For Crayon's Sake!

Same crayons, different paper - and suddenly, the artwork has a whole new personality. Every artist has that moment of curiosity and wonders how much paper really affects the outcome. In my “ Swatch It Happen ” blog, I mentioned what kind of surface suits crayons best. This week, I decided to put that theory to the test by comparing two popular options: Fabriano Tiziano Pastel Paper and the Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook . Let's take a look at their differences. Fabriano Tiziano: Expressive Texture I used Fabriano Tiziano pastel paper for a Monstera Leaf Study . Initially, I was a little sceptical about how it would turn out, but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique result. Monstera leaf study on Fabriano Tiziano  This paper has a strong visible texture (or tooth ), which becomes even more noticeable when the crayon is applied lightly. The texture gives the drawing an expressive, painterly look, especially suitable for organic subjects like leaves. The tooth...

“White may look colourless, but it’s just as important as any other crayon, and you might find yourself using it up faster than the rest.” For this overdue post, I chose a yellow rose as my subject. I wanted to show you an example of crayon drawing where colour blending is involved, and also share the parts I consider “mistakes.” They’re nothing to stress about, but the more I look at them, the more obvious they seem. So, let’s dive in! The first step I took was a light pencil sketch using an HB pencil. It’s important to keep your pencil strokes light, because if you press too hard and later decide to erase, it will leave indentations on the paper. When you apply crayon over those marks, they often show up as faint white lines and those can be tricky to hide. Next, using yellow orange , red orange , orange , and brown , I started applying colour lightly to mark the darker areas. Some might say you should start with lighter colours. Personally, I prefer beginning with darker ones becaus...

It helps to get to know your crayon characteristics before diving in, as each has its own charm. There are many crayon brands out there, but a box of 24 Crayola crayons is a great option to get you started. They are inexpensive and well pigmented. Before you start your drawing, you may find it helpful to make a colour swatch. You can use these swatches for your colour reference as you draw. It lets you see how the colours look when applied to the paper, as the colours often differ from what shows on the paper and what they look like in stick form. I recommend creating this colour swatch on a separate piece of paper or a page in your sketchbook using different techniques. Begin by applying a colour lightly, and then gradually build up to a heavy application—and don’t forget to write the colour names underneath. As you apply the wax, you will quickly notice a difference: some colours are beautifully opaque , while others remain more transparent , barely showing their pigment on the pap...