The Mysterious Phenomenon Called Wax Blooming

Colored Pencils are more popular than ever, and no longer just for kids! Professional artists everywhere are finding more and more ways to push the limits of this wonderful material. As with most mediums, there are student grade as well as professional grade. The price of the product is a clear indication of the difference. With professional grade colored pencils, the pigments used are more lightfast than ever. Binders are used to hold the pigments together into a solid form. The pigment is then encased in wood.

There are usually two different types of binders, wax-based and kaolin based. Wax bases are most commonly used by manufacturers for cost reasons as well as availability. The leads are softer and blend more easily. However, the wax binder can present a problem. When heavy layers, usually of darker colors, are applied, a somewhat mysterious thing happens called wax blooming. The wax binder surfaces to the top layer creating a cloudy haze over the color pigment. It may not appear instantly and can take up to two weeks to develop. However, there are ways to help lessen or eliminate the possibility. One way is to apply the colored pencil in lighter layers, although this may prevent you from achieving the intensity that you desire. You can also use a workable spray fixative over each layer or at the end of the painting. This will seal each layer and prevent the wax from surfacing. If you do experience a wax bloom, you may try rubbing it lightly with a cotton ball in a circular motion, checking frequently to ensure you are not removing the pigment.

The second type of colored pencils is kaolin based and do not produce a waxy bloom. Kaolin is a clay material that is used along with the binder and pigment to form the colored pencil. It is harder than the wax-based pencils and takes more time and pressure to produce very intense and dark values in your drawing. It is, however, worth the time and effort to prevent the wax bloom problem.

Another question that is frequently asked about colored pencils is how to sharpen them to avoid breakage. There is actually no way to completely prevent breakage within the pencil. Sometimes this happens during manufacturing and/or shipping, but can also occur if the pencil is dropped. Some colored pencils are glued inside along the lead all the way down the casing to prevent it from breaking off as it is sharpened. Others are only spot glued or not at all. This is up to the manufacturer and can be an indication of quality. When sharpening, you should always use a hand held sharpener that you have reserved only for your colored pencils. It is advised that you turn the sharpener around the pencil instead of turning the pencil in the sharpener. This will reduce the stress on the lead itself. Also, it is best not to sharpen to a blunt point unless you need a very fine line. The fine point can easily break off before you actually wear it down. There are pencil extenders that allow you to continue using the pencils up to the very last little nub, and with proper care, you can avoid wasting any of your colored pencil.

Whether you are using color pencils for the first time or have been using them forever, there are new developments in the quality and selection of this fine art material every day! So keep a watchful eye out for new products to enhance your unique art experience!