Coloured Pencils Tutorial - How to acheive a smooth blend

The hand is conformed to use a writing pressure and that's how it will want to hold and use any writing/colouring utensil. So, firstly we need to retrain the hand.

The obvious way to apply pressure is to press more firmly, but that will cause you to tense up and take away the relaxation element of colouring. Also it will cause your hand to tire easily, which is off-putting.

Hold the pencil further away from the tip end. This is a comfortable way to hold a pencil for colouring, and it will allow you to use small movements of the finger to produce a much larger movement of the pencil tip, therefore more coverage of colour can be quickly applied. 
To apply more pressure move the hand closer to the pencil tip. A firm pressure is unnecessary. A writing pressure is enough to achieve a nice blend. 

Let's begin...

Pick three pencils a light, mid and dark tone of your choice. 

• Use the light to lightly lay down colour all over the circle
• Use the mid tone to apply colour from the bottom to the centre of the circle
• Use the dark to apply colour to the bottom quarter of the circle
• Use the light colour to go over all of the circle 
• Repeat the above steps as many times as it will need to achieve a good blend
• Use a cotton bud to give it a spit n polish! not literally!!! just go over it with a dry cotton bud and for larger areas use a cotton wool ball 
• Final step. Practise is key, so please don't give up. Keep on having a go!

I hope you find this tutorial helpful. 

Barbara

An Intro to colouring with pencils by Art by Barb

My mission here is to introduce you to colouring with pencils. If you've purchased pencils and they remain unloved somewhere in your stash, now is a good time to reintroduce yourself to them!

Many colourists over look the true value of pencils at first. Guilty as charged ma-lord! Initially I only used them to add depth and shade to images coloured with alcohol markers. Over time I began to use the markers less in preference of the pencils. Eventually I came to realise from personal experience that the online hype about pencils is true.... they're a perfect medium to colour with.

Pencils are like a fine wine: time is needed to develop the best possible flavour and should be savoured slowly by the consumer.
Yes the process can be rushed and a wine produced as a result, but the wine will lack in flavour.
A similar result is also true with pencils. They're not to be rushed.
To know how to use pencils, is to love using pencils!

I can't recommend one brand over another, because I've only used Faber Castell and Spectrumnoir and one lonely Derwent pencil which I absolutely adore and wish there was a stockist near by.

I have used the cheap pencils from the cheaper stores (a present from my children who thought it would be a humorous gift. Backfired, as it gave me a chance to try em!!) and Ok, you don't get the rich vibrant colour but they are perfectly exceptable to use.

I use a cheap super smooth card stock. Nothing fancy shmancy.

Art supplies can be expensive and people are made to feel as though they must have the top speck supplies to achieve a good result. It's not true, well not in regard to pencils. It's the technique that will help you to create great colouring!

There are many different techniques you can use to blend pencils. My favoured technique and the one we will discuss in detail in my next blog post is to colour lightly and add layer upon layer until the pencils will want to naturally blend together. Especially good for achieving flawless skin!

Thank you for reading,
and until next time...keeeEEEeeep Colouring!!
Barbara

Butterflypose and free sentiment by ArtbyBarb

Sharing another one of my coloured creations ... Butterflypose digital stamp is available for you to colour, create and craft with on Etsy.

Coloured pencil tip: 

Apply a feather light touch and build up many layers to achieve a smooth and seamless blend.

Free Sentiment

Until next time...keep colouring.

Barbara

Art by Barb Question time....

I think a couple of the questions that I'm often asked are...how do you come up with an idea for your art? and the follow on one is "How long does it take you?"

For me it's not a quick process...it may start with a suggestion, I might see an inspiring image or a memory of my children might spark an idea for a drawing. 

Once the seed is sown, I allow my mind to play with the initial idea for a while and then I begin to draw, ink and colour it.

My fair lady for you to colour, create and craft with on Etsy

Colouring the image is never a quick process either, something that even I question, why does it take me so long?! and my mind reverts to a memory with my art teacher at school.... 

I had drawn a pencil image of two swans in silhouette on a moonlit lake, surrounded by a foliage border and I proudly showed it to him. He just looked and said "It's ok, now go away and spend a week adding depth and shade" My former fifteen year old self flounced away, I feel sure she was muttering something unrepeatable under her breathe! 

So, I took him at his word and worked on the drawing in my spare time. 

A week later I show up at his desk with no expectation of praise. He caught me completely off guard and went wild with excitement "Can you see the difference?" he exclaimed "you've taken an ok piece and turned it into a spectacular piece of artwork!!" and I guess that lesson stuck with me to this day. To the point I spend too much time and I have to consciously tell myself to put down the pencils and step away. It's done! 

It's Mine for you to colour, create and craft with on Etsy

By the time I get to the card stage and as you might imagine I like to keep it quick, simple and clean by adding an appropriate sentiment.

Here is the sentiment for you to use

We have a super reward system for shopping with us on Etsy

Until next time...keep colouring!!

Crafting Circle: Crafty Awesomeness Challenge

Crafy Girlz Challenge: Anything Goes

Crafting With Friends: Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge: Anything Goes

Cupcake love and free sentiment by Art by Barb

Howdy readers, 

I coloured up my little cute cupcake guy and I'm pleased with how he turned out. 

I'd like to list all the colour combinations for the pencils I used, but to perfectly frank folks it really doesn't matter. Pencils blend so perfectly with any colour you choose to use. However, I can list the brands, which are Faber Castell and Spectrum Noirs. But again, use any ole brand, even the cheaper ones from the pound shop are good enough to start with if you're a beginner.

I will enter in the following challenges (fingers crossed I get it right, new to all of this!)

 The Crafty Addict - #33 Anything Goes

Cards Galore Encore - February's Anything Goes

Vilda Stamps Challenge - February's Anything Goes
The Sister Hood of Crafters - Simply Made
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps - Wonderful Wednesday

Here is the sentiment I used

Subscribe to our Newsletter and receive a free fairy line art to colour

Until next time...keep colouring!!

Barbara

February's Colour along with a Child Challenge at Art by Barb

At the beginning of every month we launch our Colour along with a Child Challenge and this month's  free image is available upon request at Art by Barb Facebook Group.

Not all children want to colour, some do like to resist which will be futile with our few handy tips to encourage children to colour and get creative. 

• Introduce Colour along with a child challenge as a reward and spark their interest in colouring.
• Make the materials available and easy to access.
• Choose an interesting variety of paper textures, embellishments and coloured pencils, pens and crayons.
• Start colouring yourself. When they see how much fun you are having, they will want to join in.

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter and receive a free fairy to colour

Until next time....keeeep colouring!!!

Barbara 

Free cupcake rose line art to colour by Art by Barb

We have a wonderful free cupcake rose image for you to colour and get creative with over at Art by Barb FB group

I used a mixture of Faber Castell and Spectrum Noirs coloured pencils to complete this coloured piece. I failed at colouring cream icing with red sugar sprinkles so had to cover up with chocolate! I will not be defeated though and will keep trying until it works!!!

Pop over to Art by Barb FB group and go to the file section to download for free the cupcake line art.

Bubbly Love line art by ArtbyBarb

I set myself a challenge to draw and colour a plait with a difference. There are many different plait patterns that act as a guide for the artist, but over the years and try as I might, I get confused with the pattern of drawing a detailed plait and abandon it due to frustration.

For this drawing and after many hours of following online tutorials to try and get the plait pattern to stick in my head ...  I had a light bulb moment and got it... and Bubbly Love was drawn....

Bubbly Love is currently free with every 5.00 GBP and over purchase made this weekend at  Art by Barb Face book group 

That's what I love about art whether it be, drawing, colouring or any type of craft, initially a new technique will elude us, but with perseverance (well, a lot in the case of my plait saga!) we have an eureka moment and jump for joy at the discovery we can do it!!

“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.”
– Earl Nightingale

Join us at Art by Barb group to share and showcase your artbybarb colouring and makes. 

Barbara :)

Handmade Rocks Digital Stamp Set Showcase by Art by Barb

Handmade Rocks Stamp Set includes everything you will need to design your own digital stamp.

Background props:

• Wall
• Pavement
• Cracked wall
• Plain cracked wall
• Bus stop or sign
• Sign

5 separate sentiments, boy and girl Handmade Rocks characters, plus a ready to click and print digital stamp design.

I used a mixture of  Faber Castel and Spectrum Noirs pencils to colour both of the images.

Visit Art by Barb FB group for a fabulous offer exclusive to members.

How to remove the background from a digital stamp with word

This tutorial will show you how to remove the white background from a digital stamp saved as a jpg. You will then be able to merge the image with a background scene of your choice.

Start by opening word.

Click on insert >> picture to import the digital stamp

Click on remove background

 Use the handles to select the area you want to keep. White and the outline will be selected and kept. The deselected areas will turn purple and will be discarded.

When your happy with the selection click on keep changes. If you've missed some areas click on Mark Areas to Remove and drag the point line to select the area you wish to remove. Click on Keep Changes.

and that's all there is to it!

Now the fun bit....insert a background scene as shown in the below previews

Follow this tutorial to show you how to create a scene

I hope you find this tutorial useful. Please reach out if you need further help by joining us at Art by Barb facebook group or leave a comment

The digital stamp used in the tutorial is available in a bundle until the 4th January over at Art by Barb facebook group.

and the back ground scene is available on the group or Etsy

Colour along with a Child Challenge at Art by Barb

Before Christmas we held two colouring challenges one for adults and the other for children.
Both challenges proved to be very popular, so I thought let's combine the two and voila....
Colour along with a Child Challenge was created and will launch today at Art by Barb facebook group.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a child to colour along with me but you can visit Victoria's Crafting Creations blog to see how Vic and her daughter Tiegan coloured the image together.

The free image for this months challenge is Baker line art. Available in a boy and girl version. 

I coloured the image with mainly promarkers and used a light grey pencil for the hat and mouse and a black pencil for the cat.

 Pop along to Art by Barb and read the pinned post for full details about how to request the free image and enter the challenge.

Hope to see you soon,

Barbara