Prisma Pencils...just the basics here.

So a few people have asked recently what Prisma pencils are and why anyone needs them. Okay, well you dont *need* them, but they are fun. First off they are a wax based colored pencil, so there is a bit of a gloss to your finished work. However, you gotta know how to work 'em to get that effect.

So here ya go: For this humble little lesson I have the following supplies - Four prisma pencils (white 338, Pale Vermillion 921, Violet 932, Parma Violet 1008), My stamped image on a smooth cardstock, Le Plume Back pigmented pen (fine tip). (My stamped image is an Autumn Leaves flower)

1) Color in your image. Just a note, lighter pressure does not necessarily mean a lighter color with these pencils as you will see in my simple little instructions. So pick your colors accordingly. For the initial coloring you can use a lighter pressure if you'd like.

For this step, you can see my coloring is pretty darn rough...we'll fix that...dont worry. However if you dont want to blending all day long, the less visible the pencil lines are at the point the easier the blending will be later.

2) If you want the darker outline and the lighter center, just using the pencils (no chemicals and no blending stump here...) then go over the outline with very firm pressure.

3) This is where we will smooth out the coloring and make it purdy. Grab a white pencil. Yes white. we're not lightening it here, we're blending. If you wanted the center lighter, start there, using circular motions while you color, press firmly and completely fill in what you've already done. As you get to the outline where you wanted it darker, use smaller circles so you dont spread the color too far. You will see that the color begins to look a little richer than it did before and it will smooth out the more you go over it with the white.

In this picture, I've blended the top half of the flower with the white pencil. At this point I must recommend that you not sharpen your white pencil to a fine point, there's no need, you're going to be using a very firm pressure and you dont want a pointy pencil for that. You want the larger blunt surface as it will blend and not gouge the color. Make sense? Oh and keep going over and over blending and blending, the more you do the better it will turn out. And again, FIRM pressure.

4.) If you need to retrace your outlines feel free, just remember you've used a wax based pencil and most inks will bead up on wax, so watch you lines when you color.

Fun Prisma Tips/Ideas:

You can even do a tone on tone with this blending technique, just start your coloring with the darker tone, and blend with the lighter.

If you want to do some funky distressing, try this, using your piercer or an xacto blade tip scratch a design into the wax (not too hard, you only want to remove the wax not shred the paper!) then rub some ink into the scratching and blot up the excess with a kleenex, it may stain your colored area a bit but hey, that's distressing for ya!

Use a paper blending stump for even smoother blending, just beware it's rough on your fingers...lol. (*Note: You can also dip the tip of the stump into Odorless Mineral Spirits and blend with that however I have not tried this technique as it was not taught to me in my art class a million years ago. But I'm sure someone else can post a quick tutorial about working with that product and then I can link you all up to that one...hint hint Sam....lol)