Colored Pencil Drawing Tutorial Step by

Step
Still life with Pumpkin and American Flag: Step-by-Step
Demonstration
Materials and Colors
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (not verithin, other brands that are either wax based or oil
based are OK).
Drawing paper like Strathmore brand with slight or no texture at all
Turpenoid or Mineral spirits / Gamsol with a small brush
2H graphite pencil (hard)
Pencil sharpener (generals or other German brand)
Kneaded eraser.

Photo
This is the picture for this demo. On the right side you see a black-and-white version of it. The
grayscale picture illustrates the right tones (values) to shade in color. Most of the time students
drawings lack contrast and a nice range of tones (values) because we get destructed by color.
Tone means shading from white (light) to black (dark) in successive gradations.

STEP 1: Develop a line drawing

1. Pick a rather small smooth piece of paper. (Colored pencil drawing is a very time-consuming
process). I recommend 57.

2. Spend enough time to make the best outline possible. Work in very light strokes with your
graphite pencil. (You can also copy and enlarge my outline drawing via Photoshop or Xerox).
3. Tap the outlines with your kneaded eraser to clean up the page and to make the outlines as thin
as possible.
4. Draw the pumpkin first and then add stripes in the background.

STEP 2: Separate between lights and darks (underpainting)

1. Take Tuscan red and start drawing from the shadows. That means that you shade all the darks
in the picture in one color only. Work on the pumpkin first and then shade the background with
various pencil pressure. Notice, even white stripes have color in the shadows (purplish-red). Use
various pencil pressure and sharp point of your pencil to create variations in tones. After the
under painting is complete, stand back and look at it from the distance to see if you have enough
contrast in your drawing. Ideally, the underpainting should look as close as possible to your
grayscale picture.
2. Your highlights (purest lights) must stay free of any color!

STEP 3: Lay cool darks

1. Lets color. Take indigo blue and shade blue stripes in the background. Apply the same color
under the pumpkin.

STEP 4: Lay warm reds

1. Take Poppy red and shade the stripes in the background. Bring the same color into the
shadowy part of the pumpkin. Keep your pencil sharp not to lose clarity while shading. The harder
you press on your pencil, the darker and richer your color would be.

STEP 5: Add color variety (apply middle tones)

1. Apply Carmine red into the rest of the red stripes. Its a cooler version of red that gives a nice
contrast to warm Poppy red.
2. When you draw always overlap colors slightly. It creates nice fluidity of color as opposed to
making broken strips of colors.
3. Take Orange and shade the pumpkin, leaving its lightest area free of any color. Throw the same
color around the object onto the flag. It creates not only unity in color but also adds variety to your
still life.

STEP 6: Blend, layer the lights

1. Apply Canary yellow and Yellow ochre into the light side of the pumpkin. (Other yellows may
be substituted for these colors). Leave the purest highlight free of any color. Shade around it with
your lightest yellow. Crosshatch colors.
2. Shade the tale of the pumpkin with Peacock blue. You can add the same color mixed with
lilac into the stars and white stripes of the flag with a light touch.
3. Take your small brush and paint carefully with turpenoid/gamsol over your drawing. Let it dry
completely. Be careful not to drag your darkest colors into the light! Turpentoid dissolves wax in
pencils and gives this painterly look to your drawing.

STEP 7: Increase color saturation

1. Adjust values and colors by crosshatching the same hues over previous layers. Colors will layer
much smoother this time.
2. Take white or French grey 20% to apply over white stripes in the shadow. Highlights stay free
of any color!