Step-by-step colored pencil on Pastelbord with Debra Yaun

Debra Yaun, "Pond Reflections", 12x16, colored pencils on Ampersand Pastelbord

Watch the project timelapse.

Materials:

Color Pencils

(If you do not have these colors from different sets, just use similar colors from sets you have.)

Luminance: Spring Green, Light Cobalt Blue
Polychromos: Pine Green, Dark Indigo, Deep Scarlet Red, Dark Red, Cadmium Yellow, Light Green
Pablo: Light Olive, Gentian Blue, Golden Ochre, Light Olive, Mauve
Verithin: Grass Green, Dahlia Purple, Indigo Blue, Black, Apple Green
Prismacolor: Sky Blue Light, White, Indigo Blue, Colorless Blender
Museum Aquarelle: White

Other:

Ampersand White Pastelbord
Ampersand Floaterframe
Fine sandpaper (1000 grit)
Scrubber Brush #2 (or stiff brush with short bristles)
4H drawing pencil
Eraser
Archival spray: matte finish

Preparation of the Ampersand Pastelbord: Use a fine sandpaper to make the board a bit smoother for colored pencil. The texture is great for pastel but I prefer a smoother surface for colored pencil. Use a light, circular motion and move in more than one direction to get an even amount of texture on the board.

Step 1: The fish and water were drawn using a very sharp 4H pencil. Due to the slightly textured surface a hard, sharp pencil works best. Bubbles were rearranged from the original photo, some were added and reflections changed for a better composition. Dark Indigo was added to most of the darkest areas.

Step 2: More Dark Indigo was added to the water using mostly a circular motion. I also use Verithin Indigo Blue for tighter areas and edges. Prismacolor Indigo Blue was also used for some areas as it is a bit brighter blue.

Step 3: A little more of the dark blues were added and blended using a scrubber brush.

Step 4: Verithin Indigo Blue was used on the lines in the fins and some water reflections.

Step 5: Ultramarine was added to some areas of the upper water and blend with some Dark Indigo and some edges with white. The stiff scrubber brush was used to blend the blues. Verithin Indigo Blue was added to some other small areas of the water, then some White over a few areas of water.

Step 6: Gentian Blue was then used on the water in several places. The fins are blended by going over the lines with a colorless blender pencil, then some white was added to bubbles. Light Olive, Spring Green and Apple Green were then applied to the water in several places and blended with a stiff brush.

Step 7: The same Greens from Step 6 were added to the water in more areas. Golden Ochre and Cadmium Yellow were added to a few spots then more Dark Indigo as well. Light Cobalt Blue is applied to some areas of the water and upper fin.

Step 8: Dark Indigo was then added to the eye, Cadmium Yellow and Golden Ochre are applied to the fish body and nose, then small lines of Dark Red. The tail receives Gentian Blue in a small area. Golden Ochre is added to the water in a few spots. A couple light lines of Dark Red are added to the tail and a small area in the upper water. Apple Green was added to a few places in the water and next to the bottom fin then Light Cobalt Blue to the side fin.

Step 9: Using Black, some areas of the water were darkened. Golden Ochre and Cadmium Yellow were then applied to a couple spots in the water and a lower bubble.

Step 10: Dark Red was very lightly added to the fishes back, pressing harder for the lower tail. Cadmium Yellow is added to the top of the tail while pressing hard then some of these colors are blended using the blending pencil.

Step 11: Dark Red is added to the head and Gray to the belly. Dahlia Purple is then applied to the shiny area on the head and Sky Blue to the fins, leaving the dark lines. White is then added to the reflections on the body.

Step 12: Gentian Blue is added to some darker areas of the water and then a layer of Sky Blue Light is applied. A little Apple Green is added to the tail and in the water around the tail. Apple Green is also added to the lower bubbles plus some Light Olive and Spring Green. These same greens are also used on the left side of the water then a little Golden Ochre. Light Cobalt Blue was then added to the bubble and water.

Step 13: More Indigo Blue is added to the water followed by a mix of the greens as well as a little more Golden Ochre. Light Olive is then applied to the right corner bubble and some small spots of Dark Red in the right area of water.

Step 14: The three greens are used as well as Gentian Blue for the water areas to the right as well as the water to the left of the big bubble. Golden Ochre is added to some water sections and Sky Blue Light to the water.

Step 15: The three greens, Ultramarine, Gentian Blue and Sky Blue Light were then used for the water.

Step 16: For the final step, a few Dark Red spots were added for extra color in the water. Then the rest of the water was filled in using the greens and blues. A stiff brush was then used to blend some water areas, scrubbing into each section and the blending pencil was used to sharpen some edges and small lines of the fish. I add several layers of archival spray, letting each layer dry. Now it can be framed without using glass due to the durable nature of the Pastelbord and the archival spray on the surface.