Every month we post one of the best questions, asked on our Bulletin Board, on our front page.

Listed are our previous Questions & Answers.

Subjects:

Grisaille
Protecting your surface
Artist's Block
Wax Bloom
Fixatives
Protecting your Digital Images
Copyright Infringement
Technique
More Intense Colors
Lightfastness
Colored pencil makes my wrists ache
Watersoluable Pencils
Commission Contract
Paper for Beginners

Subject:
Grisaille

Question:
What is the Grisaille and how does it apply to colored pencil

Answer:
Grisaille, pronounced greezeye, is also known as Imprimatura and dates back to the 17th century. It is a method whereby the artist tints the drawing or painting surface before beginning color work. If you use a tinted surface you are already using a form of this technique. Another way to apply this technique would be to complete your drawing monochromatically, tinting the drawing before adding your color.

Subject:
Protecting your Surface

Question:
What are some ways to protect my drawing surface?

Answer:
Make sure you remove all jewelry as they can easily scratch or indent your surface. Remove nail polish to insure it doesn't rub off on your drawing. Use a piece of paper to lean your arm and hands to protect against smudging, you could also use an arm rest. Use a large brush to remove small slivers of color from your pencils. Lastly, be aware of what is around your drawing areas , especially if you plan to leave your artwork, this can be anything from a glass of water to the kids.

Subject:
Artist's Block

Question:
What ideas can you share for overcoming artist's block?

Answer:
I think almost all artists have experienced "Artists Block" at one point or another and just knowing that it is natural your not alone can help. It seems that the best thing to do is not to put any pressure on yourself. Just sketching each day can help bring you around. Try something different - like a new subject, style or method. I think it is also important to look around at what other artists are doing, buy a new art book, browse the online and local galleries, even some of your own artwork. Something is sure to strike inspiration in you.

Subject:
Wax Bloom

Question:
Presently I'm working with Prismacolor artist's brand but I'm worried about wax bloom. Will spraying the finished portrait with a fixative stop wax bloom?

Answer:
Yes it will. It's the only way to stop the blooming effect.  Be sure to test whatever brand of fixative you have on a test piece (same colored pencils - same paper).  As with "fixing" pastel work, your artwork may change in appearance.  Several light coats are much better than one heavy coat. Have fun!

Written by Adam in response to a question on our bulletin board asked by visitor Angela

Subject:
Fixatives

Question:
What fixatives are the best?  Are there any precautions I should take when using them?

Answer:
There are lots of brands to choose from, I have experimented with a few and found that the cheaper ones "yellow" after a while. Less popular brands may sit on a shelf longer than they should, and have inconsistencies when you apply them. Aerosols are easier to use than liquids but have greater health concerns. I prefer a "workable fix" which allows some corrections or enhancements to be made after it dries, if a light coat is applied.  Choose a quality brand, and use a test piece before you apply it to a finished work.  Wear a mask if you choose, but always spray in a well ventilated area.  Remember dust and hair can stick to the tacky surface before it is dry.

Written by Richard Tooley in response to a question on our bulletin board asked by visitor Lyn ~ thanks Richard!

Subject:
Protecting your Digital Images

Question:
How can I protect my digital art from online "art thieves"?

Answer:
There are several things you can do to protect your art.  One of the most common ways is to add a watermark to the digital image. If you are concerned with obstructing your art you may choose to only add this mark to your larger images and not your thumbnails.

Another way you can protect your art on your web site is to add a Java Script  that does not allow visitors to right-click on the page where your art is displayed.  This is not fool-proof but will discourage most attempts.  Be aware though, that is may cause crashes on some browsers.

The easiest way to aid in protecting your images is to let your visitors know that your art is copyrighted and that it is illegal to copy from your site without your permission.

Subject:
Copyright Infringement

Question:
I would like to use a photograph found in a book for reference but do not want to infringe on the copyright of the image.  How can an artist tell if they have "crossed the line" legally?  How long does a copyright last?

Answer:
This is a very common question among artists.  The test for copyright infringement is whether an ordinary observer, looking at the original work and the work allegedly copied from it, recognizes that a copying has taken place.    The term of copyright under the 1978 law is the artist's life plus 50 years.

Subject:
Technique

Question:
Being relatively new to using color pencil, I wonder how folks feel about layering (or is it still called glazing in CP art?). To layer or not to layer, that is the question. I tried layering and it was a complete disaster. I couldn't get the colors I needed and the colors I had smeared together. it turned out with the right colors, but it lacks the "depth" I see in layered work. It also leaves a lot of paper tooth showing. How do you handle this type of thing?

Darrin Dickey
Murfreesboro, TN

Answer:
I think layering is one useful technique, but it is certainly not required. Typically, it can be used to enhance the range of colors available, and to make color areas more "gray" by mixing. However, if you find that pure colors are the best approximation of what you're trying to do in a given area, there's nothing wrong with that.
In my experience, the best approaches for getting rid of visible paper tooth are:

1) use a solvent, such as turpenoid, rubber cement thinner, etc. to dissolve the colored pencil into a wash which can be spread around.

2) burnish with a white or colorless colored pencil to smooth out the areas.

3) to add to what Peter has suggested to reduce paper show-through, I've found that softly going over an area with a facial tissue will deposit some of the cp "dust" into the valleys of the paper tooth, slightly blending the difference between your colored area and the paper.

4) A colored or toned paper might help pull your palette together, too.

Peter Davis  www.pfdstudio.com   &
Nancy Barnet  www.jps.net/nbarnetart

Subject:
More Intense Colors

Question:
I just love working on toned paper.  Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas for getting intense, saturated colors on toned paper? - Peter Davis www.pfdstudio.com

Answer:
I often lay down some white or other light, creamy pencil before applying the colors I had planned to work in. The lighter, more opaque color helps to blocks out some of the color of the paper. I also plan out all of my color mixes on a scrap piece of the same colored paper, realizing that the color of the paper will become a part of my mix, choosing colors that will give me the most vibrant end result. Hope this helps. My problem with colored paper is that I sometimes run out of paper (tooth) before I'm done.
Anita - Posted in the Colored Pencil eGroup

Subject:
Lightfastness

Question:
I keep hearing about lightfastness.  Can someone help me to understand what this is and what it means to me as a colored pencil artist?  Thanks!   Jacklyn

Answers:
Lightfastness is the ability of a color pigment to stay true to its color over a period of time, while exposed to light. A good quality of a color pigment will remain true to its hue for years.  Molly

Subject:
Colored pencil makes my wrists ache

Question:
I love colored pencil!! But lately I have discovered my right wrist aches so much after putting in large dark areas that I can't work for a week. My last piece was 15" x 19" with 1/3 almost solid dark. Does anyone else have this problem? I would surely ppreciate comment by other artists.  Sincerely, Marie Wise

Answers:
Have you tried art sticks? They can really save some time. You can also use them with a solvent for your base coat. Anita  

I have had to take breaks from it for hours or sometimes wait until the next day, especially when filling in darks areas.  I sometimes think the solution is to 'just not press as hard,' but then to fill in the area like I want will take all that much longer.   Lainie    (these are only partial answers)

Response:
Thanks for the replies. I took a workshop from Ann Kullberg this weekend. It was wonderful. She said it helps to work on a slanted drawing table (never a flat one), and to keep all the pencil movement in the fingers, not the wrist. I tried it and it takes concentration for me, but with practice may improve. The slanted drawing surface DEFINITELY makes things easier on my ands, arms and BACK! I can't believe I couldn't figure that out before! Marie Wise

Subject:
Watersoluble Pencils

Question:
Does anyone out there use watercolor pencils?  Seems like most everyone and most all of the books (except for Gary Greene's new book) dwells solely on the traditional colored pencils.  I would love to know who uses the watersoluble pencils and how they integrate them into their works.  Kate

Answer:
I started using watercolor pencils last October and I LOVE them!  I also got the book you mentioned -  I would suggest the book.  It goes into great detail about the various techniques you could use.  Although I will always love Colored pencils and continue to do colored pencil work, sometimes I get frustrated at what a slow-working medium it is - I find the more I work with Watercolor Pencils, the quicker my techniques are getting and yet results I
still like. I hope to be able to generate a bit more work with using both watercolor and colored pencil. Good luck and enjoy watercolor pencils.  LainieSmith

Subject:
Commission Contract

Question:

I am trying to develop a contract for my comission work.  What do I need to make sure is included?  I want it to cover all the bases for my protection as well as my client.

Answer:
I am a portrait artist and after getting burned many times I finally learned my lesson and decided to draw up a contract for commissions on my art.  I couldn't afford to hire a lawyer to draw up the contract so I started researching and came across a wonderful book called "Legal Guide for the Visual Artist - the Professional's Handbook by TAD CRAWFORD.  This book contains many contracts, copywrite and many other legal papers.  They are kind of a "fill in the blank" forms so that you can make copies and use them.  It also contains tons of information on sales licensing, taxes, organizations and a lot more!  You think I had stock in this book but I cannot tell you how many times I have grabbed for this book, it's just a must-have for an artist.  Another good book made or Published by the same publisher is; "Business and Legal Forms For Fine Artist's" and also authored by, Tad Crawford as well. - (thanks Jerry)
One last note - I thought that it would feel impersonal to give my clients a contract to sign but actually it makes them feel protected and you look more professional. Good Luck, Sally

"Legal Guide for the Visual Artist"
&
"Business and Legal Forms for Fine Artists"

Subject:
Paper for Beginners

Question:
I am just beginning colored pencil drawing with a set of Prismacolor.   I have several colored pencil books, but neither recommends particular brands of paper.  I would appreciate some specific recommendations on some reasonably priced papers that would be appropriate for the aspiring colored pencil student.

Answer:
Beinfang or Strathmore drawing Bristol with a regular finish is good to start with.  Make sure you don't get the plate or smooth finish, you need a little tooth to the paper.  The colored pastel papers are nice to try also and you can usually find an assortment in a pad.

Written by Anita in response to a question on our bulletin board
asked by visitor Donald

This site has been selected as a featured site in Lightspan's StudyWeb®
as one of the best educational resources on the Web!