Start with a light base
Hold the crayon at a slight angle and use its side for large regions. A light first pass leaves room for a second color and reduces waxy ridges. Change direction between layers to fill the paper texture more evenly.
Control edges with the tip
Turn to the pointed end only when you reach a border or small detail, then return to the side for the center. Keep the page on a firm, smooth surface and rotate it rather than twisting your wrist around every corner.
Layer two related colors
A darker version of the base color makes simple shading easy: blue over pale blue, or orange over yellow. Try the technique on a large-region page from the printable library before moving to intricate art.