Workshop: Advice on using coloured pencils

Jennifer Healy shares her expertise for working with coloured pencils, encouraging you to move outside your comfort zone for better results

Go beyond your comfort zone when using coloured pencils, advises Jennifer Healy.

Over the next few pages, I’ll be sharing my 15 top tips for working with coloured pencils, and discussing how important it is to leave your comfort zone to explore the possibilities when working with traditional mediums. In addition to tackling how to use the actual pencils, I’ll look at relevant tools and materials, such as blending stumps, identifying the tooth of paper, using different erasers and much more. I’ll also provide a short three-step tutorial on how I blend lips with coloured pencils.

The most consistent trait I have discovered with any medium I’ve ever used is that trial and error is inevitable. The trick is to keep trying, practising and to persevere through the process. I know that I’ve often felt discouraged when diving into a new medium, but also found that pushing through the hiccups was extremely rewarding.

Learning how to work with a medium takes persistence. Learning any medium can be difficult at first, but it can also be enjoyable. Whatever path you choose for your artwork, your passion will always show within each and every masterpiece! US artist Jennifer paints both traditionally and digitally. She’s keen to raise awareness for PTSD and mental illness through her work, which you can see more of by visiting www.jennifer-healy.com.