Exploring Drafting Film: A New Challenge for Coloured Pencil Portraits

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a wonderful start to the year.

This is my first blog of 2026, and I thought I’d begin by sharing a little challenge I set myself over the festive period — drawing a wildlife portrait on drafting film. I’ve seen so many artists talk about the benefits of this surface, particularly the level of detail that can be achieved, so I decided it was time to find out for myself how it feels and performs for coloured pencil work.

What is Drafting Film?

You might be wondering what drafting film actually is. The film I used is Grafix Dura-Lar .005 two-sided matte film. This polyester film combines the best features of Mylar and acetate, creating a highly versatile surface that won’t tear, absorb moisture, or discolour over time. It’s acid-free and archival, meaning it will last for years without degrading. Drafting film accepts lead, ink, charcoal, paint, and coloured pencil, and it erases beautifully, which makes it an incredibly flexible medium to work on.

How Drafting Film Feels Compared to My Usual Surfaces

Drafting film is very different from the papers I usually work on, which made this challenge both exciting and daunting. I normally use hot-pressed watercolour paper and Pastelmat, both of which have a texture that allows me to build layers of pigment slowly and deliberately. Pastelmat, in particular, has a wonderful tooth that lets light colours be applied on top of dark ones. Hot-pressed watercolour paper offers more limited layering.

In contrast, drafting film is extremely smooth and thin, so it only accepts a limited number of pigment layers. This meant I had to work in a very different way to successfully create the otter portrait. I needed to be deliberate with every stroke, capturing texture and detail in fewer layers than I usually would.

Experimenting with Coloured Pencils

I started with the reeds on the right-hand side of the portrait, experimenting with different pencil brands and layering techniques. I wanted to see which pencils would grip the surface best and how they interacted when layered.

In my tests, Caran d’Ache Luminance and Derwent Lightfast pencils performed particularly well. Their creamy, buttery texture allowed me to build depth and layer colours effectively. On the other hand, Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils could be a little more challenging. Applying them over the top of other layers of the Luminance and Lightfast could sometimes lift or smear pigment, making layering tricky. I predominately used Polychromos for the piece of wood and they worked well layered on their own for this section of the portrait.

The limited layering ability of drafting film meant I completed the portrait much more quickly than I would on my usual surfaces. It forced me to be precise with colour choice and application, which was initially challenging but ultimately very rewarding. I enjoyed the process of working deliberately to capture detail with fewer layers.

The Joy of Erasing and Lifting Pigment

One of the most wonderful qualities of drafting film is that it allows you to erase pigment easily. This isn’t just for correcting mistakes — it’s a fantastic way to create texture and fine detail. I found a ceramic blade particularly useful for lifting pigment and adding tiny details, such as the texture of the otter’s fur. Using an eraser was equally satisfying for creating soft highlights and texture as you can see with the moss at the bottom of the portrait.

These techniques can be used on paper too, but the smooth, tough surface of drafting film makes lifting and removing pigment much more effective. It was a joy to experiment and discover new ways to create effects that aren’t as easy on textured papers.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

I was a little nervous about trying drafting film, knowing it would push me out of my comfort zone. But I’m so glad I did! While I certainly need more practice, the experience has given me confidence to explore drafting film for future projects. It’s a reminder that trying new materials and techniques can lead to discoveries and open doors to creative possibilities.

As we start 2026, I hope you also find opportunities to try something new — you never know what wonderful surprises might be waiting! Wishing you a fun-filled, happy, and healthy year ahead.

Best wishes

Nicola x