Coloured pencils are a must-have in my Studio-To-Go
kit. They are portable, inexpensive, and
readily available, requiring little else to create “cool” effects on
paper. We all have pencil crayons in our
stash, but do we really use them to their full capability? “Cool” effects can go to stunning results with
the information provided in this book. My tentative Craft Art can become Fine
Art!
When
I was asked to review “The New Colored Pencil: Create Luminous Works with
Innovative Materials and Techniques” by Kristy Ann Kutch, I was delighted to
find a book filled with useful information, beautiful examples and exciting
techniques with which to experiment.
“The New Colored Pencil” incorporates many
recent product and technique innovations in the pencil crayon realm. It is well organized, with three sections;
pencil crayons, watercolour pencil crayons, and pastel crayons, such
as Caran d’Ache NeoArt and Lyra Aquacolors. It is easy to
locate whatever information you might want to explore. Reference tables are
included in each section and a comprehensive colour guide for major brands has
been added in an Appendix.
Ms. Kutch gives us insight into the
composition and construction of pencil crayons to ensure that we understand why
one pencil is more suited to a specific style. And that’s just the tip of the
iceberg. Surfaces are explored (and not just paper), along with methods like blending,
brushing, grating, spattering and misting. In addition to application of color,
we learn that there are almost as many ways to remove it! And I thoroughly enjoyed
the variety of artwork shown by Ms. Kutch and her colleagues. Samples include
flowers, landscapes, pets and portraits.
Ms. Kutch shares step by step processes
detailing the use of the colored pencils in her many examples as well as possible
pitfalls and how to minimize mistakes. A
section on colour theory and tips on composition give added value to this book. There are more than enough morsels of
inspiration to keep us exploring pencil crayon art for a long time.
Coloured pencils are a must-have in my travel
kit, and are always on my table as well. “The New Coloured Pencil” will be
close by.
The New Colored
Pencil
Create Luminous Works with Innovative
Materials and Techniques
Kristy Ann Kutch
New York: Watson-Guptill, 2014
176pp. $24.99
978-0770436933
On Amazon.ca:
The New Colored Pencil: Create Luminous Works with Innovative Materials and Techniques
