Strathmore Bristol Plate for Coloured Pencil – Blending, Layering & Full Review

In this coloured pencil review, I test the Strathmore 500 Series Bristol Plate paper to see how it handles blending, layering, and more.
Watch as I try Faber-Castell Polychromos, Caran d’Ache Luminance, Derwent Lightfast, and Prismacolor on this smooth Bristol Plate surface and share the results.

I go through:

How pigments layer and blend on Bristol Plate

Comparing drier vs. waxier pencils

Using blending tools (cotton buds, paper stumps)

OMS blending and the Caran d’Ache pencil blender

Testing other media like PanPastel & watercolour for underpainting

Erasing tests (kneadable eraser, Tombow Mono Zero, Slice tool, Scotch Magic Tape)

Light-on-dark performance with white pencils

Indentation techniques for fur, whiskers, and fine lines

Layering different pencil types for the smoothest finish

💡 Whether you’ve been curious about this smooth paper or wondering if it’s right for your coloured pencil projects, this video gives you a detailed, hands-on look at what works, what doesn’t, and my top tips for getting the best results.

📌 Key takeaway: Strathmore Bristol Plate is smooth, can handle 10–15 layers, and is great for detailed coloured pencil work — but certain techniques work better than others!

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🎨 Useful Links
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