There’s something so therapeutic about a fresh set of pencils until that first patchy layer ruins the vibe. We’ve all been there, staring at a drawing that looks more like a crayon sketch what we pictured in our heads.

Figuring out how to use colored pencils isn’t about fancy gear, though; it’s about those quiet "aha" moments that finally make your colors blend like butter. 

How To Blend with Colored Pencils 

Burnishing

Burnishing is a blending technique where you apply layers of colored pencil until the paper’s texture almost completely disappears. The heavy pressure smooths the pigments together, resulting in a solid, vibrant and slightly shiny finish.

How to do it: 

• Start with light, patient layers.
• Once you’re happy with the color, go back over the area with a firm grip and steady pressure. 
• This heavy pressure forces the pigment deep into the paper fibers, sealing the layers and creating that smooth, glossy finish. 

Tips: 

• Save burnishing for the final step since it’s hard to add more color afterward. 
• Use a sharp pencil for better control, even when pressing firmly. 
• If your hand gets tired, a blending stump or blending tool can help smooth layers without extra strain. 
• Burnishing works best on thicker paper that can handle heavy pressure.
  
  

White Pencil Blending

Using a white pencil for blending is essentially like applying a soft, misty glaze over your work. It smooths out the pigment while muting the colors slightly, giving you a creamy, painterly finish without completely sealing the paper's surface.  

Unlike standard burnishing, this technique keeps the texture workable, so you can still go back in to add fine details or deepen your shadows.

How to do it: 

• Lay down your base colors using light, even layers. 
• Take a white colored pencil and glaze with white pencil over colored areas 
• Re-apply colors to deepen and add highlights. 

Tips: 

• Use light to medium pressure so the white doesn’t overpower your colors 
• White pencils pick up color quickly, so scribble on scrap paper often to keep the tip clean and avoid dark streaks.
  
  

Layer Blending

Layering blending is the foundation of colored pencil work. Instead of pressing hard, you build color gradually with light, repeated layers, letting the pigments overlap and blend naturally on the paper.

How to do it: 

• Start with light pressure and lay down your base colors. 
• Work from light to dark, adding color in thin layers. 
• Overlap colors slightly where you want them to blend. 
• Go over the area multiple times to slowly build depth and smooth transitions. 

Tips: 

• Use the side of the pencil for softer coverage and fewer harsh lines. 
• Be patient and let the layers do the work instead of pressing harder. 
  
  

How To Shade with Colored Pencils 

Parallel-hatching

Parallel hatching is a shading technique that uses straight, parallel lines to create value and texture. The closer the lines are, the darker the area looks, while more space between lines keeps the shading light and airy.

How to do it:

• Sharpen your pencil to get clean, controlled lines. 
• Draw lines in the same direction, keeping them mostly parallel.  
• Increase spacing and use less pressure for lighter shades.  
• Build depth by adding more lines or layering from light to dark. 

Tips:

• Use light pressure and let the line spacing do most of the shading work. 
• A harder or well sharpened pencil helps keep lines crisp.
  
  

Cross-hatching

Crosshatching builds on hatching by layering sets of straight lines that cross over each other. The more layers of lines you add, the darker and deeper the shading becomes, making this technique useful for shadows and added texture.

How to do it:

• Begin with a light layer of parallel lines in one direction. 
• Add a second set of lines that cross the first, changing the angle. 
• Continue layering lines to darken the area as needed. 
• Follow the shape of the object slightly with your strokes to help create form. 

Tips: 

• Use light pressure and build depth gradually with each layer. 
• Vary line spacing instead of pressing harder to control value.
  
  

Stippling

Stippling is a shading technique that uses small dots instead of lines. Areas with more dots appear darker, while spaced-out dots keep the shading light and allow the paper to show through.

How to do it: 

• Lightly tap the pencil tip onto the paper to place the dots. 
• Add more dots closer together to deepen shadows. 
• Use fewer dots with more space between them for lighter areas. 
• You can layer different colors of dots in the same area to create subtle color blends. 

Tips: 

• Keep your pressure light to avoid harsh marks. 
• Build shading slowly instead of rushing to fill the area.
  
  

Circling

Circling is a shading technique that moves your pencil in tiny, continuous circular motions. Overlap the pigment to create a seamless finish that looks incredibly soft.

How to do it: 

• Hold the pencil lightly and draw small, overlapping circular motions. 
• Keep the circles tight and consistent rather than loose or scattered. 
• Increase shading by adding more circles closer together. 
• Vary pressure slightly to build darker areas without switching techniques. 

Tip: Use small circles for smoother shading and larger ones for visible texture.

Hope these tips we shared are helpful for you, in practice there’s no "right" way to do this. Whether you’re a fan of super-smooth burnishing or you prefer the raw, textured look of hatching, your style will naturally start to show the more you play around!

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