Colored Pencil Drawing Tutorials

By Matt Fussell

A Bit on Colored Pencils

All of the tutorials on this page involve the use of colored pencils. This medium is one of my favorites because of it's ability to create detailed drawings. Colored pencils are easy to use "onsite" and are clean enough to use anywhere. 

Colored pencils are a drawing medium that usually consists of waxy (or oil-based) shafts of pigment held together in a wooden shaft.  Colored pencils vary greatly in price and quality.  Softer varieties are generally more desirable for drawing and are usually more expensive as well. 

Colored pencils can be used on a variety of different surfaces, but toned drawing papers are generally the choice of most artists.

Looking to pick up some colored pencils, but don't know which brand to buy?  Check out my comparison chart and see which brands I recommend here.

“The Colored Pencil Course” is a members only video course on drawing with colored pencils.  Featuring over 5 hours of video instruction and 146 pages of eBooks, the goal of the course is to provide the student with a comprehensive experience with colored pencils. This course is designed to guide absolute beginners and intermediate artists to a level of producing professional quality colored pencil drawings through concise and “easy to digest” modules that include HD videos and Ebooks. (22 Modules)

COLORED PENCIL DRAWING LESSONS (BEGINNER)

How to Draw with Colored Pencils
Learn basic colored pencils techniques in this free video tutorial.

How to Draw a Tree with Colored Pencils
Learn how to create the illusion of realistic leaves with colored pencils in this tutorial.

Colored Pencil Course 1 - Introduction and Materials
An introduction to "The Colored Pencil Course" and a look at the materials that will be used.

Colored Pencil Course 2 - Colored Pencil Basics
The basics of drawing with colored pencils including the "5 do's for better hues".

Colored Pencil Course 3 - The Magic of Burnishing
Learn how to burnish colored pencils using a variety of techniques to create an image that resembles a painting.

Colored Pencil Course 4 - Value and the Underpainting
Learn the importance of value and how the underpainting can help ensure a full range in a colored pencil drawing.

Colored Pencil Course 5 - Color Theory
Learn how to use basic color theory with colored pencils in this module from "The Colored Pencil Course".

How to Draw Grass with Colored Pencils
Learn how easy it is to draw grass in this video tutorial.

The Secrets to Drawing- Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw with colored pencils in this video that features a drawing of a sea turtle.

Combine Tempera Paint and Colored Pencils
Learn how to combine tempera paint and colored pencils in this demonstration that features creating an image of an eye from imagination. 

Colored Pencil Drawing Techniques
Learn colored pencil drawing techniques and how to draw an eye and an apple.

How to Combine Watercolor and Colored Pencils
Learn how to use watercolor with colored pencils in this drawing/painting lesson

COLORED PENCIL DRAWING LESSONS (INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED)

How to Draw a Realistic Eye with Colored Pencils
Learn how to layer colors to draw a realistic eye in this tutorial and step by step.

Realistic Colored Pencil Drawing with Ariana's Art Pencils
A look at drawing with Ariana's Art colored pencils. A realistic drawing of a crushed can is completed.

How to Draw a Realistic Bird with Derwent Colored Pencils
A look at drawing a realistic bird with Derwent Studio colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Course 6 - Composition and Still Life
Learn how to create successful compositions in this module.

Colored Pencil Course 7 - Reflection and Transparency
Learn how to create the illusion of reflection and transparency with colored pencils in this module.

Colored Pencil Course 8 - Transferring Images
Learn two techniques for transferring images to a drawing surface for finishing with colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Course 9 - Creating Texture Part 1
Learn how to create the illusion of texture in a colored pencil drawing in this module.

Colored Pencil Course 10 - Creating Texture Part 2
Learn how to draw realistic texture with colored pencils as the drawing of a dog is completed in this module.

Colored Pencil Course 11 - Landscapes - Part 1
Learn a layering approach to drawing landscapes with colored pencils on textured paper in this module.

Colored Pencil Course 12 - Landscapes - Part 2
The middle ground and foreground are completed in this conclusion to a landscape drawing that was started in Module 11.

Colored Pencil Course 13 - Portraits - Part 1
Learn how to draw eyes with colored pencils in this first part of a series on portrait drawing.

Colored Pencil Course 14 - Portraits - Part 2
Learn how to draw the nose with colored pencils in this second part of a series on portrait drawing.

Colored Pencil Course 15 - Portraits - Part 3
Learn how to draw the mouth with colored pencils in this third part of  a series on portrait drawing.

Colored Pencil Course 16 - Portraits - Part 4
Create the illusion of the form of the face with colored pencils in this 4th part of a series.

Colored Pencil Course 17 - Portraits - Part 5
The portrait drawing is completed in this module that focuses on drawing the hair with colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Course 18 - Watercolor and Colored Pencils-Part 1
Learn how to combine watercolor with colored pencils in this first part of a two-part series.

Colored Pencil Course 19 - Watercolor and Colored Pencils-Part 2
Layering over watercolor washes, the strawberry is completed in this second part of a two-part series.

Colored Pencil Course 20 - Watercolor Pencils-Part 1
Learn how to apply and activate watercolor pencils in this first of a two-part series.

Colored Pencil Course 21 - Watercolor Pencils-Part 2
Learn how to apply and activate watercolor pencils in this second part of a two-part series.

Art Stix Demonstration - Full Length Lesson (59:38)
Learn how draw with Prismacolor Art Stix in this recorded Live Lesson.

Colored Pencil Butterfly Part 1 - Full Length Lesson (1:02:22)
Part 1 of a series on drawing a butterfly with colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Butterfly Part 2 - Full Length Lesson (1:06:26)
Part 2 of a series on drawing a butterfly with colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Butterfly Part 3 - Full Length Lesson (59:26)
Part 2 of a series on drawing a butterfly with colored pencils.

Colored Pencil Demo "Orchid" - Full Length Videos (2:17:30)
Watch and learn how to draw an orchid with colored pencils in this two part tutorial. Part One (1:02:53) Part Two (1:14:37)

Polychromos Colored Pencils - Excerpts
Learn how to use Polychromos colored pencils by Faber-Castell in this demonstration that features excerpts from a 2 hour tutorial.

Polychromos Colored Pencils - Full Length Videos (2:16:39)
Watch and learn how to draw a ruby throated hummingbird in this two part tutorial. Part One (1:02:14) Part Two (1:15:25)

Watercolor Pencil Demonstration - Full Length Video (54:54)
Learn how to draw and paint a colorful bird in this recorded live lesson on using watercolor pencils.

Inktense Pencils Demonstration - Full Length Video (55:46)
Learn how to use Inktense pencils in this recorded Live Lesson.

How to Draw a Realistic Mouth with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic mouth with colored pencils in this drawing tutorial.

Colored Pencils Drawing Tutorial - Marbles
How to draw marbles and other reflective objects with colored pencils.

Colored Pencils Drawing Tutorial - Full Length Video (1:02:56)
Watch and learn how to create the illusion of reflective and transparent marbles in this full length video demonstration.

Colored Pencil Drawing of a Tree Frog
Learn how to draw a tree frog with colored pencils with these excerpts from a live 1 hour lesson.

Colored Pencil Drawing of a Tree Frog Full Length Video (1:02:01)
Learn how to use colored pencils to draw a realistic tree frog in this full length video.

Colored Pencil Portrait Tutorial - Excerpts
Learn how to draw a portrait with colored pencils in this video tutorial featuring excerpts from two 1 hour live lessons.

Colored Pencil Portrait Tutorial - Full Length Videos (2:11:10)
Learn how to draw a portrait with colored pencils in this video tutorial.  Two full length videos. Part One (1:07:00) Part Two (1:04:10)

Mix Dark Skin Tones
Learn how to mix dark skin tones using four colors in this tutorial that features excerpts from a 2 hour live demonstration.

Mix Dark Skin Tones Colored Pencil Tutorial - Full Length Videos (2:10:42)
Mix dark skin tones to complete a colored pencil portrait in these videos.  Two full length videos. Part One (1:04:42) Part Two (1:06:00)

Colored Pencil Tutorial - Cherries - Excerpts
Gain insights on how to use colored pencils in this tutorial that features excerpts from a 1 hour live lesson.

Colored Pencil Tutorial - Cherries - Full Length Video (1:03:24)
Learn how to draw realistic cherries in this full length video tutorial from a Live Lesson.

Draw with White Media on Black Paper
Learn how to draw with white media on black paper in this drawing lesson.

How to Draw a Tree From Imagination
Time lapse of a tree drawn from imagination using colored pencils. 

How to Draw Glass with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw glass with colored pencils in this video drawing tutorial.

How to Draw a Rose with Colored Pencils
Learn how to break complex objects like a rose into easy to draw steps and finish with colored pencils in this video tutorial

How to Draw a Realistic Nose - Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic nose in colored pencils in this video tutorial.

Reflective Metal Surfaces with Colored Pencils (1:07:51)
Learn the core concepts behind creating the illusion of metallic reflection in this full length recorded Live Lesson.

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