gorgeous work

Woooooo, thank you so much!

Pear is always a ball full of cheer <3

Here I am studying the drawing, particularly coloring skills, to learn how you get your subjects to look so alive. The ever so delicate textural detail of the fur as it flows and curves on the surface is beautifully done. It creates a Pear that looks so soft.

Ooooh, my, thank you so much!!!

I really think your drawing is really solid, and those are the bases to make a character alive! You already have it! The textures are an extra. But, if you are curious, I used very soft colored pencils (some Prismacolors) over a common student-grade Canson, around 120g/m² or 140, I guess? Nothing really expensive or fancy (Prismas are expensive here, but those were a gift! And I guess I could achieve similar results with local soft pencils), but enough to accept more layers for colored pencil work.

And it tooks me lots of practice and diving on tutorials and timelapses and WIPs!  Antimony is a reference, some  pacopanda's timelapses were enlightening too.

And it took time and lots of experiments too (most of them never found the internet haha)

Last not least, there are many different ways of using colored pencils. Aiming for textures is just one of many possibilites! It's about choices, and the fun we have along the way, learning <3

Prismas are as expensive here too, but I would buy them one by one to try and imo they don't work well on the printing paper I always use. It seems like they work on art paper though from what I see of your results. I hate to admit I only ever used whatever I could find around the house, hand me downs and cheap brands like crayola over the years, never really researching or searching out specific art materials. I'm sure that kept me back. When I to to art stores and see all these kinds of paper and coloring tools I'm totally lost haha. [I feel so uneducated not knowing what ''120g/m² or 140'' paper means until I looked it up]

I remember PacoPanda was an inspiration for traditional coloring and scenery back many years ago on Deviantart, and I was delighted to find Antimoynz last year. Seeing their artwork as well as yours and any artist I like and observing the different styles of coloring, lighting, lineart...etc inspires me to experiment as you say. Maybe not a night and day kind of change but little bit here and there whether it's changing the color of the lineart or adding a little fur texture when I didn't before.

Printing paper can still offer great results, but in another style! If you want layers and layers of color, it's better to have a more sturdy paper and some soft pencils (it doesn't need to be Prismacolors. Local and cheaper soft pencils are fine). I think print paper works better if you want a more diffuse approach about coloring... it still accepts nice gradients, but not many layers, and the color of the paper will be more visible. That's GREAT, it can be very atmospheric. And it works better with harder pencils, probably the ones you have. You're making me want to try to use them and see what happens =)

The thing is, for some effects it is easier to go with specific materials. But do art that makes you happy with the resources you have! Maybe you wont get this *exact* effect, but something else that is beautiful too.

I just discovered Paco's work recently; it's a joy and the timelapses are a move of generosity! Antimonynz I've met some time ago, we are fortunate enough to talk and recently he's been sharing some WIPs too. It's so good when artists seek inspiration with each other. As I said, go ahead! And, you are right, it takes a lot of time and practice.

Hmm, you made an enlightening point about different paper accepting more layers and deeper color of the pencils. Maybe that's why I've always struggled with achieving the depth of color I always see in others. I will try that when I can and with the soft prismas I have on hand. I'm so curious now to see what happens though I'm currently in a terrible creative slump.