Following are two frequently asked questions on the Icarus technique:
“How do you layer colored pencil over artist crayon or oil pastel?”
Step #1 shows that it’s impossible to layer a hard medium over a softer one. The pink colored pencil can only make indentations and scratches over the light blue artist crayon. Here is where the Icarus Drawing Board can help you.
On step #2 the thick layer of crayon is thinned out on the warm zone with a gray paper stump.
I use the side, not the point of the paper stump and make small circles until I'm left with a thin, saturated layer of color.
After moving the paper to the cool zone, I’m now able to easily layer colored pencil over artist crayon (see step #3).
"How do you achieve a very smooth color gradation?"
As you can see on step #4, on the cool zone I layer additional colors beside the pink (process red on one side and white on the other). I use the side of the pencil, not the point.
After moving the paper to the warm zone I start blending with a paper stump. Here, again, I’m using the side, not the point and make small circles as I blend (blending in progress on step #5)
Step #6 shows the end result: a smooth and flawless color gradation. This technique will allow you to blend a large area in a very short time.
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