Creating Backgrounds with Coloured Pencils: A Simple Alternative to Pastels

I think there’s this stigma with coloured pencil backgrounds- that they can be a bit tricky and time-consuming sometimes. Many artists combine pastels to speed up the process, but what if pastels aren’t your thing, or you’re allergic to the dust? Don’t worry! I’m sharing a simple, effective way to create stunning backgrounds using only coloured pencils.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Pencils for the Job

For this technique, I’m sticking with Polychromos and Pablos. These are harder, drier pencils, which blend beautifully on Pastelmat—a great surface when using coloured pencils. I start with greens like light green, deep cobalt green, and permanent green olive to form the base layer.

Layering Lightly: The Key to a Vibrant Background

Building your background with coloured pencils takes time. They secret lies with the pressure you’re using. Begin with light pressure to lay down the base colours. You’ll notice as you layer, the colours become more vibrant naturally. Once the base is set, you can add darker tones, like dark sepia and black, to create contrast.

Blending Without the Mess: Tools You’ll Need

For smooth transitions, I like to use a paper stump to blend the layers. Be gentle—using too much pressure can cause the Pastelmat’s grain to show through. By gradually increasing pressure, the layers will meld together beautifully, giving you that lovely mottled effect without the need for pastels or mineral spirits.

The Final Touch: Darken and Define

In the final stages, I introduce darker tones to add depth and detail, creating a dynamic background that complements the subject perfectly. This method is a slower process, but coloured pencils are a meditative medium—ideal for artists who love a steady, thoughtful approach.

Enjoy the Process!

That’s it! A simple way to create a beautiful background using just coloured pencils. Take your time, enjoy the process, and remember—starting with light pressure and gradually building up those vibrant colours is key. Happy drawing!

To hear more about how I choose the right coloured pencils for animal portraits, make sure you watch the video at the top of this page!