Colored Pencil Essentials
Susan Rubin
Class Preview
1:20
- In-depth Instruction; over 143 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
First Steps
24:43
Meet your instructor, Susan Rubin, and see how to set up a successful workspace for drawing comfortably. Then learn the difference between student-grade and artist-grade colored pencils and why you might use one or the other. Finally, practice controlling your pencils to create color gradients, tones and textures.
Color Basics
14:45
Learn all about color! Begin with creating the color wheel as Susan helps you understand complementary and analogous color relationships. Then start to layer colors for your own color palette. Susan also helps you to avoid color mixing mistakes.
Luminous Color Layering
20:19
Create a color recipe book with Susan's technique for layering colors and labeling your pencils for future reference. Then, learn Susan's mixing and topping trick for brightening or subduing color combinations. Finally, learn how to use a white pencil to create tints and expand your color palette even more!
Surface Textures in Colored Pencil
26:36
Learn Susan's tricks behind using unique tools, such as wax paper and baby oil, to create more kinds of texture on paper. Achieve a smooth, finished look with a blending pen. Use a colored pencil resist for drawing leaves on a tree and the stumble stroke for branches. You'll also see how to capture light and dimension in water droplets!
Color & Texture Come Together
20:25
Combine your color and texture techniques to draw cherries! Learn to mix colors to match and plan a palette of colors. You'll see how to underpaint to allow the base coat to shine through, then use burnishing pencils to create a smooth, shiny cherry.
Background & Atmosphere
14:49
Complete your cherry study with a textured background of complementary colors! Then add realistic shadows to provide depth to the cherries, and learn why shadows aren't made with just black colored pencil. Finally, learn techniques for laying down the background before starting the subject.
Bright & Bold Colors
21:21
Learn how to make the perfect bold and bright shade with Susan's layering technique. You'll color a gorgeous yellow flower using all the techniques and tools Susan has shared with you and master shadows and shading throughout the flower. Finally, make your colored pencil drawing last with fixative.
Start drawing confidently and beautifully in colored pencil with lessons from artist and instructor Susan Rubin. Get set up for success as you learn to choose the perfect materials for your skill level, budget and preferred subject matter. Put pencil to paper as Susan simplifies color mixing with luminous color “recipes” you can recreate again and again. Then, enhance your drawings with methods for blending colored pencils and using everyday items to add amazing textures and details. Move on to drawing a still life of cherries using techniques for underpainting, drawing shadows, creating an atmospheric background and more. You’ll even get step-by-step guidance for drawing a bright and beautiful flower using a new layering method and tips for achieving true-to-life shading.
Susan Rubin
Susan Rubin's lifelong passion for drawing led her to study art and art history at Colorado College and the University of Exeter in England. After graduating, Susan became a product, interior and set designer for her own firms as well as the Discovery Channel and HGTV. In 1990, she discovered colored pencil botanical illustration at the Denver Botanic Gardens, where she’s been teaching for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibits. Susan is represented by Spark Gallery in Denver.
Bonus materials available after purchase