The Ultimate Guide to Mixing Colors with Colored Pencils

Mixing colors with colored pencils sounds tricky at first. But once I learned a few easy steps, it became one of the most fun parts of my drawing process.

In this post, I'll show you exactly how I mix colors, even when I don't have the perfect pencil. I'll also share tips for blending and matching colors in a simple, relaxed way. Let's jump right in!

Contents

1 Why Learn to Mix Colored Pencils?
2 Getting Started: Understanding Basic Color Combinations
- 2.1 Supplies Used
3 Mixing and Matching Luminance Grey Colors
- 3.1 Demonstration 1: Mixing Steel Grey
- 3.2 Demonstration 2: Mixing Payne's Grey
4 Mixing Colors for Animal Fur
5 Mixing Colors for Leaves and Plants
6 Bonus Tips: Blending Colored Pencils for Smoother Results
7 Closing Words

Why Learn to Mix Colored Pencils?

Mixing colored pencils gives you so much more freedom when drawing. I often find that the colors in my set don't match my reference photo exactly. Instead of buying more pencils, I mix the ones I already have.

Here's why I think learning to mix colors is so helpful:

I can make custom colors even if my set is small.
I can match colors from any photo or real-life object.
I understand layering better, which makes my drawings look more realistic.
I feel more confident when blending because I know what to expect.

Getting Started: Understanding Basic Color Combinations

Before diving into color mixing, it's essential to know one thing: matching colors perfectly is very hard. I used to get frustrated when my mix didn't match exactly.

Now, I focus on getting “close enough,” and it has made drawing so much more fun.

The reason matching is complex is that different pencil brands have different formulas. Even if the color name is the same, the actual shade can be different. Plus, colored pencils are either wax-based or oil-based, which affects the way they blend.

As long as the final color feels close to what I want, that's enough for me!

Supplies Used

In this tutorial, I mainly use:

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils
A basic sketchbook with medium-toothy paper
Odorless mineral spirits for blending (optional)
A small, round paintbrush

If you want, you can find these supplies easily online.

Mixing and Matching Luminance Grey Colors

Let's start by mixing a few neutral Grey colors. This part is great practice because neutral colors show small mistakes more clearly. But don't worry! I'll walk you through it step-by-step.

Demonstration 1: Mixing Steel Grey

First, I try to match the Caran d'Ache Luminance Steel Grey. I already have some swatches prepared.

Making test swatches helps greatly because I can see how each pencil behaves before layering.

Here's exactly what I do to create Steel Grey:

First, I lay down a medium layer of Cold Grey 2.

Then, I add a light layer of Cold Grey 4 right on top.

After that, I put a very light layer of Light Ultramarine. This gives a soft, bluish tint.

Next, I lightly layer Cobalt Green. I use it very lightly to add a hint of green.

Finally, I burnish the layers using Cold Grey 2. Burnishing means pressing harder to blend everything smoothly.

The final result looks pretty close! It's a bit more grainy than the Luminance pencil, but that's normal when mixing multiple colors.

Demonstration 2: Mixing Payne's Grey

Next, I try matching the Luminance Payne's Grey. This one is a deeper Grey-blue color.

Here's my layering process:

Start with a medium layer of Cold Grey 2.

Add Cold Grey 4 over it.

Then, put a heavier layer of Light Ultramarine. This adds a stronger blue tone.

Add a heavier layer of Light Ultramarine

Next, add a light layer of Delft Blue. Be careful with this one—it's easy to make it too dark.

Then, burnish blend with Cold Grey 2 again.

I add a bit more Delft Blue at the end to adjust the tone if needed.

Remember, matching colors is about getting close, not perfect. Even professional artists tweak their mixes!

Mixing Colors for Animal Fur

Now, let's mix some colors for animal fur. Fur is tricky because it has so many subtle shades. I usually start by picking the lightest areas and building up layers slowly.

Light Grey Fur

For light Grey fur:

I first lay down Warm Grey 2 lightly.

Then, I add a little Cream. This warms up the color slightly and gives it a natural look.

After that, I use Van Dyke Brown lightly in the shadow areas.

Paint Van Dyke Brown in the shadow areas

To blend everything, I burnish with Warm Grey 2.

Matching light fur can be tough because even small color changes stand out. But layering softly really helps.

Dark Grey Fur

For dark Grey fur, here are the steps I apply:

I first put a layer of Warm Grey 5.

Then, I layer Warm Grey 2 over it.

After that, I add another pass of Warm Grey 5 to deepen the color.

I layer a bit of Delft Blue to give the Grey a slight purple hint. It looks much more natural this way.

Then, I add Black carefully to darken the fur.

I go back in with Delft Blue for depth.

Finally, I add more fur strokes with Warm Grey 5 for texture.

Using black alone can make the fur look flat. That's why I constantly mix colors like blue or purple for a more lively result.

Warm Brown Fur

For warm brown fur:

I start with Burnt Ochre as my base.

Then, I layer Sanguine to bring in a muted reddish-orange tone.

I go back over it with Burnt Ochre.

I add Walnut Brown lightly for the shadowed fur areas. I use tiny, short strokes to follow the fur direction.

I layer some Middle Cadmium Red to warm up the brown further.

And we finish our warm brown fur!

Blend the Colors for Animal Fur

To blend:

I use odorless mineral spirits with a small round brush.

After blending, I wait for it to dry, then deepen shadows with Walnut Brown.

Mix colors for animal fur – the final result

I find that using slightly toothy paper helps with layering. Smooth paper sometimes doesn't hold enough color for fur texture.

Mixing Colors for Leaves and Plants

Let's move on to mixing greens for leaves. Green shades are everywhere in nature and often shift depending on light and season.

Leaf 1: Bright Backlit Green Leaf

For a bright, sunlit green leaf:

I start with Earth Green Yellowish for the base layer.

I layer Cadmium Yellow Lemon over it to brighten it and make it almost neon.

Then, I use Pine Green for shadows and darker veins.

To blend:

I apply odorless mineral spirits with a round brush.

I let it dry for about 15 minutes.

After drying, I can add more Earth Green Yellowish and Pine Green if I want stronger colors.

Bright Backlit Green leaf – the final result after mixing colors

Leaf 2: Overcast Light and Waxy Leaf Texture

For a leaf under cloudy light:

I first lay down Earth Green Yellowish.

Then, Cadmium Yellow Lemon goes on top to lighten it.

I add Light Ultramarine to give it a slightly cool, waxy look.

Then, I deepen shadows with Pine Green.

Finally, I use Cool Grey 2 to soften and cool down the brighter areas.

Blending with mineral spirits is optional here. Sometimes, leaving a little texture makes waxy leaves look more natural.

We have completed mixing the colors for this leaf!

Overcast Light and Waxy leaf – the final result after mixing colors

How to Deepen Green Leaf

For a darker, richer leaf, here’s what I do:

The first leaf:

I start with Chromium Green Opaque as the base.

I layer Cadmium Yellow Lemon lightly to lift and brighten it.

Add a layer of Cadmium Yellow Lemon lightly

I go back over it with Chromium Green Opaque.

Add another layer of Chromium Green Opaque

To blend, I use odorless mineral spirits with a smaller brush for more control.

I always work in the same direction as the leaf veins when blending leaves. It gives a much more realistic effect.

Bright Backlit Green leaf – the final result

The second leaf:

I start with a white pencil to burnish and blend the base colors.

Then I layer Light Ultramarine to add a soft blue tone.

Next, I apply Pine Green very lightly to avoid harsh pencil marks.

I go over it again with white to blend and bring out the highlights.

Then I add Earth Green Yellowish for a natural tint.

I finish with Opaque Green for more depth.

Lastly, I blend everything using odorless mineral spirits for a smooth finish.

Now, we’re done!

Overcast Light and Waxy leaf – the final result

It’s time to admire the leaves we’ve painted!

Bonus Tips: Blending Colored Pencils for Smoother Results

Blending colored pencils can take your artwork to the next level, and I've got some great tips for you. One of the best ways to blend is by using a solvent. It's my go-to method because it makes color mixing easier, adds more layers to your work, and creates vibrant, rich colors.

Here's how I blend with solvent:

Start with a few layers of color: I begin by laying down some color with my pencils, but don't worry about blending yet.

Use a round paintbrush: I dip the brush into the solvent, then wipe any excess on a paper towel. It's key not to have too much liquid on the brush.

Apply to the drawing: I gently apply the solvent to the areas where I want to blend. I use side-to-side and circular motions to work the color into the paper.

This method works wonders on textured paper, too. It fills in all the tiny white gaps left by the texture, which I can't achieve with smooth paper.

Once I've blended a section, I always let it dry for at least 15 minutes. This gives it time to settle before adding more layers.

Adding layers while still wet could damage the paper, so patience is essential!

Once dry, I can go right over the area with more layers. The best part? It's like adding color on top of a smooth surface—no resistance, just smooth blending.

Over time, the paper will reach its limit for layers, but using solvent extends the amount I can work with.

Allow the paint to dry before adding layers

Blending with solvent gives my drawings a polished, vibrant finish. Give it a try, and I'm sure you'll love the results!

Closing Words

Mixing colors with colored pencils can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes a fun and rewarding part of the creative process.

I hope these tips and techniques help you feel more confident in your color mixing and blending. Remember, it's not about perfect results—it's about enjoying the journey and improving your skills.

Ready to start mixing your colors? Let's make your next artwork even more vibrant!