Prismacolor Premier pencils come in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 120 and 132. The set of 48 should be sufficient for most artists. Verthin pencils are available in sets of 12, 24 and 36. The set of 24 should suffice. Prismacolor also makes a blending pencil and soft erasers that come in handy. The blending pencil is optional; the erasers are must-haves.
High-quality drawing paper comes in sheets and pads. Avoid highly textured papers until you are experienced. You'll also need a pencil sharpener and a drafting brush to clean off eraser shreds and pencil dust. A drawing board is a handy option. Some come with built-in carrying handles and paper clips. You can also use a piece of Masonite and attach your artwork to the board with drafting tape. Portable drawing boards are easy to store between art sessions.
A good drawing serves as a strong basis for a beautiful rendering. Use a gray or medium blue Verthin pencil with a sharp point to draw your composition. You don't have to draw in minute detail, but you'll certainly want to draw more than an outline or a sketch.
After your drawing is complete, begin to lay in the color. Place a piece of clean paper under your drawing hand to protect the drawing and to prevent smears as you are coloring.
It is always a good idea to practice working with your medium before applying it to the actual artwork. Even experienced artists benefit from reacquainting themselves with a tool they have not used recently.
Laying in even areas of color takes practice, but Prismacolor Premiere pencils make it easy due to their soft pigment. Practice varying the pressure with which you apply the strokes and notice how this creates a gradation. Practice mixing strokes of different widths and lengths. Render curved lines to show roundness. Crosshatch the color by overlapping vertical strokes with horizontal strokes. Try scribbling the pencil to see the textured pattern that results. Stipple the color onto the paper to produce a mottled effect. Vary your techniques to create and invent other strokes.
Getting comfortable with your Prismacolor pencils; the effects you can achieve with them builds confidence and experience.
Colored pencils require the artist to work "light to dark." This means that richer colors are built gradually from a combination of colors. It does not mean the artist must render light areas of the drawing first and shadow areas last. In fact, many artists recommend defining the dark shadow areas first. This technique helps to make the lighter areas "pop" and helps the artist to see and preserve light in a colored pencil rendering.
Outline the area to be colored first with a lighter, sharpened Prismacolor Premiere pencil. Then carefully stroke in parallel vertical lines to fill in the shape. Hint: It actually takes less time for coloring if your pencil has a dull tip that makes broader strokes.
Build shaded areas with more color. Avoid getting "stuck" in any part of a rendering, as it will become fussy and overworked. Instead, move about your drawing so that all areas are being developed simultaneously. Blending pencils can be used to smooth edges. Keep in mind they will add a waxy veil over the pigments, so use them sparingly.
Add finest, hairline detailing with Verithin Prismacolor Pencils. Note: Some renderings do not require fine linework to achieve a soft, diffused realism.