Creating waves in Coloured pencils

Artist level: All

Written: December 2019

This mini tutorial explains the process required for creating effective washes using coloured pencils to achieve realistic looking waves. Each stage is offered as a series of images and written explanations so you can see how each section is created and why we recommend you use the length of your pencil tip to apply your layers. Blending dark tones with a pale coloured pencil will help to soften the lines which are initially applied to create shape and depth in the water.

The reference image can be found below, which you can screen grab and print out or view on a tablet whilst reading the instructions on a smartphone or computer. The 8 colours used in this demo are the Derwent Lightfast range, however you can pick similar colours from your own preferred pencil collection if you do not have the Lightfast ones.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and if you would like to request a subject for inclusion of a future mini tutorial, please get in touch!

The Products you will need

Smooth white Art paper   -    Coloured pencils
Spare sheet of clean paper   -   Clean Eraser    -    Soft brush
​Paper Used: Daler Rowney Smooth Heavyweight        Pencil range Used: Derwent Lightfast

The reference image

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IMPORTANT TIPS:  
* Ensure your pencils have a long lead before starting, the side of the lead will be used as opposed to the point of the lead.​
* When applying your undertones at the beginning, use a blunt pencil to avoid harsh lines so you can soften them easily when blending.
*  To avoid transferring natural oils onto your drawing from your hands, have a clean sheet of paper to lean on whilst applying colour.  Natural Oils from your skin and saliva can damage your Artwork which you may not be able to repair.​

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Colours used:

There are only 8 colours needed for this tutorial, although the Derwent Lightfast pencils were used here, you can use any brand of pencil. It is not important that your colours precisely match, but the 2 paler colours used for the blending stages will help you achieve an over all softer colour tone You could use a pale green and then overlay with white to create the same effect if you do not have this colour in your own pencil collection.

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Stage 1 -  Outline, shading & first base tone

GREEN EARTH

Begin by laying down the darker green markings that will create the shape of the waves later. These pencils grab the pigment well and so you do not need to apply very much pressure. Try and avoid applying heavy lines that you may struggle to blend later on.

DARK TURQUOISE & TURQUOISE GREEN

Once you have applied the green markings, use the Pacific Blue tone to create the blue tones seen to the right. Apply this the same way as before and press lightly. Add a light layer of Turquoise green over the whole area using the side of the pencil

WHITE & ARCTIC

Using the white pencil, create the splashes and dots of the seafoam by pressing the tip of your pencil into the paper, this will indent the paper if you press hard enough and should help to keep these splashes clean even when applying further layers.

LIGHT AQUA

Apply a pale green layer around the edges of the left side of the wave. Use the length of the pencil to apply as opposed to using the tip, to ensure it skims over the top of the seafoam indents previously applied, keeping them clean.

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Other related articles that may be of interest
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Derwent Lightfast Coloured pencils review

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Try one of our other Art Tutorials

About Strathmore paper - the paper used with Zest-it

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GREEN EARTH

Re-define the dark green markings, applying a little heavier this time still using Green Earth. Note that I am using a worn down pencil to avoid creating hard  edges as this will make the blending process far easier.

PACIFIC BLUE

With the Pacific blue tone, begin by adding in a second colour alongside the Turquoise blue applied earlier. Use the length of the pencil to minimise the harsh lines that you may struggle to blend later.

TURQUOISE GREEN

Apply a base tone over the whole area using the full length of the pencil nib. This should not be applied heavily as it acts as a tint in addition to further colours added later.

GREEN EARTH & DARK TURQUOISE

This is the progress so far. The Turquoise green colour has been applied a little heavier in some areas than others but generally, has been placed over most of the working area.

MID ULTRAMARINE

The Mid Ultramarine is loosely added in some places to add an extra hint of blue. As with the Turquoise green, it has been used to introduce an additional colour which will add to the realism once blended. 

LIGHT AQUA

Using the Light Aqua pencil, you can now blend every area using heavy pressure to ensure the edges on every line and mark is smoothed out which will help to create an even finish. Further layers will be overlayed so do not worry too much about softening previous colours.

LIGHT AQUA

This shows progress so far of how blending the Light Aqua tone over the whole area softens details previously applied. As a bonus, it creates a layer that aids future applications and the pencils glide across the paper easier.

GREEN EARTH, DARK TURQUOISE & PACIFIC BLUE

Re-apply the shadows using Green earth first and then Dark Turquoise followed by Pacific Blue. You will notice that the pencils glide over the working area easier now aiding future application. By applying a heavier layer of each colour whilst avoiding harsh edges, will help to create depth  Any harsh edges can be softened by blending.

GRASS GREEN 70%

Create those warm tints in the water with the Grass Green 70% tone. As the Derwents are highly pigmented, you only need to glide the pencil over the paper gently (if you are using a different range, you may need to apply heavier). You can add a little or a lot of this colour dependant on how 'warm' you want the colour of your wave to be, but do not apply in blocks or you will flatten the effect.

LIGHT AQUA

Back to blending with the Light Aqua tone again. The softening of the edges of any pencil lines helps to create the appearance of moving water. Darken some areas a little more if you wish or add more colours to your wave, but always finalise by blending with the Light Aqua, (or White/Arctic if you wish to lighten tones more), before moving on to the final section.

ARCTIC & WHITE

If you haven't already drawn in the seafoam at the outer edges of your portrait, use the Arctic and White pencils to achieve this. Spend some time applying heavy markings, move your light about so you can see where you are placing the details on your white paper. This detail will be highly effective when darker tones are layered over the top.
​The reference photo has been darkened considerably to allow you to see the pale tones of the seafoam.

MID ULTRAMARINE, TURQUOISE GREEN & ARCTIC

When you have finalised all the water splashes, begin by applying a loose layer of Mid Ultramarine, followed by Turquoise Green to the water beyond your wave. The heavier the application, the darker it becomes and this allows the seafoam to become brighter. Use the side of the pencil and apply left to right. You can also add in a little Dark Turquoise to the deeper tonal areas above the wave. Finish by softening all the colours together using the Arctic colour as a blender (or use white instead).

Completed drawing

Understanding the process of creating depth helps achieve shape and definition. Ensure the lines you draw are softer at the edges which will create movement in the water. Creating smooth transitions and a good balance of light and dark in your work will aid realism. It is better to create art in your own style, using these techniques as a guide. Your art will be more expressive and interesting than a carbon copy of the reference photo. Please do email your drawing to me via [email protected] so I can add it to the gallery on this page. ​

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With thanks to subscriber Scot C who requested this tutorial. Please get in touch if you have a simple study you would like to request.

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Check our other tutorials here

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Creating three-dimensional art

Achieving realism in your work

Layering with coloured pencils

Layering and blending for high detail

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