Color Theory for Violet and Purple Alcohol Markers
Episode 9 - Violet (Iris) Swatching
It’s hard not to like purple and the Violet family of Copic Markers look so pretty!
But the color theory techniques we’ve used in previous episodes of our Color Theory lessons don’t work well with the V family.
Have you looked at what’s across the color wheel from violet? How do you shade with yellow????
Complementary underpainting for violet simply doesn’t work with markers.
In our blue lessons, we encountered a similar problem but violet adds two new challenges— value and temperature conflicts.
How do we shade and underpaint purple for realistic florals, clothing, or other violet objects? Episode 9 of our Applied Color Theory lessons shows you how to make beautiful purple shade with a fun twist.
Resources & Learning Aids
FREE video at YouTube
Livestreaming at YouTube on
Friday, July 21st at 1pm EDT
In this episode, Amy shares her color swatching process to select the ideal blending combination to color a sophisticated and complex violet Iris blossom…
Or is it purple? Well discuss that question!
Supplies and colors are listed at the bottom of this page. Specific markers and/or pencils will be added after the livestream ends.
Did you miss Episode 8? watch it here:
Amy’s Swatch Sheet
(scanned immediately after the livestream))
Final Violets
(chosen during the livestream)
COPIC BLEND: V17, V25, BV02, BV00, BV0000
UNDERPAINT: G94
Extra Colors
(stem and spathe)
COPIC GREEN BLEND: G94, G24, G21, G20
UNDERPAINT: V25
COPIC YELLOW BLEND: Y17, Y13
UNDERPAINT: BV02?
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
PC932 Violet, PC1008 Parma Violet, PC994 Process Red, PC1090 Kelp Green, PC1034 Goldenrod, PC938 White
PAPER: Strathmore Bristol 300, Smooth finish
TIP: Copic V markers skew warm as they get lighter
As we saw with V-Zeros and V-Teens, the lighter the color, the pinker it looks.
TIP: Value and saturation are more important than matching the color in the photo reference exactly
Value = lighter/darker Saturation = how dirty the color is. We create shade with value and saturation, so as long as we choose appropriate shade colors, it will look like a dimensional iris even if the violet isn’t a direct match.
TIP: Yellow ink is not as dark as you think
The last number on the yellow caps (the value) is often wrong by 3, 4, or even 5 steps. Yellow ink has a ton of solvent in the mixture which means a “dark” yellow often isn’t as strong as you expect for shading. The extra solvent can also damage darker markers.
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 - Summer 2023 Color Theory kit
This kit covers THREE months of YouTube lessons: June, July, and August.
Easy PDF digital downloads include:
3 flower blossom PNG digital stamps—
Forget-Me-Not (episode 8)
Iris (episode 10)
Rosebud (episode 12)
3 PDF worksheets (June, July, August) targeting specific colors from the photo reference
Amy’s PDF Copic color wheel
Free Photo Reference
Our bearded iris photo reference provides lots of violet color inspiration.
References are important because you can’t color realistic violet until you can see realistic violet.
Download the free photo reference from Pixabay here.
After You’ve Practiced…
Swatch violet markers and color along with Amy using the small bearded iris line art in the Summer 2023 kit.
Once you’ve practiced a few times and feel comfortable, use the same marker and pencil selections on a larger iris project.
Bearded Iris - Digital Line Art
Ideal for Copic Marker, colored pencil, watercolor or mixed media
Illustrated by Amy Shulke.
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Read More
Beginner level. Click above for more info.
Color with Violet and Blue Violet
Designed for large scale, realistic coloring. Amy’s illustrations are drawn with minimal texture marks or decorations to let your marker art shine.
Color “Begonia and Balloons” with the blue violet Copic Markers we select in Episode 9
Color realistic lilacs with Amy’s advanced “Sweet Lilac” kit
Take a Class
Amy has classes featuring yellow and yellow coloring technique
Or focus on blending skills
Never worry about blending again. Master beginner to advanced blends in 12 weeks.
Advanced Copic class. Create a dimensional hydrangea with warm purple and cool violet.
More About Violet Markers
We test Copic inks. See results here.
Copic underpaint blending recipes.
Copic project palettes using color theory.
Supply List
(to be updated after Amy selects markers and pencils in the June 16th livestream)
