Woodpecker in Colored Pencil - Transfer & Supplies

Linda Greene
Sep 7
2 min read

Part 2: Transferring & Preparing the Drawing

Welcome back to Layer by Layer, where I take you through the creative process of building colored pencil artworks from the ground up. In Part 1, we explored how to choose an inspiring subject, refine the composition, and print a high-resolution reference. Now it’s time to move from planning to paper — transferring the design and preparing supplies.

1. Trace Key Outlines in a Colored Pencil Transfer Tutorial

With your final printout in hand, the next step is to create clean outlines.

Place tracing paper over your printout and lightly trace the main shapes: bird anatomy, floral curves, and supporting elements like branches.
Keep it simple — focus on structure and proportion. This stage is about framework, not shading.
I keep the digital image open on my laptop while tracing, so I can cross-check small details (like feather edges and flower petal overlaps).

Print of outline to trace. I change the feathers on this back to be more realistic before tracing.

2. Transfer to Bristol Paper for a Woodpecker Colored Pencil Tutorial

In this woodpecker colored pencil tutorial, transferring your design is a key step. Using tracing and graphite paper ensures accuracy before coloring begins. I use Strathmore Bristol 400 Series, vellum surface, cut slightly larger than the final artwork (8½ × 11 in for an 8 × 10 drawing). Tips for a Smooth Colored Pencil Transfer

Place graphite transfer paper between your tracing and the Bristol board.
Retrace your outlines with gentle pressure — just enough to leave clean marks on the Bristol.
Lift and check as you go to avoid over-darkening.

Lay printout (outlined at 8x10 on top of graphite transfer paper that is on top of Bristol vellum paper 9x12.

3. Artistic Mindset Tip

The colored pencil transfer and supplies stage prepares your drawing for success — clean outlines and the right tools set the foundation for layering color. Before picking up pencils, I decide what to tackle first. My rule: start with the most challenging area. Why? If you leave the hardest details for last, you risk frustration when energy is low. Starting with the most intricate part — like feathers or facial details — sets the tone for the rest of the drawing.

4. Gather Supplies - Supplies for Colored Pencil Transfer and Drawing Setup

Essential Supplies for a Woodpecker Colored Pencil Tutorial. Here's my go-to toolkit for colored pencil work:

Paper: Strathmore Bristol vellum surface (400 Series)
Graphite Transfer Paper: Wax-free by My Art Space
Tracing Paper: SuFly
Colored Pencils:
- Prismacolor Premier (full set of 150)
- Prismacolor Verithin (set of 36, great for details)
Sharpener: Prismacolor hand sharpener (my first choice)
Electric Eraser: AFMAT (with fine & broad tips)
Solvent: Mona Lisa Odorless Paint Thinner
Brushes: Kolinsky #2 (for solvent application), plus a soft bristle brush for eraser crumbs
Other tools: Sharpie Ultra-Fine, ruler, Caran d’Ache blender stick, painter’s tape
Personal tip: Magnification lenses (2.5x) help with fine details if you’re farsighted.

Graphite paper, print, tracing paper supplies.

✨ Next in the Series: Coloring & Bringing It to Life

In Part 3, we’ll dive into the fun part — layering colors, blending, and building depth. I’ll share progress photos at each stage, from first feather strokes to final highlights.