12/1/10 Product Info's Tip of the Week:Revitalizing Colored Pencils

[Blick Art Materials]

Revitalizing Colored Pencils

Do you have colored pencils you can’t seem to sharpen without the lead breaking, or pencils where you can pull the entire lead out of the wooden casing? Don’t throw them away just yet, there may be a solution! If you have tried different pencil sharpeners but none of them will sharpen the pencil, yet the wood’s not splitting or catching on the sharpener, then you may want to try baking your colored pencils.

Baking Colored Pencils
Line a cookie sheet or baking pan with aluminum foil. Place pencils on top of the foil covered pan. Place in a cold oven. Turn oven on to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 2-8 minutes. This time is dependant on your oven, your elevation, and how badly broken the lead is in the pencil. After allotted time, turn off oven but do not remove the pencils until the oven has cooled, roughly to room temperature. Repeat if first baking was not successful.
Note
This will work with any type of colored pencils, but keep in mind that those with naturally softer leads (Derwent Colorsoft, Caran d’Ache Luminance, other oil based colored pencils) could reach their melting temperature quicker than those with harder leads (Derwent Artist, Prismacolor, etc.) and may not need to bake quite as long.

FAQs:
What type of surface is best for colored pencils?
-Colored Pencils are one of the few mediums that you can use on nearly any surface. The deciding factor usually lands on personal opinion or how you want the final piece to look. Drawing papers, printmaking papers, charcoal/pastel papers, sanded papers, and cold press watercolor papers all are going to have more tooth to the surface and thus will hold more layers. They will also have a more airy, open feeling, if the colored pencil is applied lightly. Bristol board, illustration board, Yupo, and hot press watercolor paper, all have less tooth and will produce a smoother appearance but will not hold quite as many layers.


-Audra S.
Product Information Specialist



For further assistance using art supplies, feel welcome to contact our Product Information Department at
1-800-933-2542 or e-mail us at info@dickblick.com. Hours of operation: M-F, 8:00am-5:30pm CST.

[l Heather l]

I like to blend the first 5 or 6 layers with the colorless marker. I like to use the colorless marker to blend the lower layers because it does not fill up the tooth the way the blender pencil does.I blend the final layer with white or with the colorless pencil. So I use both types of blenders.

[pumkin54]

Originally Posted by Blick Art Materials

Revitalizing Colored Pencils

...keep in mind that those with naturally softer leads (Derwent Colorsoft, Caran d’Ache Luminance, other oil based colored pencils) could reach their melting temperature quicker...

Does that mean that Colorsoft and Luminance are oil based?

[Blick Art Materials]

Hi Pumkin,
I am sorry for any confusion that statement may have caused. From the research I have done, the Derwent Coloursoft Pencils are wax based, but due to their formula they are softer than Prismacolor. Therefore, they may melt more easily.

As for Luminance, I have talked with Caran d'Ache and they keep their formula pretty close to the chest. From my understanding though, they use a softer wax, much like the oil based waxes used for Faber Castell and Lyra. However, they will not release to me the information as to whether or not it is a true oil based wax with actual oils in it. They only tell me that it does not require the fixative needed to prevent wax bloom and that it is a softer form of wax. If you do decide to heat up the Luminance pencils for some reason, make sure to keep an eye on them as they may also melt more quickly.

Audra