Colored Pencil Techniques Art Project for Kids

By / / Family & Parenting / 8 minutes of reading


School-aged kids will learn various oil pastel techniques in this easy project. We’ve included a free printable to make this lesson perfect for home or classroom use.

completed colored pencil techniques worksheet using colored pencils, mineral spirits, and mineral oil - kids activities blog
Kids explore different colored pencil techniques in this easy project

Using cOLORED pENCILS

There are many different techniques artists use with colored pencils. Today, we will be exploring a few of those methods. It is important to keep in mind, as with all art supplies, there is a variety in the quality of pencils based on price. While these methods will work with more budget friendly pencils, end results vary based on pencil quality. Our examples today will include both Crayola and Prismacolor Premier pencils.

Related: Review basic shading techniques with our free printable.

Supplies Needed to Make this Colored Pencil Techniques Art Project

colored pencil technique supplies include colored pencil, free printable worksheet, mineral spirits and mineral oil, etc - kids activities blog
a few basic spplies are needed for this project
  • Free Printable Colored Pencil Techniques Page (Download Below) – printed on cardstock
  • Colored Pencils
  • Paintbrush
  • Cotton Swab
  • Craft Knife – or other sharp object
  • Baby Oil or Mineral Oil
  • Mineral Spirits – in a well ventilated area

Download the Colored Pencil Techniques Printable Here

Use our free printable to practice various colored pencil techniques. Our printable saves times and allows kids a chance to further explore techniques.

Directions to complete the colored pencil techniques project

Step 1

step 1 - using a blue colored pencil to color a gradient from heavy to light pressure - kids activities blog
practice coloring a gradient by using heavy to light pressure

Gradient: Heavy to Light – Practice coloring using gradient pressure. Kids begin coloring in the box with a firm, heavy pressure, and lessen the pressure as they color across the box. This method displays different values of that particular pencil.

Step 2

step 2 - using a blue colored pencil to color a light to heavy pressure gradient - kids activities blog
Practice coloring a light to heavy pressure gradient

Gradient: Light to Heavy – Practice coloring by using gradient pressure. Kids begin coloring in the box with a light pressure, and increase the pressure as they color across the box.

Step 3

step 3 - using a finger to smear blue colored pencil on paper - kids activities blog
practice smearing the colored pencil by using your finger, blending stump, etc.

Smudging: In this box, kids will apply colored pencil and then practice smearing it around by using their finger, blending stump, tortillon, tissue, etc.

Step 4

step 4 - using a blue colored pencil to create one directional hatching lines - kids activities blog
draw one-directional lines to practice a simple hatching technique

Hatching – Kids draw one-directional lines in this box to display hatching. The closer the lines are drawn to one another, the heavier the color with appear. The further the lines are a part, the lighter the color will appear.

Step 5 

step 5 - using 2 colored pencils to draw lines crossing over one another - kids activities blog
cross two colors over one another in this hatching technique

Cross-Hatching – Similar to hatching, but this time kids will cross lines over one another. Consider adding 2 colors here to also see how pencils will blend together in this technique. Again, the closer the lines are to one another, the darker the color will appear.

Step 6

step 6 - using a blue colored pencil to add dots to paper - kids activities blog
use the stippling technique by adding dots to the paper

Stippling: Use a colored pencil to create dots in the rectangle. Adding more dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.

Step 7

step 7 - drawing squiggly lines with blue coloored pencil for the scumbling technique - kids activities blog
draw squiggly lines for the scumbling technique

Scumbling: Draw scribbles in this box, more so on one side than the other. This demonstrates how more squiggly lines in one area can make the color appear darker and heavier.

Step 8

step 8 - coloring the box with 2 colored pencils to see how the colors mix when they overlap - kids activities blog
overlap colors in this box to see how they mix together

Layering Colors: Color each end of the rectangle with a different colored pencil, overlapping the colors to mix them in the middle. Kids need to color with light to medium pressure in this box to more easily mix colors.

Step 9

step 9 - using a blue colored pencil and heavy pressure to color a box to the point of burnishing - kids activities blog
use a single color and heavy pressure to apply colored pencil

Burnishing – This method is achieved by heavily applying colored pencil to the paper. When enough pencil is applied, the surface color becomes shiny and the paper no longer accepts any more color.

Step 10

step 10 - using a white colored pencil to burnish over blue - kids activities blog
burnish a layer of white over a color

Burnishing with White – Use light to medium pressure to color the box. Then, burnish over the color using a white colored pencil. This burnishing method of blending can be used to blend many color combinations.

Step 11

step 11 - using a craft knife to scratch lines into the paper prior to coloring - kids activities blog
use a sharp tool to scratch designs into the paper prior to coloring

Scratch: Before – Use the side of a craft knife, or other sharp object, to scratch a design into the surface of the paper. Then, use light to medium pressure to color the box, leaving the scratches unaffected.

Step 12

step 12 - using a craft knife to scratch designs into blue colored pencil - kids activities blog
layer colors and then use a sharp tool the scratch a design into the top color

Scratch: After – also known as Sgraffito. In this method, use light to medium pressure to color the box a light color. Then, use a darker color to burnish over it. Finally, use a sharp tool and scratch into the top layer to expose the lighter color underneath.

Step 13

step 13 - using a paintbrush and mineral spirits to blend colored pencil - kids activities blog
use mineral spirits to blend colored pencils

Mineral Spirits – First, color the box using a gradient. Then, use a paintbrush and mineral spirits to blend the pencil.

Step 14

step 14 - using a small amount of mineral oil on a cotton swab to blend colored pencil. - kids activities blog
easily use baby oil to blend colored pencils

Baby Oil or Mineral Oil – First, color the box using a gradient. Then, use a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil on a cotton swab to blend the colored pencil.

Finished Colored Pencil Techniques Art Project

completed colored pencil techniques worksheets - kids activities blog

It’s so much fun to explore new techniques! Though these pages are simply for practice, they can still easily be framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style to show off your child’s skills. 

Our Experience Making this colored pencil techniques Art Project

I love using this as an introductory lesson to colored pencils. Kids get a chance to play around with various techniques before attempting to make a more creative art project. Kids can then keep this reference on hand to use for future projects as a reminder of some techniques available to them.

Prep Time
5 minutes

Active Time
20 minutes

Total Time
25 minutes

Difficulty
easy

Estimated Cost
$1

Materials

  • Free Printable Colored Pencil Techniques Page – printed on cardstock

Tools

  • Colored Pencils
  • Paintbrush
  • Cotton Swab
  • Craft Knife – or other sharp object
  • Baby Oil or Mineral Oil
  • Mineral Spirits – in a well ventilated area

Instructions

  1. Gradient: Heavy to Light – Kids begin coloring in the box with a firm, heavy pressure, and lessen the pressure as they color across the box. This method displays different values of that particular pencil.
  2. Gradient: Light to Heavy – Kids begin coloring in the box with a light pressure, and increase the pressure as they color across the box.
  3. Smudging: Kids apply colored pencil and then practice smearing it around by using their finger, blending stump, tortillon, tissue, etc.
  4. Hatching – Draw one-directional lines in this box to display hatching. The closer the lines are drawn to one another, the heavier the color with appear. The further the lines are a part, the lighter the color will appear.
  5. Cross-Hatching – Cross hatching lines over one another. Consider adding 2 colors here to also see how pencils will blend together in this technique. Again, the closer the lines are to one another, the darker the color will appear.
  6. Stippling: Use a colored pencil to create dots in the rectangle. Adding more dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.
  7. Scumbling: Draw scribbles in this box, more so on one side than the other. This demonstrates how more squiggly lines in one area can make the color appear darker and heavier.
  8. Layering Colors: Color each end of the rectangle with a different colored pencil, overlapping the colors to mix them in the middle. Color using light to medium pressure to better mix colors.
  9. Burnishing – Heavily apply colored pencil to the paper. When enough pencil is applied, the surface color becomes shiny and the paper no longer accepts any more color.
  10. Burnishing with White – Use light to medium pressure to color the box. Then, burnish over the color using a white colored pencil. This burnishing method of blending can be used to blend many color combinations.
  11. Scratch: Before – Use the side of a craft knife, or other sharp object, to scratch a design into the surface of the paper. Then, use light to medium pressure to color the box, leaving the scratches unaffected.
  12. Scratch: After – Use light to medium pressure to color the box a light color. Then, use a darker color to burnish over it. Finally, use a sharp tool and scratch into the top layer to expose the lighter color underneath.
  13. Mineral Spirits – First, color the box using a gradient. Then, use a paintbrush and mineral spirits to blend the pencil.
  14. Baby Oil or Mineral Oil – First, color the box using a gradient. Then, use a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil on a cotton swab to blend the colored pencil.

Notes

Colored Pencil Techniques Art Variations

  • Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
  • Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
  • After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!

colored pencil techniques Art Variations

  • Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
  • Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
  • After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!

Other Fun techniques Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog

Did your kids enjoy exploring these colored pencil techniques? Which methods were their favorite to use?



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About The Author

Avatar of Natalie Simon
Natalie Simon is a writer for Incredible USA News. She writes about arts, automotive, travel, and fashion. She also loves to take photos of her dog and cat, who are both named after famous horror movie characters.

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