Using Solvent to blend colored pencil
Colored Pencil Drawing Tips
The Basics
What is solvent?
Something that dissolves other substances.
You might hear me call it solvent, paint thinner, or mineral spirits.
Sometimes I will call it by the brand I am using such as Gamsol or Utrecht NOOD.
What is it used for?
Solvent dissolves the binders in the pencil releasing the pigments and creating a paint-like substance.
It removes any graininess that you might associate with colored pencils
I use solvent in 5 main ways in my artwork.
- To dissolve the pencil pigment
- To blend colors
- To drag small amounts of color to different areas of my work
- To reveal a white highlight that I have burnished in my first layer
- To clean up my edges
Which Brands do I Recommend?
- Utrecht NOOD Odorless Paint Thinner $5.13 for 118 ml
- Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits $5.40 for 124 ml
- Archival Oils Odourless Solvent $8.86 for 100 ml
- Daler Rowney Low Odour Thinner $6.71 for 75 ml
- Richeson Oil Mediums Signa-Turp OMS $6.43 for 110 ml
- Maimeri Odourless Thinner $11.30 for 75 ml
- Sennelier #green for oil Diluent/Thinner $9.02 for 100 ml
I have tried all of these brands and as far as I can tell, they work exactly the same.
Just look for these keywords:
- Solvent
- Paint Thinner
- Mineral Spirits
- Odorless
- No Odor
1 small bottle should last you at least a year. So, it is very inexpensive.
Tip: You should be able to follow along with any of my tutorials and just substitute whatever brand of solvent you have available. Don’t purchase the specific brand I am using in any given tutorial because it won’t be necessary.
How Do You Store Solvent?
You can leave your solvent in the container it comes in but I find that over time, sediment will start to settle in the bottom of the container and make a portion of your solvent unusable.
Glass Jar- I like to use a Mason jar with a tight fitting lid. Mark or label the jar so that you never use it for any other purpose. Put a small amount of solvent in the jar at a time- enough to complete 1 project.
Acetone or Nail Polish Remover Dispenser- Recently I have been using a glass acetone dispenser. I can store a large amount in this dispenser and the design of the bottle ensures that the solvent stays clean.
What Tools do you use to apply it?
Paint Brushes- stiff or firm bristles work best. I prefer a filbert, angular or flat brush.
Scrubber Brush
These are great for dissolving stubborn pigment or thicker bits of graininess that won’t dissolve with a watercolor brush.
You can use a scrubber brush to blend your entire piece if you like. I used scrubber brushes exclusively for the first year or two that I was drawing.
Watercolor Brush:
I feel like I have more control when I use a good watercolor brush. You can use these for dissolving pigment, blending, painting, or dragging color to another area on the drawing, splotching to maintain texture, cleaning up edges, revealing white highlights, and blending fine details.
Pointed End Cotton Bud:
Occasionally I will blend a drawing or a section of a drawing with a cotton bud. I will use these for stubborn pigment, tiny details or when I want to use a disposable tool to keep an area nice and clean- for example, blending very light gray for white shadows.
How Do You Apply the Solvent?
To dissolve the pigment, simply wet your paintbrush with the paint thinner, dab it on a cloth to get rid of any excess and apply it to the drawing.
Tip: Start with a very small amount of solvent on the brush or, in other words, a dryer brush. You can always add more solvent.
Too much solvent on the brush can cause the solvent to bleed and stain the paper- especially around the edges. It can also cause your brush to ‘pick up’ or remove too much pigment creating patchy areas on your drawing. These can be fixed with a second layer of pencil but it is easiest to just avoid it in the first place.
I don’t use any pressure when applying solvent. Let the brush do the work. The only exception to this is when I am using a scrubber brush to reveal a highlight or to break up stubborn pigment. I might add a bit more pressure when I do this- only if needed. You don’t want to damage the paper.
Tip: If you use a white cloth to dab your brush, you will be able to see if your brush has any pigment residue before you use it on your artwork. Make sure your brush is clean every time! You can just keep re-rinsing it in the solvent until it comes out clean.
Tip: Always clean your brush (by dipping it in the solvent and wiping it on your cloth) when moving from a dark to a light area on your project. If not, you WILL smudge your lighter color. For example, if you were blending a black area next to a yellow area, do not go straight from the black to yellow. Clean that brush off first unless you are intending to add texture to the yellow area using the black.