Ladybug and Raindrops – Colour Pencil Drawing Class
Ladybug and Raindrops – Colour Pencil Drawing Class (Replay)
In this session, I showed you how to create a beautiful ladybug illustration with raindrops and leafy details using colour pencils. I guided you step by step through the drawing process, starting with a simple sketch and building up layers of colour to add depth, texture and light.
Watch Here:
Reference photo:
What we did:
Sketch loosely and confidently, keeping your lines visible
Use colour pencils to blend and layer without muddiness
Create soft backgrounds by adjusting your grip on the pencil
Add gradients and contrast with light layers and gentle pressure
Use colour theory to mix tones – like warming up green with yellow
Work with water and oil (later in the session) to blend and smooth
Highlight reflections on raindrops using blue and yellow tones
Add fine details with black pencil and soften areas with white pencil
We also talked about how colour pencils are more forgiving than watercolour, which means you can play and experiment freely without fear of ruining your drawing. I encouraged you to focus on shapes and shading rather than making things perfect—plants and bugs are very forgiving subjects!
We finished with an option to enhance your work using a little oil on a cotton swab and a soft brush with water. These techniques help bring out contrast and make your colours pop.
Materials we used:
Colour pencils (soft, artist-quality ones work best)
Drawing paper (smooth or light textured)
Pencil and eraser (optional, I like to leave sketch lines in!)
Cotton buds/q-tips
A drop of oil (like baby oil or artist blending medium)
Water (for soft blending effects if you use water soluble pencils)
Black pencil
I hope you enjoy watching the replay and drawing along at your own pace. Take your time, make it your own, and most of all—have fun with it. Let the colours lead you.