LIGHT &

SHADING
with Colored Pencils
with Cynthia Knox
 LIGHT & SHADING: WITH COLORED PENCILS with Cynthia Knox

Colored Pencils

PRISMACOLOR PREMIER FABER-CASTELL POLYCHROMOS

PC938 White 101 White
PC939 Peach 132 Light Flesh
PC1092 Nectar 189 Cinnamon
PC1011 Deco Yellow 104 Light Yellow Glaze
PC916 Canary Yellow 106 Lt. Chrome Yellow
PC917 Sunburst Yellow 108 Dark Cadmium Yellow
PC943 Burnt Ochre 188 Sanguine
PC944 Terra Cotta 192 Indian Red
PC946 Dark Brown 280 Burnt Umber
PC1012 Jasmine 184 Dark Naples Ochre
PC1034 Goldenrod 187 Burnt Ochre
PC1033 Mineral Orange 186 Terracotta
PC922 Poppy Red 117 Light Cadmium Red
PC945 Sienna Brown 283 Burnt Siena
PC1002 Yellowed Orange 111 Cadmium Orange
PC937 Tuscan Red 192 Indian Red
PC918 Orange 113 Orange Glaze
PC947 Dark Umber 177 Walnut Brown
PC935 Black 199 Black

Cynthia uses PrismaColor Premier. If you prefer

Faber-Castell Polychromos, see list on right.

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Supplies & Materials

• Strathmore Series 300, Smooth Bristol Paper, 9 x 12"

(comes in pads of 20)
• Sofft Pastel soft applicators
• Round Sponge Bar -
#61021
• Mini Applicator - #63052
• Pencil sharpener, such as mid-size X-ACTO electric
pencil sharpener
• Drawing board
• Tip: affix some sheets of
paper to act as a cushion for
your artwork
• Artist's tape or masking tape
• Erasers
• Pink Pearl
• Tombow Mono Zero
• Removable mounting putty
• Drafting brushes or soft-bristled makeup brushes
• Soft cloth
• PanPastel Artists’ Pastels
• Hansa Yellow Tint - #220.8
• Yellow Ochre - #270.5
• Titanium White - #100.5

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Resources

• Colored Pencil Conversion and Colour Reference
Charts - Extended Version by Karen Hull, available
at www.karenhullart.com Conversion chart for a
variety of colored pencil brands if substitutions are
desired. Highly recommended by Cynthia.
• Strathmore Learn to Draw Textures in Colored Pencil,
by Cynthia Knox (Strathmore Artist Papers, 2017)
• Strathmore Learn to Draw Nature in Colored Pencil,
by Cynthia Knox (Strathmore Artist Papers, 2017)
• Classic Still Life in Colored Pencil, by Cynthia Knox
(Ann Kullberg Publishing, 2017)
• Colored Pencil Basics, by Cynthia Knox (Walter
Foster Publishing, 2012)
• Flowers in Colored Pencil, by Cynthia Knox (Walter
Foster Publishing, 2011)
• CP Florals - A Complete Guide to Drawing Florals
in Colored Pencil, by Cynthia Knox (Ann Kullberg
Publishing, 2016)
• Colored Pencil Classics, by Cynthia Knox (Viking
Woodcrafts Publisher, 2016)
• The Art of Colored Pencil Drawing, by Cynthia Knox,
Eileen Sorg, Debra Kaufman Yaun, and Pat Averill
(Walter Foster Publishing, 2013)

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Reference

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Line Drawing

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 LIGHT & SHADING: WITH COLORED PENCILS with Cynthia Knox

Image & Step Guide

IMAGE STEP / NUMBER LESSON

STEP 1
• Apply PanPastel Hansa Yellow Tint #220.8 with a finger-
shaped sponge over the entire floral composition
to establish the light yellow base. Strokes are loose,
swirled, and overlapping from top to bottom. Sweep
away pastel dust with soft brush.
• Apply PanPastel Yellow Ochre #270.5 overall in a similar 2
manner to intensify color. Use moderate pressure and
sweeping strokes.
• Lighten and soften the hue with PanPastel Titanium
White #100.5 to finish. Project will appear softly
blended with some splotchy areas. This is normal.

STEP 2
• Work from left to right and complete one petal at a
time. Apply light layers first and build color with each
layer. Note that tutorial directions for each section are
generalized to cover petals for that section. Specific
demos onscreen may vary slightly from step-by-step
instructions.
• The brightly highlighted petals are initially lightened
with White using firm pressure followed by Peach and/
or Nectar for the veins. Yellow hues are achieved with
layers of Deco Yellow, Canary Yellow, and/or Sunburst
Yellow based on each petal’s color intensity. Blend
and soften with White as needed using medium to firm
pressure. Shadows are created with Burnt Ochre, Terra 2
Cotta, Yellowed Orange, and Dark Brown. Soften with
Nectar and the lighter pencils.
• The reddish-yellow middle petals are initially colored
with Jasmine (light) or Goldenrod (medium) followed
by Mineral Orange. Use Burnt Ochre, Sienna Brown,
and Terra Cotta to deepen shadows. Blend and lighten
overall with Yellowed Orange and White.
• The upper reddish-orange petals are begun with Peach
(light) or Mineral Orange (medium). Add reds with Terra
Cotta and Poppy Red, and soften with Nectar and White.
Apply shadows with Dark Brown and skim Yellowed
Orange and Canary Yellow overall.

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Image & Step Guide

IMAGE STEP / NUMBER LESSON

STEP 3
• Begin the lighter petals with Deco Yellow (lightest),
Jasmine (lighter), or Canary Yellow (brighter) and
lighten with White as needed. Add touches of Peach
and Nectar for veins and soften with White.
• The remaining petals (yellowish red and orange) are
begun with the lighter peach, yellow, and/or orange
pencils. Color is developed with Burnt Ochre, Terra 3
Cotta, and Dark Brown in the shadowed areas.
Use small, rounded pencil strokes to transition
colors smoothly.
• Choose Canary Yellow, Sunburst Yellow, and/or
Yellowed Orange to sweeten up petal colors. Skim
these pencils lightly across established layers for a
bright effect.

STEP 4
• The lighter petals and sections are begun with White.
Add petal veins with Peach and/or Nectar. Brighten
with Deco Yellow, Jasmine, Peach, and/or Goldenrod
depending on each petal’s color intensity.
• Develop shadows with Yellowed Orange, Burnt Ochre,
and Terra Cotta. Darken further as needed with Dark
Brown and/or Tuscan Red.
• Use Goldenrod, Yellowed Orange, Canary Yellow, and/or
Sunburst Yellow to transition darker colors into lighter 3
colors. Soften and lighten as needed with Peach and/or
White.
• The far right dark petal is colored with Peach overall.
Develop the dark interior with Burnt Ochre, Dark Brown,
Tuscan Red, and Terra Cotta in that order. The outer
edge is colored with Yellowed Orange and Nectar. Use
Terra Cotta and Burnt Ochre for the darker areas. Blend
and soften with White. Touch up with more Burnt Ochre,
Terra Cotta and White.

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Image & Step Guide

IMAGE STEP / NUMBER LESSON

STEP 5
• Begin the yellow petals and sections with White
(brightest), Canary Yellow, and/or Jasmine using
moderate pressure. Deco Yellow softens and transitions
colors. Peach and Nectar establish the veins.
• Block in the dark areas with Burnt Ochre and develop
with Terra Cotta, Dark Brown, Goldenrod, and/or 4
Tuscan Red.
• Midtone oranges (as applicable) receive Mineral
Orange, Goldenrod, Yellowed Orange, and/or Orange.
• Lighten and blend with White and/or Deco Yellow.
Restore petal veins with Nectar and/or Peach. Touch
up overall color with the above pencils.

STEP 6
• Dark Center: Outline the perimeter and interior shapes
with Dark Brown. Color in everything with Terra Cotta
followed by Sienna Brown. Apply another layer of Terra
Cotta. Re-line the shapes and color around them with
Dark Umber. Darken the left side with Dark Brown and
then apply Tuscan Red overall. Brighten light yellow
areas with Sunburst Yellow. Touch up with Terra Cotta 4
overall and more Sunburst Yellow in yellow areas.
• Render lower petals in a similar fashion as Step 5.
Use Poppy Red and Orange to brighten up midtones.
Lighten, soften, and blur colors together with White.
• Continue to establish shadows with Burnt Ochre, Terra
Cotta, and Dark Brown. In darkest areas, use Tuscan
Red and/or Dark Umber to deliver strong color.

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Image & Step Guide

IMAGE STEP / NUMBER LESSON

STEP 7
• Continue to render light petals as in previous steps.
Petal veins are established with Peach and/or Nectar.
• Develop midtones with Goldenrod, Mineral Orange, and
the yellow and orange pencils. 5
• Darken shadows with Burnt Ochre, Terra Cotta, Dark
Brown, Tuscan Red, and Dark Umber.
• Soften and blend with Terra Cotta, the lighter colors,
and White as needed.

STEP 8
• Continue to render light petals as in previous steps.
Establish veins with Peach and/or Nectar.
• Develop midtones with Goldenrod, Mineral Orange, and
the brighter yellow and orange pencils.
• Darken shadows with Burnt Ochre, Terra Cotta, Dark 5
Brown, Tuscan Red, and/or Dark Umber.
• Brighten color with Peach (lighter areas) and Yellowed
Orange. Be sure pencils are sharp and pressure is light
to adhere best to existing layers.
• Lighten and blur colors with White.

STEP 9
• Continue to render light petals as in previous steps.
Add vein lines with darker colors now, such as Terra
Cotta and Dark Brown.
• Develop midtones with the orange and yellow pencils
using White to soften and blend.
• Build up shadows with layers of Burnt Ochre, Terra 6
Cotta, Dark Brown, Tuscan Red, and Dark Umber.
Pencil pressure is moderate to medium. Strokes are
small and overlapping.
• Burnish ends of highlighted petals with White.
• See Step 10 for complete background instructions.

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Image & Step Guide

IMAGE STEP / NUMBER LESSON

STEP 10
• Apply Prismacolor Premier Black over the entire
background except areas close to rose edges. Use
linear, overlapping strokes. Turn paper so that pigment
is applied below roses in a horizontal manner with
moderate pressure. Be sure to have a piece of paper
under your hand. Sweep pencil debris away frequently
and not over the roses.
• Complete small areas of the background near rose 6
edges using a sharp tip.
• Finish with a second coat of black using the Stabilo “All”
Black marking pencil in the same manner of application.
Use firm pressure with overlapping linear strokes.
Apply away from the roses, and keep the piece of paper
under your hand to avoid smudging. Sweep pencil
debris away frequently.
• Spray with fixative to seal all pigment.

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