I’m just taking a quick moment to share my totally revamped Colored Pencil Techniques Worksheet, and let me tell you, it’s a big change!
As part of my mission to update all of my older resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, this one was at the top of my list. It’s probably one of the oldest worksheets in my collection—well, maybe not ancient, but the original version was posted back in January 2015! It was definitely due for a facelift, and I’m so excited to unveil the new and improved version.
So, what’s new about this Colored Pencil Techniques Worksheet? A lot! It’s now a comprehensive three-page resource that covers all the essential techniques your students need to master colored pencil shading and layering. Whether your students are beginners or more advanced artists, this worksheet provides a solid foundation to enhance their colored pencil skills.
What’s Included in the Colored Pencil Techniques Worksheet?
This worksheet now includes a variety of techniques to help students get comfortable with their colored pencils. It covers:
- Different pencil stroke techniques – From hatching to cross-hatching and circular strokes, students will learn how to apply these methods to create texture and depth.
- Burnishing – I’ve added clear instructions on burnishing, a technique that helps blend colors smoothly for a polished, finished look.
- Value scales using pressure and burnishing – This section helps students understand how to control their pressure to create light and dark values with their colored pencils.
- Adding color values to 3D geometric forms – Students will apply their knowledge of value to bring shapes like spheres, cubes, and cylinders to life with color.
- Intensity scales using gray and complementary colors – Understanding color intensity is crucial, and this worksheet guides students through using complementary colors and gray tones to adjust the intensity of hues.
- Two different sgraffito techniques – For students who love experimenting, this section covers how to scratch through layers of color to create unique textures and effects.
Why Use This Colored Pencil Techniques Worksheet?
One of the best parts of this worksheet is its versatility. I use it with both Art 1 and Art 2 students. It’s an excellent resource for introducing students to colored pencils and also as a refresher.
I always use it before diving into more complex colored pencil artworks especially when students need to be able to shade geometric forms. For instance, I always use it as a warm-up activity before starting our Arcimboldo-Inspired Self-Portrait artworks. The practice they get from mastering these techniques really prepares them to take on more challenging tasks with confidence.
What You’ll Need
To complete this worksheet, students will need a variety of colored pencils—specifically red, blue, yellow, purple, orange, green, gray, black, and white. Having this range of colors will allow them to explore the full potential of blending, shading, and mixing hues.
How to Use the Colored Pencil Techniques Worksheet in Your Classroom
This worksheet is perfect for individual or group work, and it’s flexible enough to be used for various levels of experience. You can use it as a stand-alone resource, a warm-up for larger projects, or even as a review. It’s a great way to reinforce key art concepts like value, intensity, and shading while giving students a chance to practice with low-pressure.
