ASBA 2025 - Crystal Shin - Demystifying the Colored Pencil Toolbox

Demystifying the Colored Pencil Toolbox with Crystal Shin

Friday, October 17, 2025
9am – 4pm

Over the years, Crystal has accumulated and learned to use various tools to achieve the realistic effects and textures of her botanical subjects. She often works without a plan, finding colored pencils to be a forgiving medium. By trial and error, she enjoys fearlessly experimenting, developing new approaches, and expanding her toolbox and techniques. Join Crystal as she shares and reveals her colored pencil drawing tools, methods, and materials to help you begin your own journey of expanding your toolbox.

Supplies:

• Colored pencils: any of your favorite artist quality-colored pencils. I use various pencil brands, including Faber-Castell, Caran d’Ache Luminance & Supracolor Soft, Prisma Premier, Derwent Lightfast, and Staedtler. Bring only what you can travel with.
• Paper: I use various papers depending on the subject. If you can bring one sheet of smooth surface paper and one sheet of a slightly textured paper, it will be best to practice on different subjects. I can also share a small piece of paper.
• Smooth paper: Strathmore Bristol Smooth surface 400 or 300 series or Fluid HP watercolor paper
• Slightly textured paper: Legion Stonehenge white, Strathmore Bristol Vellum, any hot-pressed watercolor paper such as Fabriano Classico 5 or Artistico
• Tracing Paper (I like the Canson brand.)
• Graphite Pencils: HB or F for pencil sketch, and 2H for transferring
• Pencil Sharpener: Desktop hand-cranked sharpener such as Rapesco 64, or Muji
• Erasers: Tombow mono zero eraser, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, or (optional) battery-operated eraser
• Sandpaper block or fine grit sandpaper above 400 grits
• Blender: any brand. I like the Caran D’Ache Full Blender
• Embossing tools in sizes of 0.5/1.0/1.5 mm 
• Paper stumps or tortillons (small sizes)
• Watercolor brush: Any brand with good tips. For example, size 4 for wash and size zero or lower for details. Or a small-tipped water brush pen.
• Magnifying glass
• A backing board that you can attach a paper to
• Digital devices such as a phone, a tablet, if you have them.
• Light: a portable lamp (battery-operated daylight type)
• Seam rippers (Optional. Bring only if you have one.)
• Eraser shield (Optional. Bring only if you have one.)
• X-acto knife or Craft blade (Optional. Bring only if you can travel with it.)

I will bring some materials to share with the class, such as Scotch Tape, Frisket, solvent, Q-tips, and small samples of different papers. Please feel free to email Crystal with any questions regarding materials at mailto:crystal603@gmail.com. Website: crystalshinart.com • Instagram: @crystalflorafossil

In this class, we will explore incising techniques using various subjects, including leaves and fruits such as tomatoes, apples, pears, and limes. ASBA will provide the subjects, but please feel free to bring your subject if you’d like.