Landscape colouring in.

When colouring something like a landscape many people tend to use just blocks of colours, either because they are inexperienced with colouring techniques or they are unaware of the many different effects that may be obtained even with ordinary pencils. If you are somebody who would like to get more out of their colouring than just using the one shape one colour method then it is time for you to lift your landscape colouring to the next level.

Blending colours in your landscape

Those people experienced in colouring in for any subject will use this technique a lot. The next time you colour in things like trees and fields don't use just one green pencil but take a look at some real trees and fields and notice how in fact there are a few shades particularly where there is shadow. By blending a bit of blue with the green in some areas you can help to suggest contour,shadow and shape. Start by lightly shading the areas that will be darker with a dark blue pencil, if the area is going to be really dark then use perhaps a black pencil but only for the small areas that need it.
For practice try this: On a spare piece of paper draw a square, then using the black pencil evenly shade one of the top inside corners working your way from that corner towards the centre of the square until you have covered just a small portion in the shape of a quarter circle. Don't press too hard. Next take your blue pencil and colour over the black that is already there and continue shading in in the shape of a quarter circle until you have at least doubled the area covered by the black. Now still using your blue pencil extend the area you have coloured but this time use less pressure so that the colour blue is getting noticeable lighter the further away from the corner you get. Finally take your green pencil start by going over the black and then the blue working your way across the square until you have filled it.
By practising this technique you will find it can be used with many colour combinations creating many different effects, for example try using reds,oranges and yellows to create landscapes with sunsets.
There is no real secret to good landscape colouring in, all you need is to experiment a little and you will then create more interesting areas of colour in your landscape pictures.

Over colouring technique in landscapes

Another simple effect can be achieved with over colouring. This can be used when depicting things like grass. The technique is very similar to blending but this time the underling detail is kept without being too overpowered by subsequent covering colours. By making small medium pressure strokes of the pencil blades of grass can be represented with lots of small vertical and diagonal dashes then using the same or different shade of the same colour the area is then shaded over lightly.