Avoid Smudges and Grid With The Right Pastel Pressure
Pressure – The Secret to Better Pastel Pencil Drawings
Have you ever finished a section of your drawing only to notice unwanted smudges or little bits of the paper grid still showing through?
This is something almost every artist experiences when learning to use pastel pencils.
The good news is that it usually isn’t caused by the pencils or the paper.
It’s often simply about how much pressure you’re applying.
When drawing animals with pastel pencils, learning to control your pressure allows you to build beautiful layers, blend more easily, and create soft, realistic fur without overloading the paper.
Here are some simple techniques to help you find the right balance.
1. START WITH LIGHT LAYERS
When working with pastels, start with very light layers.
Use gentle strokes and build up the color gradually instead of pressing hard right away.
Working lightly keeps the paper’s surface open for additional layers and gives you much more flexibility as your portrait develops.
2. COTTON SWABS
Ideal for blending tiny spaces or softening edges with control. You can also use it for remove grid.
They’re inexpensive, easy to use, and great for gentle blending without disturbing larger areas.
3. BUILD A SOFT BASE LAYER
For example, when drawing fur:
Start with a soft, even layer to create the base tone. Don’t use too much pressure, just to cover the paper with a thin layer.
A gentle foundation makes it much easier to build realistic fur textures in the following layers.
4. BLEND THE FIRST LAYER
Blend this first layer thoroughly using a paper stump.
Press the pigment gently into the paper and remove any excess pigment from the surface if needed.
This helps create a smooth base while keeping enough paper tooth available for additional pastel.
4. BUILD UP THE LAYERS
Then gradually add more layers to create: depth, texture, realistic fur….
Add pastel layers slowly to create depth and texture without overloading. Work gently to keep your application controlled.
Patience is one of the biggest secrets to achieving rich, realistic animal portraits.
4. TEST YOUR PRESSURE
You can test your pressure on modeling dough.
Draw a few strokes with your pastel pencil. The strokes should not leave deep indentations.
They should be barely visible. This means you are using the right amount of pressure.
This simple exercise is a wonderful way to train your hand before working on your actual drawing.
4. LESS IS MORE
Remember this: LESS IS MORE!
It is always easier to add more pigment later than to fix smudges or overloaded areas.
Building your drawing gradually will give you cleaner results and much more control throughout the entire process.
Final thought:
Avoiding smudges and paper grid starts with using light pressure, building gentle layers, blending your first layer well, and adding pigment slowly over time.
When drawing animals with pastel pencils, learning to control your pressure is one of the simplest ways to create smoother blends, cleaner fur, and more realistic animal portraits.
Do you want to learn how to draw a sweet little cat with pastel pencils? Join my beginner-friendly cat drawing workshop here!
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