Drawing and Painting

Drawing Tools#

Artists use many different tools to make their artwork. Today we are going to learn about drawing tools — the things you use to put lines and color on paper!

Crayons#

Crayons are one of the first art tools most children use. They come in many beautiful colors. Crayons are made of wax and pigment (that is what gives them color).

How to hold a crayon: Hold your crayon between your thumb and the first two fingers of your hand. Do not squeeze too hard — a gentle grip works best. For coloring big spaces, you can tilt the crayon on its side and color with the flat part.

Tips for using crayons:

• Press harder for dark, bold colors
• Press lighter for pale, soft colors
• Color in one direction for smooth, even color
• Use the tip for drawing details and thin lines

Colored Pencils#

Colored pencils are thinner than crayons and great for adding details. They make thinner, more precise lines.

Tips for colored pencils:

• Sharpen them when the tip breaks
• Press lightly for soft colors and harder for bright colors
• You can layer colors on top of each other to make new shades

Pencils for Sketching#

Regular pencils are great for sketching — that means drawing a rough first version of your picture before adding color. Sketching with a pencil first helps you plan where everything will go. You can always erase pencil marks if you make a mistake!

Markers#

Markers make bold, bright colors. They are great for outlines and filling in large areas. Be careful — marker marks are hard to erase! Always put the cap back on when you are done so your markers do not dry out.

Taking Care of Your Tools#

Good artists take care of their tools:

• Put caps on markers
• Keep crayons in their box so they do not break
• Keep pencils in a cup or case
• Clean up your space when you are finished

When you take care of your tools, they last longer and work better!