12 WAYS to Blend Colored Pencils (Solvents, Blending Pencils, Gamsol + more)

Want to see those pencils BLEND? Check out the next video here: https://youtu.be/tBU1X1_u_9o

one thing about using a white pencil to blend: make sure it's a cheap one! they tend to have less pigment than a white prismacolor (for example) so there's not much of a white cast after blending. I usually use a white crayola pencil and that works well

I use solvents for blending. Repetitive strain injury is a real issue and the heavy pressure necessary for non-solvent blending promotes that injury.

Wow, Sarah! This is one of the most comprehensive and easy to understand guide to testing blending. You went over and above with the wax v oil based pencils, as well as the paper comparison!! So impressed - thank you for all your hard work and long hours putting this together!

By dissolving the pencils binder with solvent you "make space" for more layers than your paper would have been able to take. Wich is amazing if you want to achieve a higher saturation of pigment, or more complex texture. Amazing work you've achieve there.

It is important to note that odorless mineral spirits are toxic. You need to have decent ventilation in your workspace to use it safely. By the way, the Strathmore Bristol Vellum you are using is the 300 series, which is made from wood pulp. I use the 500 series Strathmore Bristol Vellum which is 100% cotton and archival quality. There is a performance difference.

I have art studio envy...your work space is beautiful.

Thanks for doing this; this was really helpful! I'm going to have to check into burnishing and blending pencils. Just a thought, but the people recommending the white pencil may have been talking more about cheap pencil sets than the nice pencils. In the cheaper sets, the white pencils don't really do much, so they can work more like a burnishing pencil. I use that for my highlight areas where I don't want to lay down any more pigment when I burnish. It adds only a little white, which doesn't hurt the highlights anyway.

Who can count how many times I complained about oranges? 🍊🤷‍♀️😬

Yes, I pushed the button! Watch the next video (coming Friday) to see what survived.

You can also use the blending stump to dip it in the odorless mineral spirit and then use it in small circular motions on your painting. Thank you for your hard work! 🫶

That was a great video, thanks!! And under such personal sacrifices! 🍊😅 I do hope no pencils were hurt in the final blending process... 😂

Wow what a fantastic informative video! Thank you so much Sarah! I can only imagine the hours you spent swatching and editing this! Thank you for your hard work 💕

😍 The effect of that blending powder! Awesome. 😎

My method was white pencil and or Prismacolor colourless blender pencil. I stopped using the white pencil because it changed my colors. I have Derwent blending pencils but don't find them as good as Prisma though it could be I just feel better with the tried and true. I do background blending almost entirely with just light layering of pencils, but sometimes the blending pencil for a smooth look and it always looks good. I mostly do coloring book pages but some drawing and sketch book stuff. I'm not s burn artist, but my coloring impresses even me, especially when I use a good tutorial. I really appreciate watching you show us these blending tools. I've been doing pencil work about 15 months and improving because of people like you. None of my friends or family care much about art even when I did watercolors that were vetted and hung at the local gallery. You're like an actual friend. Love Marcia in modesto

My main medium has been acrylics and watercolors, but I’ve always wanted to improve with colored pencils. They’ve always intimated me for some reason, but your videos have not only encouraged me, but helped me jump in and finally try it. Can’t thank you enough! :)

I do want to say how much I appreciate that you have done all these comparisons. Thank you.❤

Sarah you are so awesome. I can't imagine the headache this project was but was perfect because I was curious about OMS products. Thank you for doing this for us! I can't believe your channel has been around just a year. You're my YouTube hero.

Alcohol works?! I am amazed, thank you so much for testing these side by side so I can see how they compare. I've heard that the solvents still need to be used in well-ventilated areas despite being odorless, which means I can't use them in winter months in my super old house with no vents or air circulation unless I want to jack up my heating bill... but an alcohol blender (or, if it works as well, rubbing alcohol) would be such an accessible alternative for me. Thank you again!!

I use rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud so it makes sense that the alcohol blenders work well, too! What a great video :)