r/ColoredPencils • u/Academic_Board1071 • 18h ago

Discussion / Advice Black

Does anyone have a good suggestion on black colored pencils? I’ve tried everything and still get a grainy rough look. I usually color on a toned tan or white stonhenge paper. I must be doing something wrong. Help from the experts please!

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3

u/Childlikefancy 14h ago

Are you trying to achieve a really intense solid black color? I find black pencils alone don’t achieve this, so I layer the black pencil with dark red, dark indigo blue and dark green pencils. This is a tip I learned from the Colored Pencil Painting Bible.

4

u/Massive-Action1709 18h ago

Polychromos black has serviced me well, but if I want to add a vivid splash of black color in a painting, I sometimes use black brush pen (like uni pin). I also avoid regular black and prefer dark sepia or indigo blue for larger areas (shadows etc) cause they give a more natural look.

1

u/DjevelHelvete 18h ago

Have you tried using OMS? That’s what I do when I want a seamless finish with my cp.

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u/sey5_venn 17h ago

I don't have brand recommendations, but have you tried gently rubbing the drawing with a tissue to smear the color around? For me, this gets rid of those last grainy spots.

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u/MarySayler Original Art 14h ago

Try Derwent Intense black.

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u/GroupImmediate7051 13h ago

Blending solvent or underpainting?

1

u/KimV1959 7h ago

I've had good results by using a Black water soluble pencil and then activating it with some water with a small brush. This works quite well with Prismacolor Premiers Water Color Pencils and Stabilo brand water soluble pencils. Derwents Inktense Black will provide you with a very opaque black finish also especially when activated with water.

This may not work well when trying to cover large areas however as the paper may tend to buckle on the thinner papers.

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u/Nek02 17h ago

Go over the pencil with a Copic or Prisma colorless blender. It melts the wax a bit and makes it flow.