Rachael Anders Demonstration -
"Wildlife with Colour Pencils"
Tuesday 9th April 2024, 2.00 to 4.10pm in the Pavilion
Report
Pencils have moved on from graphite! There are lots of colours now in both oil and wax but the quality may vary, e.g. how light-fast they are. Rachael uses Caran d'Ache "Luminance" wax pencils and Faber Castell oil pencils with white Fabriano hot press smooth paper. You can use rougher (textured) watercolour paper as well depending on your subject. Suitable paper, pencils and tools are available from all the usual suppliers and Amazon - there is a lot of choice.
A huge number of pencil colours are available but you can work with as few as ten initially. Like pastels and paint, different colours can be created by layering and mixing on the paper. It is a good idea to generate the colours you need for a specific work before starting. Use a separate piece of scrap paper and note the pencil colours against each patch. Unlike paint, black is not "out of bounds" when using pencils.
Draw the outline image by whichever method you prefer. It must be fun; you must enjoy this bit and it must be easy for you. Printing or tracing are not cheating but it is better to draw to create your own interpretation of the subject. It you find the drawing bit hard work then it will influence what follows afterwards.
Start by laying down base layers with the lightest tones (including white or neutral) working carefully across the paper to avoid smudging, although you can use a handrest of waxed paper if necessary. Build up the layers (cross hatching works well for darker areas) slowly while gently pressing the colour into the paper at frequent intervals with the base layer pencil, a white pencil or a tool for the purpose (many types available). Use a soft brush to remove dust and excess pigment.
Always use light pressure with well sharpened pencils so that you do not burnish, scratch or pierce the paper and the pigment transfers more easily. Good quality paper is essential because damage at this stage will be fatal. Errors can sometimes be fixed by manual or battery electric erasers (various tips available), blue tack, Scotch Magic Tape or ceramic tools. Lots of practice is required to create the many special effects which can be generated with these tools, including various sizes of embossing tools.
Creating even a small picture takes time, patience and lots of layers of pencil but the finished work can present texture which is unbelievable - ideal for animals and the natural world. Good luck!
[Note - Rachael has supplied some useful web links for materials, tools and techniques. See the links at the foot of this page.]
Martyn Worman
Pencils have moved on from graphite! There are lots of colours now in both oil and wax but the quality may vary, e.g. how light-fast they are. Rachael uses Caran d'Ache "Luminance" wax pencils and Faber Castell oil pencils with white Fabriano hot press smooth paper. You can use rougher (textured) watercolour paper as well depending on your subject. Suitable paper, pencils and tools are available from all the usual suppliers and Amazon - there is a lot of choice.
A huge number of pencil colours are available but you can work with as few as ten initially. Like pastels and paint, different colours can be created by layering and mixing on the paper. It is a good idea to generate the colours you need for a specific work before starting. Use a separate piece of scrap paper and note the pencil colours against each patch. Unlike paint, black is not "out of bounds" when using pencils.
Draw the outline image by whichever method you prefer. It must be fun; you must enjoy this bit and it must be easy for you. Printing or tracing are not cheating but it is better to draw to create your own interpretation of the subject. It you find the drawing bit hard work then it will influence what follows afterwards.
Start by laying down base layers with the lightest tones (including white or neutral) working carefully across the paper to avoid smudging, although you can use a handrest of waxed paper if necessary. Build up the layers (cross hatching works well for darker areas) slowly while gently pressing the colour into the paper at frequent intervals with the base layer pencil, a white pencil or a tool for the purpose (many types available). Use a soft brush to remove dust and excess pigment.
Always use light pressure with well sharpened pencils so that you do not burnish, scratch or pierce the paper and the pigment transfers more easily. Good quality paper is essential because damage at this stage will be fatal. Errors can sometimes be fixed by manual or battery electric erasers (various tips available), blue tack, Scotch Magic Tape or ceramic tools. Lots of practice is required to create the many special effects which can be generated with these tools, including various sizes of embossing tools.
Creating even a small picture takes time, patience and lots of layers of pencil but the finished work can present texture which is unbelievable - ideal for animals and the natural world. Good luck!
[Note - Rachael has supplied some useful web links for materials, tools and techniques. See the links at the foot of this page.]
Martyn Worman
Rachael's Profile (edited and from the Oxfordshire Artweeks website)
"I am an Oxfordshire colour pencil artist who has had a passion for drawing since I was a child. When I was young, my family and I would sit around the dining table in the evenings creating our own different pictures and enjoying the time we were spending together.
It wasn't until just before my 40th birthday that I got the opportunity to go back to my love of drawing; this is when I was able to make art a full time job. I now live in a lovely house where I have my own home studio so I can "go to work" and draw.
The main subjects that I love to draw are from the natural world, especially birds, flowers and animals. I am also fond of doing pet portraits. I find my job to be very rewarding. Seeing the look on someone's face when I show them what I have produced makes me feel extremely grateful to be asked to produce such a special gift.
I love studying the subject of my next piece and the close up detail that I believe is important and which gives my work a unique feel. The control I have using colour and watercolour pencils brings me a great deal of joy. I simply love spending time creating my drawings. The community of artists doing this sort of work is also very supportive and I love being a part of it."
Photographs taken during the demonstration:
Rachael has supplied some useful web links for materials, tools and techniques.
Jacksons Art
Coloured Pencil Shop
Slice Tool
Electric Erasers
Information on the best papers to use with Colour pencils: Papers
SAA Colour Pencil Offers
Colour Pencil Advice to get going.
Sharpeners to use.
Pencil sharpener Replacement Blades.
Just in case anyone was curious about the visualiser I used, here is some Useful Info.