Startup Library: Colored Pencil (DVD + Streaming)

Join illustrator Susan Rubin as she helps you navigate the basics from choosing the best beginner-friendly supplies to completing four drawing projects: a pear, leaf, persimmon and tulip. With Susan’s techniques and step-by-step guidance, you’ll soon be creating your own colored pencil drawings with confidence!

NOTE: If you’d like to purchase only the DVD for this class, you may do so through this link. (Please note, any class PDF materials are not on the DVD itself. You must have streaming access to download those materials associated with the class.)

Supplies Needed

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• 9″x12″ Bristol Paper Pad
• Graphite Pencils HB
• Graphite Pencils 2H
• Colorless Blending Pencils
• Mounting Puddy
• Tracing Paper

What You Need: Paper (03:49)
Follow along as Susan goes over the different types of paper and their various qualities, including the best ones for colored-pencil beginners.

What You Need: Other Tools (08:38)
Review everything else you need to get started from pencil sharpeners and erasers to blending pens, waxed paper and more.

Method: Mark-Making Basics (12:39)
Now it’s time to put pencil to paper! In this lesson, Susan covers basic mark-making techniques to help you create different visual effects. Learn how to make effective strokes as you practice applying pressure to your marks.

Method: Layering & Edges (12:23)
Continue exploring mark-making techniques as you learn to use a limited a palette to mix, layer and create any color! After that, Susan shows you how to create clean edges for clear, convincing shapes.

Method: Reference Tips (10:23)
Find out how to edit and adjust your photos so you can get the best reference possible. Plus, learn how to achieve great reference material using your smartphone!

Method: Color Basics (24:34)
Ready to dive into color? Explore the basics of color terminology as you learn to create a color wheel.

Method: Next Steps With Color (12:29)
Continue your color exploration by learning to adjust value and saturation. Susan shows you how to shift color to light, dark, bright and dull.

Make It: Pear Part One (17:04)
Start your first project, a green pear, using just three colors, none of which are green! Susan helps you create a value study (which will act as a roadmap for your finished project), transfer the image, select the palette and put down the initial layers of local color.

Make It: Pear Part Two (20:50)
In this lesson, finish up your pear by building colors and depth. Find out how to fix mistakes, shade convincingly and create texture with blending. And, see how to replicate tiny dots and break up large areas of color for a more realistic look.

Make It: Leafy Greens (22:07)
Practice mixing rich green hues as you start your second project, a green leaf. Susan guides you through drawing, value study and effective color selection. Then she helps you emboss vein lines on your leaf, layer for blended color, create shaded areas, depict 3-D forms and realistic, shiny texture.

Make It: Persimmon (58:25)
Following the same process as above, start your third project, a persimmon. But this time add underpainting. Susan shows you how to cover large areas and create the fruit’s unique textures, such as the white bloom.

Make It: Tulip (42:16)
Wrap things up with your final and most challenging project, a tulip. Start by underpainting the color, then build layers slowly, creating effective shadows and color harmonies along the way.

Cynthia Knox is a professional colored pencil and graphite artist whose work has received numerous awards at national and international juried exhibitions. Along with creating commissioned work and being featured in art magazines and websites, Cynthia teaches art techniques to individuals and large groups. She’s also published a number of instructional art books, including The Art of Colored Pencil Drawing, Flowers in Colored Pencil, Pencil Drawing Step by Step and more.

How do I access the companion materials for my DVD class?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” area, select the “Classes” content. On this page, you’ll see all classes you’ve purchased from Craftsy. Simply select the desired class from your content list, and you’ll be presented with your selected class page. From the class page you can easily view, download or print the companion class materials, which are in the “Bonus Materials” tab on the class page. You can log in any time, and download or print the companion materials as many times as you like. Companion class materials are not shipped in the mail with your DVD, and must be accessed on Craftsy.com.

How do I stream my class on Craftsy.com?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” content, select the desired class. Stream the video on-demand from the class page any time you like; your viewing access is unlimited. You can stream your class from any computer, tablet or mobile device with Internet access.

Do I have to purchase a Craftsy Membership to get my class?
No, you do not. Every DVD purchased on Craftsy.com includes both the physical DVD in the mail and unlimited on-demand streaming access at Craftsy.com. These benefits are yours with or without a Craftsy membership.

Are DVDs included in a Craftsy Membership?
No, they are not. DVDs can only be purchased on an individual basis and are not included in Craftsy memberships. For non-members, DVDs are a flexible way to purchase only the classes you love best. For members, DVDs are a great choice to build an at-home library you can keep forever and enjoy any time, with or without Internet access.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do ship most physical products, including DVDs, to several International destinations. In addition to the USA and Canada, we ship to Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and most Western European countries. If you live outside these countries, you can still purchase digital items including memberships, individual streaming classes, and pattern downloads.

Do your DVDs work on international players?
Yes, our DVDs should be compatible with any DVD player in use today. All our videos have been created with all current Region Codes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8). If you have trouble viewing a DVD purchased from Craftsy.com, please contact Customer Service.

What is your return policy?
We want to be sure you’re satisfied. If you have trouble playing your DVD, if the content is not correctly presented on the DVD, or you are dissatisfied with the content of your class, we will work with you. Contact Craftsy customer service via email or phone. Upon your request, and upon your return of the DVD to us, we will refund your purchase price or send you another DVD to replace a damaged or incorrect DVD, whichever is your preference. If you do receive a full refund, your streaming video class will also be removed from your Craftsy account, so on-demand video access will no longer be available to you.