HOW TO USE A BLENDING STUMP AND A PENCIL BLENDER IN DRAWING

Between two pencil strokes, a well-blended gradient can make all the difference. This is where two discreet but essential tools come into play: blending stumps and pencil blenders. The first softens graphite or charcoal lines, the other blends colours for a velvety finish. Together, they give a work a sense of depth and realism.

It is necessary to know how to use them without saturating the paper or losing the crispness of your lines. Caran d'Ache gives you a step-by-step guide to mastering the art of blending and enhancing your drawings, from sketches to portraits.

 

A well-known tool in fine arts, a blending stump is a cylindrical tool made of very tightly rolled-up compressed paper, with a pointed tip at each end. Its slightly rough texture allows graphite, charcoal, pastel or even coloured pencil pigments to blend together, creating soft, even gradients.
 

Endlessly reusable, it is an essential part of any artist's drawing supplies, particularly for softening shadows or blurring outlines without damaging the paper.
 

At Caran d'Ache, our blending stumps come in two lengths: 70 mm and 140 mm. Their texture offers a comfortable grip and smooth control for natural blends, whether for sketching, nudes or portraits.

Tip: To emphasise volume, alternate between blending, adding touches of pencil and white highlights.
This play of contrasts will help convey a sense of depth without any “blurry effect”.

After several uses, your blending stump will naturally accumulate graphite or coloured pigments. Here are a few steps to follow:

• Gently rub the tip on sandpaper or a nail file to remove any residue.

• You can sharpen the tip of your blending stump with a pencil sharpener to restore its original precision.

• Finally, a white eraser may be sufficient to remove excess pigment.

A pencil blender allows you to blend, unify and intensify colours in a drawing. Unlike a blending stump, it does not move any matter but acts directly on the pigments to smooth them, blend them and create a more uniform finish. The result: pencil lines disappear, transitions become smoother and colours become more vibrant. It is mainly used with coloured pencils, but some kinds are also suitable for techniques that use watercolour or felt-tipped pens.

At Caran d'Ache, the Full Blender Bright is the perfect addition to any artist's kit: it blends colours, intensifies pigments and ensures a professional finish. This colourless pencil is a binder made of wax and oil, and contains no pigments.

Its hexagonal shape offers a comfortable grip, ideal for precise blending, while its concentrated formula makes it very economical to use. Versatile, it can be used with permanent coloured pencils as well as watercolour pencils, on dry or slightly damp paper. The perfect tool for lovers of drawing or fine arts.

1. Do not press down too hard: this may damage the paper or saturate the surface with wax or ink.

2. Avoid paper that is too thin or too damp: the liquid blender can damage it or smudge it.

3. Do not go over the same area too many times: successful blending is achieved through delicate application, not thick layers.

• Opt for fine or medium-grain paper for even blending.

• Work in light layers rather than go over it once.

• Observe natural light to determine the right amount of shadows and transitions.

• Experiment with sketching before moving to the final version.

• Alternate between pencil and blending to create depth without saturating the paper.

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