answers.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Hmm not sure. Could be cheap paper or pressing too hard without enough graphite down. If you layer up enough shading you shouldn't have to push very hard at all. The paper you use and the brand of pencils and the grade can all make a difference so might pay to do some testing 😊

[@TopherChris-i7x]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline thank you 🙏

[@TopherChris-i7x]

@@ThePencilRoomOnline and thank you for the video too 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏

[@Gamer_sukh657]

Price?

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Blending stumps are pretty cheap, just a couple of dollars here, or you can make your own using rolled up paper!

[@ravenshadowz2343]

Do you sharpen tortillons the same way as blending stumps?

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

You probably can but I don't sharpen the tortillons. They tend to get a bit fluffy when you use sandpaper to clean them, because of the ridges of paper. Tortillons also have a slightly rounded end which is quite nice to work with so I just rub them clean on a spare piece of paper :)

[@TromboneAl]

Thanks! Yank asks, "What's a blin-ding stump?" Ha ha. Thanks for not having music while you're talking.

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Haha you might need to turn on captions for the translations 😅 Though its probably not great either. Thanks for watching!

[@grayigloo2023]

you can often clean them with a simple white eraser...

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Good tip, thank you!

[@marceystevens8275]

I thought I knew how to use stumps, guess I was wrong

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

It's not wrong if it works for you :)

[@VinodKumar-jj5dq]

Hindi m

[@K0R0_CHAN]

Well sheiße, lol my nephew(8yr old) bought one and tbought they were some sort of oil pastel only wrapped in papaer amd tried to unwrap it but cant so he gave it to me and i managed to unwrap it,but to my surprise its all paper hahahahahaha

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

Lol yeah until you know what they are used for, they are curious things!

[@larisa7287]

В русском варианте нет таких уроков?

[@ThePencilRoomOnline]

If you are wanting translated captions you should be able to access these from the settings. Turn the english subtitles on first. Then go back to the settings again and choose Auto Translate and choose your preferred language :)

[@ShillemDesjardins]

Thank you!