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[wokcreative]

Is there a specific shade of blue that is typically used for sketching? I happened to find a non-photo blue pencil in a big box of pencils, pens, markers... while trying to get school supplies together for the kids.
Is the non-photo blue used specifically with black pencil over/with it to get only the final good lines in a copy? Are different shades of blue used like different shades of charcoal? Does anyone ever use green, red... anything else to get different effects?
Just curious in my creative coloring.

[admin]

The whole point with non-photo blue is that you can create a rough drawing. Then once you get it the way you like it you can trace in dark pencil the lines you like most and then photocopy it. The blue won't get copied... hence the name, non-photo blue.

So it's got some nice advantages. Of course you can always just take it into photoshop in blue, desaturate it and then paint over it. That works quite well also.

Nate

[icandrawem2]

I just bought a couple Prismacolor non-photo blue colored pencils a couple weeks ago and they are ok...the only thing is that prismacolor pencils have very soft leads so you have to keep sharpening them if you need crisp lines. Some other people have recommended colerase brand since they are erasable, but i havent tried them.

[admin]

You'll probably have to try out a few different kinds to determine which one works best for you.

Nate

[Holly]

I would be careful about erasable pencils... Once people have the power to erase, they tend to get hung up on getting the "perfect" line... One of the beautiful things about the blue pencil phase is that you can keep it fluid and quick, and really concentrate on working out form, proportion, etc. I sharpen my pencils a lot anyhow, so I can't really recommend a better pencil. I just sharper several at the same time, so when one gets dull, I can keep going without breaking the stream of thought...

[admin]

Another thing you may give a shot to are mechanical pencils. The nice thing about them is that the lead stays the same width. So as you draw the line doesn't change shapes and it makes for more consistent drawings. I've found that very helpful. Many times I'll draw in pencil and then lay vellum on top and ink it.

Nate

[wokcreative]

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions. I'll just get a few - different brands and different shades - to do some experimenting.

:)


(I also just enabled emoticons and wanted to try it out. I came up with one of my own but haven't used it in a while)

~<8O]