Some time back I posted a graphite drawing of an apple. The challenge was to use only one pencil. Time for another challenge. I thought I’d try to do the same scene in colored pencils. Even though I’m very new to the medium, I was generally pleased with the result. What do you think?
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Looks great! Did you limit the number of colored pencils at all? Seems realistic though I can’t pick out a primary light source.
The only other thing is white balance, your paper appears alsmost light blue (very cold) to me, could be my display or yours. In Irfanview or Photoshop there’s a white balance function where you eye dropper the brightest white in the scene (the paper in this case) and it tunes the image to have that as white to fix any display/camera white balance settings.
If I’m the only one seeing the paper as a blueish tint, then it’s probably just me but I have seen all the others with a neutral to slightly warm white on their paper today.
Here’s one I just ran through an online white balance corrector making it 10% warmer
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Thanks for the feedback. I adjusted the photo and reloaded it.
Looks great and no more bluish paper. To me, there are two lighsources coming roughly from the same direction (a bit higher than the middle of the apples, left side). The apples look very yummy. In both drawings, I a
Would expect more middletones for a full range, though it’s always a challenge with yellows (always light) and both reds and greens, wich tent to be dark an are quite similar in their gray scales. I really like how the leaves are curving along with their shadows on the apples. Great!!!
Hello Tom, thank you so much for sharing your lovely apple drawings.
The drawing per se is excellent, very elegant and makes the viewers feel comfortable with the gentleness.
To me, though, maybe it is due to the photo reference you use, the apple seems a bit wizened.
I myself am pretty picky when selecting reference photos for my own drawings and in this case, I would have looked for a photo of an apple which looks fresher.
I once did an apple drawing with a ballpoint pen before, and maybe you can see from the reflections of the apple that it is a very fresh apple.
It is really up to what you want to express by drawing apples…I myself prefer shiny, freshly-looking apples because they appear to be more yummy, which makes me think I want to draw such apples, which choice makes me select a reference photo which meets my expectation.
If you want to make a wizened apple speak something about, e.g. maturing, then a reference photo of a less-shiny apple is the right choice.
Hope this is of any use for your future creative activities. 
I used three shades of green, three shades of red, cream, chartruese, neon yellow, white, dark brown (lightly used) and indigo blue with a couple of shades of gray for the cast shadow.
Very nicely one. Love it.
Beautiful and realistic drawings!
I recently made and posted my very first graphite portrait of my dog. The paper in the picture I posted looks bluish because I took the picture outdoors. All the other pictures of my drawings that I take indoors under my kitchen lights are a warmer white, closer to the tone they naturally have when viewing in person.
Hi Tom -
What a great job with those textures, both in B&W and color.
If you want another colored pencil challenge, check out Matt’s older live lesson of a peony. I’m doing that one right now myself.
Terri Robichon
Wow - those are both fabulous. Love the textures
I appreciate that. As to “another…challenge” I’m working on paint with watercolors. I’ve painted this same image. Perhaps I’ll post it and add it to the collection. 
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Thanks, Junenez. Creating texture is always a challenge, isn’t it.
That would be fun to see.
Terri Robichon
I made this apple following a tutorial from another artist (Gemma Chambers) who specializes on colored pencils, graphite, and pastel pencils before I found TVI. I was very pleased with how it turned out. It was made on half sheet of smooth bristol paper with Prismacolor premier.
Also did the tulip with her tutorial on 9x12 bristol vellum with polychromos colored pencils. Finished the tulip about two weeks ago (whatever the date says)
after I had the sketch done for a long while.
Meme5, I’m very impressed with what you’ve done. The apple looks good enough to eat, and the tulip looks like it just came out of a garden.
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I’ll have to take a picture and share it with you. I thought I had one, but I don’t.
OK, Terri. Here you go. I never intended to share this. It was a sketch, kind of like “Getting Sketchy.” Just something I did quickly to get an idea of what colors, etc. to use. But I will eventually do a finished painting. Thanks for your interest.
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Great series. A well done quick watercolor. I can never manage to do anything that is quick.
Terri Robichon
Thank you for your nice comment. I love YOUR amazing work on both your apples, very impressive. Although I’m happy with my drawings I am not quite there yet as far as doing a colored pencil drawing without a tutorial. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually, in the meantime I’ll practice, practice, practice! 