Today I'm revealing my secret weapon for easier colored pencil blending – Zest-it Pencil Blend! Paperesse is not a monetized blog and Zest-it has not in any way sponsored this post; this is just such a great product and has made such a difference in my pencil coloring that I wanted to share.
When I started using my Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils again at the end of last year, having given up on expensive alcohol markers, I decided I wanted to try a new non-toxic liquid blender, something to replace the Oil of Spike Lavender I occasionally used in the past. Googling 'non-toxic liquid pencil blender' I kept seeing Zest-it pencil blend over and over again.
In researching the product, I found that Zest-it is non-toxic and non-flammable with a light citrus smell. I decided to give it a try and I'm very glad I did. The smell is very light – I don't notice the smell at all – and can be used in a normally ventilated room (unlike the Oil of Spike Lavender which made me want to throw open every window and door in the house). As to its blending powers, it does what its says and blends effortlessly. I transferred a small amount to a wide-mouth glass jar with lid (more stable on my desk) and simply dip a paper blending stub into it, then apply to the color on my paper. I have a stub for reds, greens, blues, etc. as you wouldn't want to use a stub you've used to blend a red on a yellow, for example.
Colored pencils can be hard to blend and this eases the process, especially if you're new to using them. I don't use this blender all the time (the Derwent blender pencil is another important weapon in my colored pencil arsenal), but I find it's especially good for blending larger areas.
If you'd like to find out more about Zest-it, check out their 'About', 'How to blend...', and their 'Artists' page with links to artists and tutorials featuring the product.
Happy Blending!
Thanks for sharing this, Shani! (:
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