Make Colored Pencils Look Like Paint: Burnishing Techniques

Unlock Painterly Effects with Colored Pencil Burnishing

Does your colored pencil artwork look unfinished or overly textured? After analyzing this video tutorial from The Virtual Instructor, I’ve identified burnishing as the transformative technique you need. Burnishing works the pigment deep into paper fibers, creating that smooth, painting-like finish many artists struggle to achieve. Whether you use Prismacolor Premier or similar wax-based pencils, this method elevates drawings from sketchy to sophisticated.

Why Paper Texture Undermines Your Art

Colored pencil applications cling to the tooth of paper—those microscopic hills and valleys on its surface. This texture traps pigment unevenly, creating a grainy appearance. As Matt explains, burnishing compresses pigments into these grooves, eliminating speckled effects. Wax-based pencils respond best since their binder melts under pressure, unlike watercolor pencils which require different techniques.

Burnishing Tools Compared: Choose Your Method

Colorless Blender Pencils (Recommended)

1. Layer Base Colors: Apply 2-3 pigment layers first
2. Press Firmly: Use the blender pencil like a polish, moving in small circles
3. Heat Factor: Friction slightly melts wax for seamless blending
   Pro Tip: Matt prefers this for precision work. The wax binder (minus pigment) won’t alter hues, preserving color integrity.

Solvent-Based Burnishing

1. Dip Nylon Brush: Use turpenoid or odorless mineral spirits
2. Gentle Strokes: Apply sparingly to avoid pigment dilution
3. Quick Coverage: Ideal for large areas like backgrounds
   Caution: Over-application dissolves pigment layers. Test on swatches first.

White or Cream Pencils (Last Resort)

• Step 1: Apply over dry pigment layers
• Step 2: Use heavy pressure to fill paper grooves
• Trade-off: Lightens colors significantly. Best for highlights only.

Advanced Layering Strategy for Depth

Burnishing isn’t just a final step—it’s part of a structured layering process:

Stage	Purpose	Burnishing Role
Underpainting	Base tones	None
Mid-Layers	Depth building	Light blending between layers
Final Pass	Surface refinement	Full burnish for gloss effect

Critical Insight: The video mentions solvent speed, but I’ve observed that skipping mid-layer burnishing risks muddying colors. Blend lightly between critical layers to maintain vibrancy.

Pro Artist Burnishing Checklist

1. Verify Pencil Type: Wax-based only (e.g., Prismacolor, Faber-Castell)
2. Test Paper First: Heavyweight toothy paper (Strathmore 400 series) works best
3. Clean Tools: Wipe blender pencils to prevent color contamination
4. Pressure Control: Start light, increase gradually to avoid paper damage
5. Final Sealant: Apply fixative after burnishing to prevent wax bloom

Recommended Artist Resources

• Blender Pencils: Prismacolor Colorless Blender (creamy consistency)
• Solvent: Gamblin Odorless Mineral Spirits (low toxicity)
• Paper: Stonehenge Legion Paper (optimal tooth depth)
• Course: The Virtual Instructor’s Colored Pencil Mastery (free modules available)

One Overlooked Tip: Rotate your paper while burnishing. Angled pressure reaches deeper into paper valleys than straight-on pressure.

Transform Your Colored Pencil Art Today

Burnishing bridges the gap between drawing and painting, giving colored pencils the luminous finish of oils. By working pigments into the paper’s tooth, you eliminate distracting texture and create gallery-ready pieces.

Which burnishing challenge have you struggled with—color shifting or uneven coverage? Share your experience in the comments!