How to Create Colored Pencil Art Using Midjourney

I’ve been working with Midjourney to create digital art that mimics traditional colored pencil techniques. The results have been amazing, and I want to share what I’ve learned with you.

Traditional colored pencil art has a distinct charm that’s hard to replicate digitally. The medium offers a unique combination of precision and warmth that many artists love.

Colored pencils allow for incredible control over details while maintaining a soft, organic feel. The layering of colors creates depth and dimension that’s distinctive to this medium. Artists can build up colors gradually, creating rich textures and subtle color transitions.

What makes colored pencil art special is the visible strokes and textures. Unlike digital art that can sometimes look too perfect, colored pencil work shows the human touch – the small irregularities and the careful application of pressure to create varying levels of intensity.

Create a Base Prompt for Midjourney

To get Midjourney to create colored pencil style art, you need a well-crafted base prompt. After many tests, I’ve found this base prompt works well:

[subject], drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background.

Let’s break down why each part of this prompt matters:

Prompt Breakdown

• “[subject]” – This is where you specify what you want to draw. Be specific and descriptive about your subject.
• “drawn with colored pencils” – This tells Midjourney the exact medium to mimic.
• “rich texture” – This helps create the look of pencil marks on paper, adding that tactile quality.
• “soft shading” – Colored pencils typically create gradual, soft transitions between colors and tones.
• “vibrant colors” – This ensures your art has the bright, rich colors that quality colored pencils can achieve.
• “color pencil strokes” – This is crucial for authenticity – it makes sure the AI includes visible pencil marks.
• “subtle highlights and shadows” – This adds depth and dimension to your art.
• “white paper background” – This simulates the traditional white paper that colored pencil artists use, which allows the colors to stand out.

18 Example Prompts

I’ve tested numerous variations and want to share some examples that worked particularly well. Each of these builds upon our base prompt:

• A classic red and white lighthouse on a rocky shore, waves crashing, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A pair of cute penguins waddling on ice, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A glass bottle with a tiny ship inside, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A wooden sailboat floating on a calm lake at sunset, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A majestic wolf standing on a rocky cliff, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A magical fairy sitting on a mushroom, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A cute teddy bear holding a heart-shaped balloon, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with condensation, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A cute baby chick standing on grass, fluffy feathers, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A panda munching on bamboo, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A wise old owl sitting on a tree branch at night, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A glass jar filled with colorful candies, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A cozy winter cabin surrounded by snow, smoke coming from the chimney, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A hummingbird hovering near a pink hibiscus flower, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A cute baby elephant playing with water, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A slice of juicy watermelon with seeds, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A sunflower in full bloom with bright yellow petals, drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, color pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background. –ar 3:4

• A fluffy cat with blue eyes drawn with colored pencils, rich texture, soft shading, vibrant colors, visible pencil strokes, subtle highlights and shadows, white paper background –ar 3:4

Tips for Improving Your Prompts

Based on my experience with these prompts, here are some ways to make them even better:

Add Specific Details

The more specific you are about your subject, the better the results. Instead of “a cat,” try “a fluffy orange tabby cat with green eyes and a white-tipped tail.”

Specify Lighting Conditions

Lighting dramatically affects how colored pencil art looks. Try adding descriptions like “soft morning light,” “dramatic side lighting,” or “warm sunset glow.”

Mention Textures

Colored pencils excel at showing textures. Mention specific textures you want to highlight: “rough tree bark,” “smooth silk ribbon,” or “fuzzy peach skin.”

Color Palette Guidance

You can suggest specific color palettes: “using only blue and purple tones,” “warm autumn colors,” or “pastel color palette.”

Layer Instructions

Colored pencil artists often layer colors. Try adding “heavily layered colors,” “light layering technique,” or “burnished colored pencil technique.”

Paper Type Variations

While white paper is standard, you can experiment with: “toned gray paper,” “cream-colored paper,” or “textured watercolor paper.”

Technical Specifications

For more control, specify: “detailed cross-hatching technique,” “circular stroke pattern,” or “pointillism colored pencil technique.”

Creating colored pencil art with Midjourney has become one of my favorite techniques. The combination of traditional art styling with AI capabilities gives me the best of both worlds – the warmth and texture of hand-drawn art with the speed and flexibility of digital creation.

The key to success is crafting detailed prompts that truly capture what makes colored pencil art special – the visible strokes, the layering of colors, the interaction with the paper, and the subtle imperfections that make it feel handmade.

I encourage you to start with the base prompt I provided and then modify it to fit your specific artistic vision. With some experimentation, you’ll quickly develop a feel for what works best for different subjects and styles.

What colored pencil creations will you make with these prompts? I’d love to see what you come up with!