Using solvent in colored pencil artwork can be a valuable technique to achieve vibrant, smooth, and painterly effects. Solvent, often referred to as a blending solution or odorless mineral spirits (OMS), can be a powerful tool in enhancing the visual appeal of your colored pencil creations.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use solvent in your colored pencil pieces.

Materials List

Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary materials on hand.

• I recommend wax-based colored pencils for working with the solvent technique: Prismacolor Premier and Caran d’Ache Luminance pencils.

• Stiff paintbrushes work best. Cheap paintbrushes are excellent for this method. You may want to have a few sizes available- larger brushes to paint larger areas and small brushes for detailed areas.

• An artist-grade solvent (such as odorless mineral spirits, Gamsol, or rubbing alcohol). Different solvents produce varying effects. Odorless mineral spirits are commonly used and provide a smooth, blended look. Rubbing alcohol, on the other hand, can create interesting textures and patterns. Experiment on a piece of scrap paper to determine which solvent best suits your desired outcome.

• A clean container or jar to hold the solvent

• Sturdy paper designed for colored pencils that can withstand liquid such as Strathmore Colored Pencil paper, series 400.

Step 1: Layer Your Colored Pencils

First, you need to apply many layers of colored pencil to the surface with sharp pencils. If you use more than one hue, it tends to create more depth of color in your piece. More hues and layers will make a colored pencil piece more interesting and visually appealing.

Start by selecting the colors you want to use in your artwork. Lay down the base layers of color with your colored pencils. Apply the colors in light, even layers, allowing for gradual build-up. The solvent will work best when applied over layers of colored pencil. You will still be able to see the grain in the paper, which is fine. The solvent is what we will use to fix that and blend the colors.

You can tell if you have enough layers to move on to step 2 when you start to see pigment building up on the top of the paper.

Step 2: Apply the Solvent

Pour some of your solvent into a clean dish or jar. That way, when you continue to dip your brush into the liquid, you won’t contaminate the whole jar.

Dip a brush into the solvent.

Wipe off excess solvent using a paper towel. If you don’t do this you may apply too much solvent to your piece, which may actually end up removing pigment, creating a hole. If you dab off the extra solvent you will have more control over what the solvent does to your artwork.

Apply the solvent to the areas where you want to achieve a smoother and blended effect. The solvent will dissolve the wax in the colored pencils, allowing the colors to mix and interact more seamlessly.

The way you apply the solvent will impact how your piece looks. You can blend by gently dabbing the solvent into the paper, blend by using small circular strokes, or blend by using back-and-forth motions. Experiment to see what works for your piece. If the colors become too diluted, you can always layer more colored pencils on top after the solvent has dried.

If you're using rubbing alcohol, you can experiment with creating unique textures and patterns by blotting or stippling the solvent onto the colored pencil layers. This can add depth and visual interest to your artwork.

Step 3: Allow the Piece to Dry Completely

The solvent can take some time to evaporate, so allow your artwork to dry completely before proceeding with additional layers or details. This is especially important if you plan to add more colored pencil layers on top. I would allow for at least an hour of dry time just to be safe.

Step 4: Add More Layers and Details

Once the solvent has dried, you can add fine details and accents using colored pencils. This combination of solvent-blended areas and detailed pencil work can create a dynamic contrast in your piece.

You may also find that an area needs additional layers. Because the solvent has broken down the pigment, it should be easy to add any extra layers that you find your piece needs.

Step 5: Add More Solvent, if Needed

As you finalize your artwork, consider using the solvent to unify certain areas, create smooth gradients, or add a soft glow to highlights. As long as you are using a small amount of solvent, you should be able to continue to add layers and solvent until you are pleased with the result.

Conclusion

Incorporating solvent into your colored pencil artwork opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to achieve a level of depth, blending, and texture that might be otherwise challenging with pencils alone. By mastering the art of solvent application, you can elevate your pieces to new heights, creating captivating colored pencil pieces.

Using solvent in colored pencil art requires practice and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try different techniques and combinations of solvent applications to achieve the desired effects in your artwork. With time, you'll develop a feel for how to use solvent to enhance your colored pencil pieces and create stunning visual effects.

Check out my Instagram account if you want to see some reels of me using solvent to transform my pieces.

Love to hear your thoughts.