how to sharpen
a colored pencil
If you are a fan of drawing with colored pencils, then you know how precious the colored pencils are to you... and how frustrating it can be when the lead breaks off! This article explains the various ways you can sharpen your colored pencils, as well as measures you can take to prevent the lead from breaking.
The "lead" in colored pencils is actually colored pigment in a wax base. It is quite soft, so it lends itself easily to breakage. Colored pencil artists love getting their colored pencils to a nice, sharp point (like in the picture). But without the protective wood encasing the lead, it's now extremely vulnerable.
This article focuses on Prismacolor colored pencils, since that is what I use most, but this information can apply just as well to any brand of colored pencils. Because of the wonderful soft buttery texture of the pigment, the lead in Prismacolors do have a tendency to break if you're not careful.
What is the best way to sharpencolored pencils to prevent breakage?
Prismacolor colored pencils can work beautifully and last a long time if they are sharpened well and cared for correctly. Artists sharpen their Prismacolors in a number of ways: handheld pencil sharpeners, electric pencil sharpeners, cosmetic sharpeners, sandpaper blocks, and even the old-fashioned way - using a knife.
What works for one artist may not work for another artist. It is often a matter of trying out different sharpeners and sharpening methods, to see what works best for you. Here is the lowdown about the best ways on how to sharpen a colored pencil:
Handheld pencil
sharpeners allow for careful precision and control when sharpening.
The sharpener that I use is the Staedtler on the
right.
Staedtler generally
makes a good, sturdy brand of pencil sharpeners that will last a long
time.
Prismacolor
also makes their own pencil sharpener, which many artists review favorably.
The
Prismacolor Colored Pencil Sharpener has
a neat, compact shape, so it's great for travel without the mess.
If you use a handheld pencil sharpener and you experience lead breakage, check whether your pencil sharpener is still sharp or not. You can determine if your sharpener is in good condition by checking the length of the pencil shaving. If your pencil sharpener can produce one long, continuous pencil shaving (as you see on the right), then it is in good condition. That means you are less likely to experience any breakage as a result of sharpening.
If the shavings are small and come off in bits and pieces, it means your pencil sharpener has gone blunt. This means that there is more chance of breakage. If the blades are replaceable, replace the old one with a fresh blade. If the blades are not replaceable, try tightening the little screw to see if that makes a difference. If that doesn't help, it's time to chuck it out and buy a new pencil sharpener.
If your pencil sharpener is sharp and you are still experiencing breakage, read more reasons why the lead in your colored pencils might break.
Tips on how to sharpen a colored pencil with a handheld pencil sharpener:
When you use a handheld pencil sharpener to sharpen your colored pencils, try not to apply too much pressure. Use a gentle touch to press the pencil against the blade. It may help if you hold the pencil vertically, as shown above, rather than horizontally.
Prismacolor
Colored Pencil Sharpener
Some artists love electric pencil sharpeners for sharpening their colored pencils, whereas others report problems. There is a big debate over which type of sharpener is best for colored pencils: handheld vs electric.
With electric pencil sharpeners, you have a lot less control. You basically slip your pencil into the thin dark abyss and hope for the best. The danger with electric sharpeners is that they may apply too much force, grinding away at your precious pencil. With handheld, you have the ability control the amount of force applied on the pencil.
Artists report excellent results from these electric pencil sharpeners:
Some teachers report that their electric pencil sharpeners get ruined from students using them to sharpen colored pencils. This is most likely due to the fact that the wax from the colored pencils will inevitably build up and clog the sharpener.
Tips on how to sharpen a colored pencil with an electric pencil sharpener:
If you use an electric pencil sharpener, be sure to run a regular graphite pencil through the sharpener on a regular basis. The grease from the graphite will help to clean and clear the blades. It's also advisable to open up the sharpener and clean the blades with Q-tips or toothpicks every now and then.
You can sharpen your colored pencils in a cosmetic sharpener that is normally meant for things like eyeliner pencils. Eyeliner pencils are soft like colored pencils, so the sharpeners are designed to deal with such material.
Sandpaper blocks are an easy way to sharpen your colored pencils. They consist of several layers of sandpaper mounted onto a wooden block.
Tips on how to sharpen a colored pencil with a sandpaper block:
Holding your pencil at an angle, run it back and forth over the surface of the sandpaper, rotating it evenly to sharped every side. When the top page of sandpaper becomes unusable, simply tear it off and you've got a fresh new sheet!
Sandpaper blocks are small and lightweight, making them very portable. You can also use them to sharpen charcoal and pastels.
You can also get back to basics by sharpening your colored pencils with a knife. This is the most dangerous option, because the blade is exposed, so make sure you know what you're doing!
Tips on how to sharpen a colored pencil with a knife:
Sharpen the pencil by holding it in one hand, and holding the knife in your other hand. Hold the knife at an angle and carefully press it down against the end of the pencil, shaving it off bit by bit. Rotate the pencil so that you evenly shave each side.
If you're not too fussy about getting a perfect point, then using a knife to sharpen your colored pencils may work well for you.
Hand-crank pencil sharpeners
|
How to sharpen a colored pencil with a hand-crank pencil sharpener:
Don't! Hand-crank sharpeners are the type of pencil sharpeners that you often find attached to the wall at schools and universities. The general consensus is that these pencil sharpeners will butcher colored pencils.
Hand-crank pencil sharpeners like the one on the left are a big no-no for colored pencils!
I would advice against buying one of these. Instead, a handheld sharpener or electric sharpener would serve you much better!
Tips for preventing breakage in your colored pencils
Now that you know all the different ways you can sharpen your colored pencils, what other steps can you take to prevent the lead from breaking?
The fact is, no matter how carefully you sharpen the pencils, the lead inside the colored pencils can still break. If they are dropped on hard surfaces or banged around, the lead inside the pencil may weaken and break when it is sharpened. So take good care of your colored pencils - don't drop them!
Remember
though, that even if you treat them with the utmost care, you never
know what may have happened to them before they reached your hands
- they may have been dropped at the store or banged around during
shipment. So if you conscientiously keep your colored pencils safe
on fluffy pillows and they still break, it may be due to previous
treatment and no fault of your own.
So is there anything you can do if the lead is weakened or broken on the inside?
Some artists have reported success in mending a colored pencil with broken lead by microwaving them or heating them in a conventional oven at 325 F / 160 F for 2-5 minutes. If you do this, be careful and don't overcook them! Also, don't heat them en masse. Rather than cook them as a preventative measure, only do it when a pencil already suffers from broken lead.
Alternatively, some artists report that freezing colored pencils make them easier to sharpen. Your best bet is to try both approaches to see which works best for you.
More
tips for keeping your colored pencils in good, sharp condition:
- Sharpen them as soon as you get them. Keeping them very sharp all the time may help reduce breakage.
- Try using a sharpener with a larger opening, which will be more gentle on the pencil. This will make a smaller angle on the pencil, making it less pointy. It also means that less of the lead is exposed, and more of it is protected by the wood.
- Whether you are using a handheld or electric sharpener, always clean out the shavings. Otherwise the shavings may cause problems when sharpening the pencil.
In the end, finding the best way to sharpen your Prismacolor colored pencils in an individual quest. What works wonders for one artist will mysteriously not work for another artist. A large part of the reason for this is that we don't know how the colored pencils were treated before we got them. But we can take control of how we treat them now that they are in our care! So try out a few of these ideas on how to sharpen a colored pencil and see what works best for you!
If you have a method for how to sharpen a colored pencil that works wonders for you and you want to share it with everyone, send me a message about your technique on how to sharpen a colored pencil. I'd love to hear your techniques!
Want to learn more about colored pencils? Pick up some handy colored pencil tips and learn some new colored pencil techniques in this handy FAQ about using colored pencils. If you have a question about how to use colored pencils, this is the place to ask!
