Today we’re going to go over how to draw realistically with a strawberry study using cheap crayons and some FAQ about how to draw with crayons in general.

(Before we begin, I’d like to put a quick disclaimer that these tips are from my own observations and experiences. Also, there are definitely professional level crayons out there that you can use to make super high quality drawings but everything here is geared more towards cheaper supplies) 

So I originally went in treating the crayons like colored pencils and I found that that approach worked pretty well. I kept the crayons sharp (using a sharpener that came built into the box) which helped me get my lines as thin as possible. Also, I’ve found out that burnishing works with crayons as well. Pressing hard gets the color into the paper and reduces the white grainy texture. However one MAJOR DIFFERENCE is that it’s basically impossible to layer with crayons. You can get like one or two layers if you really try but I couldn’t get any more than that as the color doesn’t stay on top of the wax. That’s definitely something to watch out for if you’re pretty dependent on layering to get certain colors or a smooth finish. So what should you do instead? Let’s go into more detail with the strawberry. 

Step 1:

I started with a sketch in 2B pencil and lightened it with an eraser. As always, try to get your sketch as close as possible, but remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. 

Step 2:

I started coloring the leaves of the strawberry with shades of green, blue, brown, and black. This is when I noticed the colors really don’t like each other, as in they don’t layer/go on top of each other like colored pencils would. So to make the leaves look realistic, I had to use a lottt of colors. Usually I would do transition shades by shading two colors into each other but here I recommend finding an actual transition color(s) and putting it between the two original colors. (Put each color exactly where you want it cuz you can’t change it by putting other colors on top later)

Step 3:

In the lighter areas, I used yellows and oranges. In the shadowed areas on the strawberry, I used deeper reds and some brown. Just continue putting colors on, paying close attention to your reference photo. Remember to not put down the color you think should be there, rather the color than you really do see in the picture. This is especially important and it’s a major factor for why your drawings may not look as realistic as you want them to. Go slowly, realism is very hard to achieve while rushing. 

Step 4:

I used an exacto knife to scrape away colors for the highlights. Be sure to scrape in the direction perpendicular to the blade to not cut the paper. Be gentle! Also if you want to do this I do recommend trying it on a separate piece of paper first. Something to note is that this trick works better when you’re working with a thicker layer of medium, and the highlight will be tinted the color of the first layer you applied on the area. I took advantage of this by coloring yellow/orange to get a warm tinted highlight. I used this trick for the highlighted area on the strawberry and around many of the seeds. 

Step 5:

On the leaves, I used the same techniques as before with greens, yellows, browns, and blues. The placement really depends on your reference. I used yellows for highlights and blues for some variety in temperature. Another thing with the exacto knife trick is that it can also be used to create textures. By scraping away some of the green, you can create the leafy line texture. 

Drawing with crayons really isn’t too different from colored pencils or mediums of that sort. All it really requires is an understanding of colors and some patience.  Give yourself a while to get used to drawing with crayons, and you’ll definitely be impressed with what they can do. 

FAQ

Can you layer with crayons?

It’s pretty difficult to layer with crayons, after around two layers, the colors don’t really wanna go on top of each other anymore. If you want to layer, try doing a darker color on top of a lighter color. Shade with lines, not circles, and be very gentle. 

How do you draw highlights with crayons?

To get bright highlights, I use an exacto knife to scrape away the color to reveal the white of the paper. With this method, you can get small highlights that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. One thing to note is the highlight will be slightly tinted whatever color you scraped away. You can use this to your advantage by putting specific colors in the highlight area to scrape away to get warm/cool highlights.

How do I make my drawing look realistic?

This generally applies to every medium; use a reference photo. Study it and observe which colors/shadows/highlights are where and do your best to recreate that. Draw what you see, not what you think should be there. 

How do I get rid of the crayon texture?

I found that applying a decent amount of pressure helped get rid of some of that crayon texture. 

What crayons can I use to draw?

There are high quality crayons out there that you can buy, but for casual projects/drawings, Crayola crayons can get the job done.