How to: Grizaye Drawing Kits

How to: Grizaye Drawing Kits

Draw Like a Pro Using Our Grayed Image as Your Guide!

If you’ve ever found yourself hesitating at the blank page, overwhelmed by proportions, lighting, or color choices—you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we created Grizaye Drawing Kits: to take the guesswork out of the equation and let you focus on what matters most—your art.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how our kits work, why they’re different, and how to get the most out of your Grizaye drawing experience.

What Is a Grizaye Drawing Kit?

A Grizaye Drawing Kit is a guided art project designed to help you create realistic colored pencil artwork with confidence—without the overwhelm of starting from scratch.

What’s Included?

  • Grizaye - Our signature “Grizaye” — a grayed-out image that is expertly adjusted to soften the darks and enhance the details for easy layering of color. Each images is printed on Legion Stonehenge Warm White fine art paper, prized for its smooth surface and ideal tooth for colored pencils.
  • Photos - A reference photo and close-up detail image(s) to guide your shading, textures, and color choices.
  • Step-by-Step - A simplified step-by-step instruction guide to walk you through the process from start to finish.
  • Color Guide – A numbered guide showing suggested pencil colors for each area. Follow it using the included colored pencils, match with another brand, or go freestyle—it’s up to you.
  • Swatch Sheet - an ATC size of the Legion paper to test and match colors before applying them to your final artwork.
  • Colored Pencils - A curated set of 12 Grizaye Velvet Touch Colored Pencils that perfectly match the project.
  • A pencil sharpener to get you started with a new sharp blade for precision work.
  • A clear pencil case for storing your project pencils.

Notes: Not all kits include the above list. Most kits are available without the pencil set. See kit descriptions for details.

Many kits also include access to a companion online class to walk you through the project in real time. Check the product page for availability.

How to Use a Grizaye Drawing Kit

Create stunning artwork in 3 simple steps

Step 1: Start with the Grizaye
Begin by reviewing the reference photo and the grayscale underdrawing. Notice where the light, shadow, and texture fall. Use the swatch sheet to test your pencils and get familiar with how the colors look layered over the gray base.

 

Step 2: Layer in Color
Follow the color guide or go your own way. Build up light layers slowly, using the grayscale as your value map. Focus on smooth transitions, blending, and increasing depth through layering.

 

Step 3: Finish with Details
Add your highlights, textures, and any finishing touches. You can burnish certain areas if you like. Step back and admire your completed work - you just created something you'll be proud to share and display!

 

What Makes Grizaye Different?

Traditional drawing kits often fall short in one of two ways:

1. They offer a blank page and expect you to draw perfectly from scratch.

2. Or they provide a fully outlined image that feels more like a coloring book than a true art experience.

Grizaye strikes the perfect balance. With subtle grayscale shading already in place, you’re not tracing or guessing—you’re building. This is a professional-level underpainting designed to support realistic results without taking away the joy or challenge of making art.

 

Why Not Just Use a Regular Outline?

While basic line drawings have their place, they often leave you guessing where the shadows fall or how dark to go. Grizaye gives you a clear advantage:

  • Better Depth & Realism
    The grayscale underdrawing provides a built-in value map, so highlights shine and shadows add convincing depth.

  • Faster Progress
    Skip the drawing phase and dive right into layering color—ideal for those with limited time or who prefer to focus on technique and finish.

  • More Successful Results
    Artists of all skill levels are surprised by how polished and professional their finished work looks. With Grizaye, results that once felt out of reach become completely doable.

Tips for a Successful Grizaye Project

Take Your Time
These kits are meant to slow you down and help you build skill with every layer. Don’t rush—careful work leads to better results.

Start with the Darks
Begin by blocking in the darkest areas first. This helps preserve shadow depth as you build up color. While it may feel backward from how you were taught, it’s a valuable approach for working with a Grizaye underpainting.

Work in Light Layers
Use light pressure and build up gradually. This allows for smoother blending, cleaner transitions, and fewer mistakes.

Push Your Values
Realism comes from contrast. Don’t shy away from your darks. Deep shadows and strong highlights are what make your artwork pop.

Trust the Underpainting
The grayscale is there to guide you. It blends naturally with your pencil layers and enhances the depth of the final piece. Make sure your values are strong before you begin fully layering color, so you don’t lose those important details.

Customize Your Work
The kit is a guide, not a rulebook. Add a background, adjust colors, or insert your own touches to make it personal and unique.

Frame and Display It
All Grizaye kits are sized to fit standard mats and frames. Framing your finished piece transforms it into a polished, professional-looking work of art you’ll be proud to display.

 

Pro Tips & Tools

Try Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS)
Looking for smoother blends or faster coverage? OMS dissolves the pencil pigment, creating soft, painterly washes that dry quickly and accept more layers on top. You’ll need a brush and OMS (not included), but it’s an easy and rewarding upgrade.

Use an Embossing Stylus for Texture
An embossing stylus lets you pre-etch textures like fur, whiskers, or blades of grass into the paper. These areas resist pigment, revealing the paper color—or any base color you apply beforehand. It’s an advanced but simple technique that adds impressive realism and detail. The tool is inexpensive and widely available (but not included in the kit).

Apply a Colorless Blender for a Polished Finish
After layering your colors, we recommend using our Grizaye Burnisher Blender Pencil. This colorless tool helps seamlessly blend and unify colors, saving both time and pencil. Burnishing select areas also brightens your hues and smooths the surface, giving your finished drawing a more polished, professional appearance. It’s the perfect final step to pull everything together.

 

What Artists Are Saying

“I thought this would be like a paint-by-number. It’s not. It’s real art, and it’s helping me build confidence to try my own drawings.” — Morgan S.

“The quality of the paper, the smooth pencils, and the value study already done? Game changer.” — James R.

 

Ready to Try One?

Whether you're a beginner looking to learn or a seasoned artist wanting to enjoy the process more, Grizaye Drawing Kits make it easy to create art you’re proud of.

Shop All Drawing Kits 

 

Back to blog