What Is Burnishing in Colored Pencil?
Burnishing in colored pencil is the process of pressing down layered pigment until the paper tooth is filled and the surface looks smooth, glossy, and highly blended.
It is a finishing technique used to create a polished appearance, stronger color saturation, and fewer visible pencil strokes.
Artists use burnishing when they want a drawing to look more like a painted surface than a sketch.
The effect can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the pencil type, paper, and amount of pressure applied.
How Burnishing Works
Colored pencil pigment sits on top of the paper rather than soaking into it.
Paper has texture, often called tooth, and that texture holds multiple layers of color.
During burnishing, heavy pressure compresses those layers into the tooth, flattening the surface and mixing the pigments visually.
This creates several noticeable changes:
- The paper texture becomes less visible.
- Colors appear deeper and more unified.
- Transitions between hues look smoother.
- The finished area may develop a slight sheen.
Burnishing is especially effective on subjects that benefit from a finished, realistic surface, such as fruit, flowers, skin, fabric, and polished objects.
Why Artists Use Burnishing
Burnishing is not just about making a drawing look glossy.
It is also a control technique that can solve common colored pencil problems, especially when a piece starts to look grainy or underdeveloped.
Common reasons to burnish
- To remove visible paper texture.
- To intensify color saturation.
- To blend layers without solvents.
- To create a smooth, realistic finish.
- To unify multiple colors in one area.
Because burnishing compresses pigment so tightly, it can help a drawing feel complete and deliberate.
It is often used as one of the final steps in a piece.
What Tools Can Be Used for Burnishing?
Burnishing can be done with several tools, and each one creates a slightly different effect.
The best choice depends on the look you want and how much control you need.
Burnishing with a colorless blender
A colorless blender is a wax- or solvent-based pencil without pigment.
It helps press down the existing layers and smooth the surface without adding new color.
This is useful when you want to preserve the original palette.
Burnishing with a light pencil
A white or very light colored pencil can be used to burnish and lighten the area slightly while smoothing the texture.
This is common in highlights, soft fabrics, and pastel-toned subjects.
Burnishing with a matching color
Using the same or a similar colored pencil to burnish strengthens the hue and deepens the value.
This works well for rich shadows, saturated petals, and objects with bold color.
Using a burnishing pencil or heavy pressure
Some pencil sets include pencils labeled as burnishing pencils.
In practice, the result often comes from the pressure and pigment formula more than the label.
Firm pressure with a sharp or slightly dulled pencil tip can produce the same effect.
What Paper Works Best for Burnishing?
Paper choice has a major impact on burnishing.
Because the technique relies on compressing pigment into the tooth, the paper’s texture determines how much layering is possible before the surface closes up.
Best paper characteristics
- Moderate tooth for good layering capacity.
- Durable surface that can tolerate heavy pressure.
- Archival quality for long-term artwork.
Very smooth paper can burnish quickly but may limit layering.
Rough paper can hold more pigment but may require more effort to achieve a fully polished finish.
Bristol vellum, hot press watercolor paper, and high-quality drawing paper are common choices depending on the style.
How to Burnish Colored Pencil Step by Step
The easiest way to burnish is to build up color gradually before applying firm pressure.
Starting too soon can damage the paper or create uneven color.
- Lay down base layers. Use light pressure to establish form, color, and value.
- Add midlayers. Increase saturation and refine transitions with controlled layering.
- Assess the surface. Burnishing works best when most of the paper tooth is already filled.
- Apply firm pressure. Use a blender, light pencil, or matching color to press and smooth the layers.
- Finish selectively. Burnish only where a polished effect is needed, rather than the entire drawing.
For best results, rotate the pencil frequently and keep the tip in good condition.
A blunt point can cover more area, while a sharper point can target smaller details.
When Should You Burnish?
Burnishing is most effective near the end of the drawing process.
If used too early, it can seal the paper before enough pigment has been layered, making it harder to add more color later.
It is often best to burnish when:
- The value structure is already established.
- The color relationships are mostly correct.
- You want to smooth out a specific section.
- The drawing needs a final increase in saturation.
Many artists use burnishing selectively instead of across the entire piece.
This helps preserve contrast and avoid a flattened look.
What Is the Difference Between Burnishing and Blending?
Burnishing and blending are closely related, but they are not the same thing.
Blending generally means softening transitions between colors.
Burnishing goes further by pressing the pigment into the paper and changing the surface texture.
- Blending focuses on smooth transitions and color harmony.
- Burnishing focuses on compression, saturation, and a polished finish.
You can blend without fully burnishing, but burnishing usually includes some level of blending because the layers are pushed together so tightly.
What Are the Risks of Burnishing?
Although burnishing is useful, it has limitations.
Heavy pressure can reduce future layering, flatten texture too much, or create wax bloom on some wax-based pencils.
It can also damage delicate paper if applied before enough base layers are in place.
Common problems to avoid
- Burnishing too early in the drawing.
- Using excessive pressure on thin paper.
- Overworking one area until the paper surface breaks down.
- Relying on burnishing to fix weak values or poor color planning.
If you need additional adjustments after burnishing, some artists use solvent, gouache, or light touch-up layers on top, depending on the materials used.
Burnishing Tips for Better Colored Pencil Results
Strong burnishing results come from planning, patience, and the right materials.
A thoughtful approach will usually produce a cleaner finish than trying to force the surface into place.
- Choose paper with enough tooth for your drawing goals.
- Build layers gradually before applying pressure.
- Use burnishing only where a smooth, finished look is needed.
- Test your pencil brand, since wax-based and oil-based pencils behave differently.
- Keep highlights in mind, because burnishing can reduce the brightness of untouched paper.
In realistic colored pencil work, burnishing is often the step that turns layered color into a convincing, unified surface.
It is not required for every artwork, but when used intentionally, it can dramatically improve finish quality and visual depth.
When Burnishing Works Best in Different Subjects
Burnishing is especially useful in subjects that have smooth, reflective, or soft surfaces.
It can help mimic the way light moves across skin, fruit skins, glass, satin, and petals.
- Portraits: smooth skin tones and soften transitions.
- Still life: enhance shine on apples, ceramics, and metal.
- Botanicals: unify petal color and reduce graininess.
- Animal fur: use carefully to smooth small highlighted areas, but avoid flattening texture everywhere.
Because burnishing changes the surface character of the drawing, it should support the subject rather than override it.
