Step-by-Step Tutorial: Drawing a Glass Jar in Pencils with only 5 Colours

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Welcome to this step-by-step tutorial, where you'll learn how to create a realistic glass jar using coloured pencils. Using just five colours, you'll discover key shading and blending techniques to achieve depth, transparency, and reflection with precision.

Capturing the delicate transparency and reflective qualities of glass can seem challenging, but with the right approach, you can create a beautifully realistic effect using just five coloured pencils. This mini-tutorial guides you through a simple yet effective method to add depth and dimension to your drawing, helping you refine your shading techniques for a convincing three-dimensional result.
Here's what you'll learn:
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• How to use just five coloured pencils to create depth and dimension in a glass jar drawing.
• Techniques for shading and blending to achieve a realistic three-dimensional effect.
• Tips for capturing the reflective qualities of glass using cool grey tones.
• How to refine highlights and shadows to enhance the illusion of transparency.

Whether you're new to coloured pencils or looking to refine your skills, this tutorial offers a structured, easy-to-follow process to help you achieve convincing realism. It will guide you in understanding how to apply light, reflection, and form to your drawings, enabling you to depict glass effectively.

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​​Materials Used for This Tutorial

To achieve captivatingly realistic glass effects in this tutorial, you'll need just five coloured pencils. We used pencils from the Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Profi-plus range in our demonstration. For paper, we opted for Strathmore Bristol 500 Vellum, but it's not important that you must use the same brands as us. Hot pressed watercolour paper serves as an excellent alternative due to its finely textured surface and any good quality set of greys will work effectively. While it's not important to match our exact colours, ensure you choose cool grey tones rather than warm or 'French' grey options. The goal is to utilise a range of values within your chosen five pencils and you'll find the two lighter grey pencils particularly valuable for blending and creating the smooth finishes that bring glass to life.

• White paper - Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
• Coloured Pencils - Lyra Polycolor (Profi-plus/Grey Tones)
• Soft Brush
• Clean Eraser
• HB Pencil​

• 01 White
• 95 Light Grey
• 96 Silver Grey
• 97 Medium Grey​
• 98 Dark Grey

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​​​Helpful Hints & Tips

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Here are some helpful tips for working with coloured pencils, ensuring a clean and controlled process:

• Soften Outlines: If you use a lead pencil for your initial sketch, always gently lighten it with an eraser before applying any coloured pencil. This prevents the graphite outline from being "sealed in" by the coloured pencil layers, which can make it difficult to erase later.
• Controlled Colour Build-up: Build your base tones slowly and patiently. Avoid over-saturating the paper too quickly with colour. The number of layers you can apply effectively will depend on the tooth and quality of the paper you are using.
• Protect Your Paper: To prevent transferring natural oils from your hands onto your artwork, always place a clean sheet of paper under your hand as you draw. Skin oils can damage your paper and affect how coloured pencils adhere, potentially creating marks that are difficult or impossible to remove.

FIND THE OUTLINE TO THIS TUTORIAL ON OUR KOFI PAGE

​Our Ko-fi page features a shop where you can download the outline for this tutorial. These outlines are completely free for our Ko-fi followers. If you're not yet a subscriber, consider joining to access all these resources at no cost or, if you prefer, you can simply screengrab the outline and print out.

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Stage 1 - Initial Sketch

Colour Used: Silver Grey  (No.096)

For the outline, use a coloured pencil like Silver Grey instead of graphite, as we will only be applying, light layers. If using the outline from our kofi page, using Transfer Spray or Tracedown, apply gently, then erase the outline before any colour is added. A softly drawn outline is easier to erase.

Stage 2 - Establishing Base Tones

Colour Used: Dark Grey  (No.098)

​Next, we'll add some darker shadows to small areas of the rim and neck of the jar. Make sure your pencil is nice and sharp before you begin. Use the Dark Grey tone to carefully define the outline of each thread. As the colour tapers out, gradually loosen the pressure on your pencil. We'll blend these edges later to ensure a smooth finish.​

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Stage 3 - Introducing Deeper Values

Colour Used: Medium Grey  (No.097)

Now, take your M​edium Grey pencil and start filling in the details. Focus on the rim of the jar, mid-section and its base. Along the outer edges, apply the darker values. At the base, add some irregular dots or flecks. You'll notice how this simple step begins to give your drawing a sense of depth.

Stage 4 - Defining the Base

Colour Used: Medium Grey  (No.097)

Using the same Medium Grey pencil, apply marks below the dots you just placed. This helps to further define the curved shape of the jar's base. Remember to apply these marks with a light touch; heavy applications can be difficult to blend smoothly later on.​​

Stage 5 - Layering Lighter Tones

Colour Used: Silver Grey  (No.096)

Next, use your Silver Grey to define the jar's shape. We've marked the areas where this tone is applied. As we've only introduced two shades of grey at this stage, concentrate on applying the lighter grey. Use both light and heavy pressure to create different shades of the same colour, ensuring you gradually taper the edges where they meet the white sections.

Stage 6 - Current Progress

Colour Used: Silver Grey  (No.096)

Here's a close-up of the detail so far. Notice how the silver grey tone begins with a strong, dark application and then gradually transitions to a very pale shade at the edges. This soft tapering of the pigment is crucial, as it perfectly prepares the area for the upcoming blending stage with the white pencil.

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Shading - Colourless blender or White coloured pencil

Stage 7 - Conclude base layers

Colour Used: Light Grey  (No.095)

Even though we're working with white paper, it's still essential to cover the entire area. Apply a soft layer of Light Grey over the glass body and base. Ensure your pencil follows the natural curve of the glass. For overexposed areas, we'll use the white pencil to mimic these brightly lit parts. Although the white may not be visible, it will leave a subtle, glossy layer, effectively representing the sheen of the glass.

Stage 8 - Shading

Colours Used: Silver Grey (096) & Light Grey (no. 095)

Using the Light Grey pencil, apply a loose layer of shading beneath the jar, using the lateral side of the pencil. Avoid heavy pressure here, as this initial layer will require blending later on. Ensure the shadow mimics that in the image. Next, use the Silver Grey to create the darker contrasts in at the neck and base. This prepares the area for the blending process next.

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Stage 9 - Blending Techniques

Colour Used: White (no. 01)

Once your shading is complete, the next step is blending. We'll primarily use the White pencil for this. When blending on textured paper, ensure you work in a circular motion. This technique helps push pigment into the paper's tooth, resulting in a more natural and smooth finish. Bear in mind, the white pencil will lighten pigments; if you prefer to maintain the existing colour intensity, opt for a colourless blender instead.

Stage 10 - Blending for Form

Colour Used: White (no. 01)

While circular motions are generally recommended for blending, for the main body of the glass, blend your strokes to follow its natural curvature for a more realistic effect. The arrows in the image above illustrate the direction you should follow. Continue blending all remaining pigments, applying white even over seemingly colourless areas to enhance that characteristic shine of the glass.​

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​​​Conclusion

This coloured pencil tutorial may focus on a simple glass jar, yet the core techniques it unveils are universally applicable and profoundly impactful.

By diligently practising the methods for shading, blending, and capturing transparency, you'll significantly enhance the sense of realism in your artwork.

These fundamental skills aren't confined to glass; they're transferable to countless other subjects, from still life compositions to portraiture. Consistent engagement with these techniques is not just about copying a reference but about truly understanding how light, form, and texture interact.

​This deeper comprehension will refine your artistic hand, elevate your expressive capabilities, and ultimately bring a compelling sense of depth and dimension to all your creative endeavours.

Keep experimenting and observing; your art will flourish with every stroke.

​When you’ve finished your artwork, we’d love to see it! Send us a photo at: [email protected], we would love to feature your piece in our gallery, celebrating your unique interpretation of this tutorial. Be sure to include your name and a clear image of your final piece. 

View our other coloured pencil tutorials

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Updated: June 2025