MATERIALS
• 300gm Stonehenge paper
• Derwent Coloursoft Pencils – Lemon Yellow – Deep Cadmium – Lime Green – Pale Mint – Pea Green – Mid Green – Dark Green – Baby Blue – Pale Lavender – Loganberry – Cranberry – Indigo – White Grey – Grey Lavender – Grey Green
STEP ONE
Lightly pencil in the shape of the plant, carefully noting how the petals overlap. I use the lightest coloured pencil (Pale Mint) at this stage, as you are unable to erase graphite pencil later.
STEP TWO
I do a light covering of Lemon Yellow, avoiding the highlights, and now add Lime Green in the cooler parts and Deep Cadmium on the warmer. I apply each colour with a small circular movement, as this gives an even surface.
STEP THREE
Next layer – Pale Mint Green, adding Pea and Mid Green towards the top of the petals.
STEP FOUR
Here I layer Mid and Dark Green for the darker areas, and a light touch of Indigo for the very dark. I edged each petal with Loganberry or Cranberry, depending on the light. Shadows are a mix of Grey Green, Pale Lavender and Indigo.
STEP FIVE AND FINAL STEP
I burnished petals with Grey Lavender and Grey Green to smooth and tone down the colour. I used a light wash of Baby Blue on the highlights on the right hand side of the plant, and a wash of White Grey on the left side of the plants’ highlights (so they weren’t stark white). The dark petals underneath are a mix of Grey Lavender, Cranberry, and Loganberry.
Burnishing is a technique of layering a light colour over the previous layers with firm pressure. This result is the pencil work will become smooth and fills in any gaps in the layers, creating a polished surface.
ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS
• Make up a sample chart of all your colours, as they look quite different to the printed chart you get with the pencils. Keep it in the tin for quick reference.
• Do several ‘test’ pieces before you start your masterpiece to get the layering of colours correct.Keep these for reference too.
• Small, even movements of the pencils will blend and smooth the colours.
• ‘Zest-it’ is a product you can use to further blend your colours if you wish. Apply with an old brush or cotton bud. It is nice to use as it smells of oranges.
