#simplycreate with colouring pencils

How to draw with colouring pencils

Jennie Wickings, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial you will learn how to draw with colouring pencils, using a parrotfish as a model to learn Jennie's Simply colouring pencil techniques.

How to draw with colouring pencils

The materials in your kit

Simply Colouring Pencils
Simply Sketchbook

Go To Materials Go To Steps

Your step by step guide

Find a model

Look online to find a model of a rainbow parrotfish. You can also find your inspiration in aquariums! To colour your fish, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.

Next step

Look online to find a model of a rainbow parrotfish. You can also find your inspiration in aquariums! To colour your fish, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.

Draw the outline

Start with the lightest colouring pencil, in this tutorial, Jennie starts with yellow. And draw the outline.

Next step

Start with the lightest colouring pencil, in this tutorial, Jennie starts with yellow. And draw the outline.

Highlight the outline with a darker colour

Highlight part of the outline, in blue.

Tip: Pay attention to the relationship between the mouth and the eye of the fish, as well as the proportions! The tail of a fish is always longer than expected.

Next step

Highlight part of the outline, in blue.

Tip: Pay attention to the relationship between the mouth and the eye of the fish, as well as the proportions! The tail of a fish is always longer than expected.

Switch back to the lighter pencil

Switch back to the yellow colouring pencil.

Tip: Always go lighter to darker and make sure to go light when pressing the pencils: you can always go darker if needed!

Next step

Switch back to the yellow colouring pencil.

Tip: Always go lighter to darker and make sure to go light when pressing the pencils: you can always go darker if needed!

Colour your fish

Use the orange and the red and go on colouring your fish. Mix the orange with the yellow.

Next step

Use the orange and the red and go on colouring your fish. Mix the orange with the yellow.

Mix colours

Use the blue and mix with yellow as well to achieve a very nice turquoise. Keep on adding more colours: red, green, and purple.

Tip: Press harder and harder toward the end to have some very vibrant colours!

Next step

Use the blue and mix with yellow as well to achieve a very nice turquoise. Keep on adding more colours: red, green, and purple.

Tip: Press harder and harder toward the end to have some very vibrant colours!

Add more details and leave highlights

Use the blue to add more details and do not forget to leave some white highlights.

Next step

Use the blue to add more details and do not forget to leave some white highlights.

Your step by step guide

Step 1

Find a model

Look online to find a model of a rainbow parrotfish. You can also find your inspiration in aquariums! To colour your fish, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.

Next step

Look online to find a model of a rainbow parrotfish. You can also find your inspiration in aquariums! To colour your fish, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.

Draw the outline

Start with the lightest colouring pencil, in this tutorial, Jennie starts with yellow. And draw the outline.

Next step

Start with the lightest colouring pencil, in this tutorial, Jennie starts with yellow. And draw the outline.

Highlight the outline with a darker colour

Highlight part of the outline, in blue.

Tip: Pay attention to the relationship between the mouth and the eye of the fish, as well as the proportions! The tail of a fish is always longer than expected.

Next step

Highlight part of the outline, in blue.

Tip: Pay attention to the relationship between the mouth and the eye of the fish, as well as the proportions! The tail of a fish is always longer than expected.

Switch back to the lighter pencil

Switch back to the yellow colouring pencil.

Tip: Always go lighter to darker and make sure to go light when pressing the pencils: you can always go darker if needed!

Next step

Switch back to the yellow colouring pencil.

Tip: Always go lighter to darker and make sure to go light when pressing the pencils: you can always go darker if needed!

Colour your fish

Use the orange and the red and go on colouring your fish. Mix the orange with the yellow.

Next step

Use the orange and the red and go on colouring your fish. Mix the orange with the yellow.

Mix colours

Use the blue and mix with yellow as well to achieve a very nice turquoise. Keep on adding more colours: red, green, and purple.

Tip: Press harder and harder toward the end to have some very vibrant colours!

Next step

Use the blue and mix with yellow as well to achieve a very nice turquoise. Keep on adding more colours: red, green, and purple.

Tip: Press harder and harder toward the end to have some very vibrant colours!

Add more details and leave highlights

Use the blue to add more details and do not forget to leave some white highlights.

Next step

Use the blue to add more details and do not forget to leave some white highlights.

What you’ll need

Simply Coloured Pencils

Daler-Rowney Simply Coloured Pencils feature highly pigmented, pre-sharpened ends. Ideal for family activities!

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Simply Drawing & Sketching Paper

Daler-Rowney Simply Drawing & Sketching Paper is a comprehensive range of pads with good quality papers supporting the most important dry techniques, from sketching and drawing to marker and pastel works.

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About the artist

Jennie Webber (Wickings) is an artist and freelance illustrator, specialising in animals and nature. Using inks, watercolour and printmaking, Jennie draws inspiration from the world’s more bizarre animals, colourful marine life and unique ecosystems.