Tools Of The Trade

Here are my favorite colored pencil tools.  Some you may recognize and some you may not.  I use an X-acto electric pencil sharpener. Sharp points are important in layering color on the paper and I sharpen every few minutes.  I shake out the shavings often and brush out the inside every once in awhile, too.  The pencil looking tool in front of the sharpener is a pencil extender.  Super wonderful tool!  When you get to the tiniest bit of pencil, you can insert it into this holder and still use the pencil.  Next is my Staedtler battery eraser.  I use it to create textures or to get back white highlights.  You can't really erase colored pencil unless you use this type of eraser.  A make up brush (I had to put duct tape on this one, it's old) is great for sweeping tiny bits of pencil crumbs off your paper.  I do this frequently while drawing.  I also use tacky stuff or a kneaded eraser to pick up those tiny crumbs.  In the back of this photo you'll see my pencil holder.  I saw this online & I love it!  I saved toilet paper rolls, covered them with contact paper and taped them to a round spinning tray.  Seriously, this is one of my favorite re-purposed creations ever!