Colored Pencil Lessons

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Techniques
People
Landscape
Animals
Still Life

COLORED PENCIL COURSES

The Colored Pencil Course

Learn how to use colored pencils like a pro. Learn a variety of techniques and explore several different subjects through concise and “easy to digest” modules.

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5 Hours22 Lessons21 Ebooks

Three Little Birds with Colored Pencils

Learn how to draw three different birds with three different brands of colored pencils on three different surfaces.

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3 Hours13 Lessons3 Ebooks

Pencils on Polyester - A Different Way to Colored Pencil

An exploration in drawing on polyester film with colored pencils. See how this surface dramatically changes how we approach colored pencils.

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1.5 Hours7 Lessons1 Ebook

TECHNIQUES

Best Papers for Colored Pencils
Best Papers for Colored Pencils
In this lesson, we explore several different papers and surfaces for colored pencil drawing.
The Best Colored Pencils
The Best Colored Pencils?
Which colored pencils are the best?
Colored Pencil Materials
Colored Pencil Course - Introduction and Materials
An introduction to "The Colored Pencil Course" and a look at the materials that will be used.
MEMBERS
Vintage Car with Markers and Colored Pencils - Lesson Series
Vintage Car with Markers and Colored Pencils - Lesson Series
Combine markers and colored pencils to create a drawing of a vintage car on toned paper in this 8-part lesson series.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Techniques - A Practical Guide
Colored Pencil Techniques - A Practical Guide
Learn basic colored pencil techniques such as layering, burnishing, and more in this practical guide and step by step lesson.
Colored Pencil Drawing Tips
My Very Best Colored Pencil Tips
12 colored pencil drawing tips that you can apply to your drawings immediately.
How to blend colored pencils
How to Blend Colored Pencils
Explore five techniques and tools for blending colored pencils.
Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques
How to Draw with Colored Pencils
Learn basic colored pencil techniques.
Limiting Your Palette with Colored Pencils
Limiting Your Palette with Colored Pencils
Learn basic colored pencil techniques such as layering, burnishing, and more in this practical guide and step by step lesson.
How to Draw a Sports Car with Markers and Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Sports Car with Markers and Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a convertible sports car with markers and colored pencils.
How to Draw Realistic Wood Grain Texture with Colored Pencils
How to Draw Realistic Wood Grain Texture with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw realistic wood grain texture with colored pencils in this step by step drawing lesson.
Warm vs Cool Grays
Warm vs. Cool Grays
Learn the difference between warm and cool grays, how to mix them, and when to use them in your art.
9 Must Have Colored Pencil Supplies
9 Must Have Colored Pencil Supplies
This is what you need to draw with colored pencils.
Colored Pencil Basics
Colored Pencil Course - Colored Pencil Basics
The basics of drawing with colored pencils including the "5 do's for better hues".
MEMBERS
How to burnish colored pencils - The Colored Pencil Course
Colored Pencil Course - The Magic of Burnishing
Learn how to burnish colored pencils using a variety of techniques to create an image that resembles a painting.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Course - Color Theory
Colored Pencil Course - Color Theory
Learn how to use basic color theory with colored pencils in this module from "The Colored Pencil Course".
MEMBERS
Comparing Colored Pencils
Comparing Colored Pencils
Not every pencil with color is a "colored pencil".
Oil-Based vs. Wax-Based Colored Pencils
Oil-Based vs. Wax-Based Colored Pencils
Learn the differences between wax-based and oil-based colored pencils.
Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques
Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques
Learn basic colored pencil drawing techniques.
How to Prevent Wax Bloom
How to Prevent Wax Bloom
Wax-based colored pencils produce a milky white coating after a while. Here's how to stop it.
How to Sharpen any Pencil
How to Sharpen any Pencil
Learn techniques for sharpening any type of pencil.

PEOPLE

How to Draw Lips and a Mouth with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Realistic Mouth with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic mouth with colored pencils.
How to Draw a Realistic Eye with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Realistic Eye with Colored Pencils
Learn how to layer colors to draw a realistic eye in this tutorial and step by step.
Portraits with Colored Pencils Part 1 Eyes
Colored Pencil Course - Portraits - Part 1
Learn how to draw eyes with colored pencils in this first part of a series on portrait drawing.
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Colored Pencil Course - Drawing a Nose
Colored Pencil Course - Portraits - Part 2
Learn how to draw the nose with colored pencils in this second part of a series on portrait drawing.
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Colored Pencil Course - Drawing the Mouth
Colored Pencil Course - Portraits - Part 3
Learn how to draw the mouth with colored pencils in this third part of  a series on portrait drawing.
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Create the illusion of form on the face with colored pencils
Colored Pencil Course - Portraits - Part 4
Create the illusion of the form of the face with colored pencils in this 4th part of a series.
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How to draw hair with colored pencils
Colored Pencil Course - Portraits - Part 5
The portrait drawing is completed in this module that focuses on drawing the hair with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to draw a nose with colored pencils
How to Draw a Realistic Nose - Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic nose wtih colored pencils.

LANDSCAPE

Winter Landscape Drawing with Colored Pencils
Winter Landscape Drawing with Colored Pencils
Combine PanPastels and colored pencils to create a winter landscape drawing.
Landscape drawing with colored pencils
Landscape Drawing with Colored Pencils - 5 Hours
A five-part lesson series on drawing a landscape with Polychromos colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to Draw a Tree with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Tree with Colored Pencils
A complete guide for drawing trees.
Landscape drawing with colored pencils - lesson 1
Colored Pencil Course - Landscapes - Part 1
Learn a layering approach to drawing landscapes with colored pencils on textured paper in this module.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Landscapes - lesson 2
Colored Pencil Course - Landscapes - Part 2
The middle ground and foreground are completed in this conclusion to a landscape drawing that was started in Module 11.
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Mixed media sailboat painting
Mixed Media - Sailboats
Combine ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils to create a mixed media painting of sailboats.
How to Draw a Leaf with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Leaf with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic leaf by combining watercolor and colored pencils.
Sketch a Boat on the Water with Pastels and Colored Pencils
Sketch a Boat on the Water with Pastels and Colored Pencils
Create a quick sketch of a boat on the water in just 30 minutes - more or less.
How to Draw a Mushroom with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Mushroom with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a mushroom with colored pencils in this step by step drawing tutorial.

ANIMALS

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 8
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 8
Drawings include animals, still life, vehicles and landscape.
Painting with Watercolor Pencils
Orangutan with Watercolor Pencils - Lesson Series
Use watercolor pencils to draw/paint and Orangutan in this recorded Live Lesson series.
MEMBERS
Pencils on Polyester - A Different Way to Colored Pencil
Pencils on Polyester - A Different Way to Colored Pencil
An exploration in drawing on polyester film with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to Draw a Koi Fish with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Koi Fish with Colored Pencils
Use colored pencils to draw a Koi fish on green paper.
Painting with Watercolor Pencils
Painting with Watercolor Pencils - Lesson Series
Learn how to paint a with watercolor pencils in this recorded Live Lesson series.
MEMBERS
How to draw a bee with colored pencils
"Bee" with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a bee with colored pencils on Stonehenge paper in this 8 part lesson series.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Lesson Series - Hummingbird
"Hummingbird" with Luminance Pencils - 4 Lessons
Learn how to draw a hummingbird with colored pencils in this course lesson series.
MEMBERS
Blue Jay with colored pencils
"Blue Jay" with Polychromos Pencils - 5 Lessons
Learn how to draw a Blue Jay with Polychromos colored pencils on PastelMat paper.
MEMBERS
Kingfisher with colored pencils
"Kingfisher" with Prismacolor Pencils - 4 Lessons
Learn how to draw a Kingfisher bird with colored pencils in this course lesson series.
MEMBERS
How to Draw a Flamingo with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Flamingo with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Combine watercolor and colored pencils to create a drawing of a flamingo in this step by step lesson.
Timed Drawing Exercise - Bug on Black Paper
Timed Drawing Exercise - Bug on Black Paper
Learn how to draw a bug with a limited palette of two colors on black paper in this timed drawing exercise.
Drawing a Tiger with Water Soluble Crayons
Drawing a Tiger with Water Soluble Crayons
Learn the characteristics of water soluble crayons and create a drawing of a tiger.
How to draw a stag beetle - Mixed Media Lesson
How to Draw a Stag Beetle
Learn how to combine watercolor, watercolor pencils and ink to draw a stag beetle in this step by step mixed media lesson.
Markers and colored pencils frog
Markers and Colored Pencils - Frog - 10 Hours
Combine markers and colored pencils to create a realistic drawing of a frog.
MEMBERS
How to Draw Cat Eyes
How to Draw Cat Eyes with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw realistic cat eyes with colored pencils.
Beetle Illustration with colored pencils and markers
Beetle Illustration with Colored Pencils and Markers
Use colored pencils and markers to create an illustration of a beetle in this lesson.
How to draw a tiger with colored pencils
Draw A Tiger With Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a tiger with oil-based colored pencils.
How to Draw a Frog with Graphitint Pencils
How to Draw a Frog with Graphitint Pencils
Learn how to draw a frog with tinted graphite in this step by step lesson.
How to Draw Animal Scales with Colored Pencils
How to Draw Animal Scales with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw snake and lizard scales in this step by step lesson.
How to draw an elephant with colored pencils
Draw An Elephant With Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw an elephant with colored pencils using a variety of different grays.
Drawing Tiny of a Bee with Colored Pencils
Create a Super Tiny Drawing
Learn how creating a tiny drawing can have a huge impact on your drawing skill and mastery of the medium.
Draw a bird with colored pencils
How to Draw a Realistic Bird with Derwent Colored Pencils
A look at drawing a realistic bird with Derwent Studio colored pencils.
How to transfer images to a drawing surface
Colored Pencil Course - Transferring Images
Learn two techniques for transferring images to a drawing surface for finishing with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to create texture with colored pencils part 1
Colored Pencil Course - Creating Texture Part 1
Learn how to create the illusion of texture in a colored pencil drawing.
MEMBERS
How to draw a realistic dog with colored pencils
Colored Pencil Course - Creating Texture Part 2
Learn how to draw realistic texture with colored pencils as the drawing of a dog is completed in this module.
MEMBERS
The Secrets to Drawing - Colored Pencils
The Secrets to Drawing - Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw with colored pencils in this video that features a drawing of a sea turtle.
MEMBERS
How to draw a butterfly with colored pencils - lesson series
Colored Pencil Butterfly - 3 Hours
A series on drawing a butterfly with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to draw a bird with Polychromos Colored Pencils - Full Lesson Series
Polychromos Colored Pencils - 2 Hours
Watch and learn how to draw a ruby throated hummingbird in this two part tutorial.
MEMBERS
How to draw a bird with watercolor pencils
Watercolor Pencil Demonstration - 1 Hour
Learn how to draw and paint a colorful bird in this recorded live lesson on using watercolor pencils.
MEMBERS
How to draw with Inktense Pencils - Bird Lesson
Inktense Pencils Demonstration - 1 Hour
Learn how to use Inktense pencils in this recorded Live Lesson.
MEMBERS

STILL LIFE

Colored Pencils Plus - Markers and Colored Pencils
Colored Pencils Plus - Module 3: Markers and Colored Pencils
Combine alcohol-based markers with colored pencils to create a still life image of strawberries.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencils Plus - Posca Markers and Colored Pencils
Colored Pencils Plus - Module 2: Posca Markers and Colored Pencils
Combine Posca markers with colored pencils to create a still life image.
MEMBERS
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 10
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 10
Timed drawings in the style of artists from the past.
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 9
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 9
Timed drawings based on creative prompts.
Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Colored Pencils Plus - Module 1: Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Combine watercolor with colored pencils to create a still life image.
MEMBERS
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 7
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 7
Drawings include animals, landscape, portraiture, still life, vehicles and architecture.
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 5
Gettin' Sketchy - Season 5
Learn how to draw and have some fun. Subjects in this season include landscapes and still life.
How to Draw Fabric Folds
How to Draw Fabric Folds
Learn how to draw folds of fabric with pastel pencils.
Recent Colored Pencil Lesson - Peony with Colored Pencils
"Peony Flower" with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a Peony flower on Stonehenge paper in this 10 part lesson series.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Lesson - Realistic Drawing with Colored Pencils and Markers
Realistic Drawing with Colored Pencils and Markers
Learn how to draw a candy bar with markers and colored pencils.
How to Draw a Wild Rose with Markers and Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Wild Rose with Markers and Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a wild rose with alcohol-based markers and colored pencils in this step by step drawing tutorial.
Combining PanPastels and Colored Pencils - Timed Drawing Exercise
Combining PanPastels and Colored Pencils - Timed Drawing Exercise
Learn how to combine PanPastel with colored pencils in this drawing lesson and timed drawing exercise.
How to Draw an Autumn Leaf with Colored Pencils
How to Draw an Autumn Leaf with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a red, Autumn leaf with colored pencils in this step by step drawing lesson.
Colored Pencil Lesson - Doughnut
"Doughnut" with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a doughnut with colored pencils in this lesson that uses Polychromos pencils.
How to Draw a Piece of Cake with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Piece of Cake with Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a piece of cake by combining watercolor and colored pencils in this step by step lesson
How to Draw a Pear with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Pear with Colored Pencils
Learn how to combine pastel and colored pencils in this step by step lesson that features a drawing of a pear.
Botanical drawing with colored pencils and markers
Botanical Drawing with Markers and Colored Pencils
Create a botanical drawing with markers and colored pencils in this step by step lesson.
How to Use Watercolor Pencils
How to Use Watercolor Pencils
Learn how to use watercolor pencils in this lesson.
How to Draw a Bunch of Grapes
How to Draw a Bunch of Grapes
Learn how to draw grapes with colored pencils in this step by step lesson.
How to Draw a Realistic Marble with Colored Pencils
How to Draw a Marble with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic marble with colored pencils.
How to Draw Cherries
How to Draw Cherries
Learn how to create a realistic drawing of cherries with markers and colored pencils.
Colored Pencils and Markers Candy
Colored Pencils and Markers - Candy
Combine colored pencils and markers to create a realistic drawing of a piece of candy.
Markers and Colored Pencil Mixed Media Lesson
Markers and Colored Pencils Mixed Media - 5 Hours
Learn how to combine markers and colored pencils to create a realistic still life drawing.
MEMBERS
Draw on Toned Paper with Colored Pencils
Draw on Toned Paper with Colored Pencils
See how drawing on toned paper with colored pencils gives you an advantage.
How to draw with markers and colored pencils
How to Draw with Markers and Colored Pencils
Learn how to combine markers and colored pencils to create a realistic drawing of a glass of soda.
How to draw a cupcake with colored pencils
How to Draw a Cupcake with Colored Pencils
Draw two different cupcakes with colored pencils in these lessons.
Realistic colored pencil drawing with Ariana's Art pencils
Realistic Colored Pencil Drawing with Ariana's Art Pencils
A look at drawing with Ariana's Art colored pencils. A realistic drawing of a crushed can is completed.
How to draw glass with colored pencils
How to Draw Glass with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw glass with colored pencils.
How to use watercolor pencils - Flower
Watercolor Pencil Flower Series - 5 Hours
A five part video series on drawing/painting a rose with watercolor pencils.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Still Life Lesson Series
Colored Pencil Still Life Series - 7 Hours
A seven part video series on drawing a still life with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
Inktense pencils still life lesson series
Inktense Still Life Series - 4 Hours
A four part video series on drawing a still life with Inktense pencils.
MEMBERS
Colored Pencil Course - Value and the Underpainting
Colored Pencil Course - Value and the Underpainting
Learn the importance of value and underpainting with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to create strong compositions with colored pencils
Colored Pencil Course - Composition and Still Life
Learn how to create successful compositions in this course module.
MEMBERS
How to create reflection and transparency in a colored pencil drawing
Colored Pencil Course - Reflection and Transparency
Learn how to create the illusion of reflection and transparency with colored pencils.
MEMBERS
How to combine watercolor and colored pencils - Course Module Part 1
Colored Pencil Course - Watercolor and Colored Pencils - Part 1
Learn how to combine watercolor with colored pencils in this first part of a two-part series.
MEMBERS
How to combine watercolor and colored pencils - Course Module Part 2
Colored Pencil Course - Watercolor and Colored Pencils - Part 2
Layering over watercolor washes, the strawberry is completed in this second part of a two-part series.
MEMBERS
Watercolor Pencils - Course Module Part 1
The Colored Pencil Course - Watercolor Pencils - Part 1
Learn how to apply and activate watercolor pencils in this first of a two-part series.
MEMBERS
Watercolor Pencils - Course Module Part 2
The Colored Pencil Course - Watercolor Pencils - Part 2
Learn how to apply and activate watercolor pencils in this second part of a two-part series.
MEMBERS
How to draw an orchid with colored pencils - Lesson Series
Colored Pencil Demo "Orchid" - 2 Hours
Watch and learn how to draw an orchid with colored pencils in this two part tutorial.
MEMBERS
How to draw with art stix - lesson series
How to Draw with Art Stix - 1 Hour
Learn how draw with Prismacolor Art Stix in this recorded Live Lesson.
MEMBERS
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A Bit on Colored Pencils

This medium is one of my favorites because of it's ability to create detailed drawings. Colored pencils are easy to use "on-site" and are clean enough to use anywhere. 

Colored pencils are a drawing medium that usually consists of waxy (or oil-based) shafts of pigment held together in a wooden shaft.  Colored pencils vary greatly in price and quality.  Softer varieties are generally more desirable for drawing and are usually more expensive as well. 

Colored pencils can be used on a variety of surfaces, but drawing papers are generally the choice of most artists.

Looking to pick up some colored pencils, but don't know which brand to buy?  Check out my comparison chart and see which brands I recommend here.