Color Theory for Markers & Pencils: Shade a Warm Green Leaf (Live Swatching - Episode 3)

Use color theory to select realistic alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
 

Color Theory for Warm Green Alcohol Markers

Episode 3 - Green Leaf (Lily of the Valley) Swatching

Alcohol markers are popular for blending but the technique often results in cartoonish and flat leaves. Light-medium-dark green combinations do not look realistic. In this free video series, illustrator Amy Shulke shares her color theory process to select realistic, dimensional colors which blend beautifully.

 
 

Resources & Learning Aids

VanillaArts.com
 
Use color theory to select realistic alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers.
 

Watch the FREE video at YouTube

In this episode, Amy shares her color swatching process to select the ideal blending combination to color the warm green leaves of Lily of the Valley.

Supplies and colors are listed at the bottom of this page

Did you miss Episode 2? watch it here:

 

Amy’s Swatch Sheet

(to be scanned immediately after the livestream, notes were made during the broadcast except for bottom ID and date)

TIP: YG markers are more organic than G Copic

I see more YG green colors in nature than G greens. There are some pine type trees that are truly G green but most of the plants in my garden and trees in my yard are definite YG.

Bonus: G markers are harder to blend, so YGs are a better investment for beginners.

TIP: Dark backgrounds distort the color in photo references.

I recommend using photo references to select marker colors but when your object sits on a black (or dark) background, the black changes how you see the color. Our green leaves look lighter and more golden on the black field than they would on white.

TIP: If the RV pink underneath green scares you, try a B marker.

Blue under green looks beautiful and blue inks blend like a dream. In fact, I teach underpainting to beginners using the B-Twenty or B-Thirty blues under YG markers. My RV marker today looks more interesting under green but blue is a classic.

 
Learn color theory! Illustrator Amy Shulke’s free YouTube series applies theory to Copic Markers. Color along with the three month kit including digi stamps, worksheets, color wheel. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
 

Purchase the Kit

Color along with Amy - Spring 2023 Color Theory kit

Files for THREE months of YouTube lessons: March, April, and May.

Easy PDF digital downloads include:

  • 3 flower blossom PNG digital stamps—

    • Daffodil (episode 2)

    • Lily of the Valley (episode 4)

    • Dogwood (episode 6)

  • 3 PDF worksheets (March, April, May) targeting specific colors from the photo reference

  • Amy’s PDF Copic color wheel

 

Free Photo Reference

Our lily of the valley photo reference provides lots of green inspiration.

References are important because you can’t color realistic green until you can see realistic green.

Download the free photo reference from Pixabay here.

pixabay.com
 

Color like an Artist

Vanilla Beans is a weekly Saturday newsletter full of coloring tips and articles about developing your artistry.

Announcements and video notifications are also sent to this mailing list. Click to subscribe.

 
 
 

Beginner level. Click above for more info.

 

Color with Green

Designed for large scale, realistic coloring. Amy’s illustrations are drawn with minimal texture marks or decorations to let your marker art shine.

 

Take a Class

Amy has classes featuring yellow and yellow coloring technique

Or focus on blending skills

 

More About Green Markers

We test Copic Markers for lightfastness, cap accuracy, value, and more. You'll color better when you know the ink better. | VanillaArts.com | alcohol markers

We test Copic inks. See results here.

Learn to underpaint with Copic Markers for amazing color Copic doesn't make! | VanillaArts.com | Realistic coloring with alcohol markers

Copic underpaint blending recipes.

Copic Color Palettes add a taste of color theory to your next project. Free palette recipes for alcohol markers. | VanillaArts.com

Copic project palettes using color theory.

 

We love Violeta-Ink.com

Be sure to tell them Amy sent you!

 

SUPPLY LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT COLOR CHOICES MADE DURING THE LIVESTREAM

 
 
 
Free Video! Color spring green leaves using a color theory blending combination for Copic Markers and colored pencils.  | VanillaArts.com | How to color with alcohol markers.