How to Color Glowing Pumpkins without Florescent Markers or Colored Pencils
WHAT’S THE SECRET TO BRIGHT GLOWING PUMPKINS?
You’ve colored Jack o’ Lanterns before. Coloring the eyes, nose, and mouth holes yellow doesn’t work.
You want the light inside to glow like a candle in the dark.
Instead it just looks… flat and yellow.
It’s easy to assume you need neon gel pens or special day-glow paint to make Halloween projects glow.
There are lots of crafty bright glitter-glues and glow-in-the-dark puffy paints.
Sure, they glow but it’s not a realistic glow.
Why is it so hard to color a real glowing pumpkin?
“Pumpkin Stack”. Copic Marker + Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Strathmore 300 Smooth Bristol. 6” x 6” by the author, Amy Shulke.
WATCH: GLOWING PUMPKINS WITHOUT BRIGHT COLORS
(project supply list at end of this article)
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TIPS FOR COLORING REALISTIC GLOW
1. Stop assuming there’s a “magic” craft product which can substitute for good coloring
Artists have been creating warm glows for centuries without the use of puffy paint. This effect is easier than you think and it doesn’t require a master’s degree in advanced realistic painting to do it.
You can create warm inner glows with the markers and pencils you already have in your collection. In the video, I’ll show you how I do it.
2. It’s not about the glow
People tend to focus on the yellow eyes, nose, and mouth… desperately searching for a brighter, bolder yellow art supply which will finally create the glow you’re looking for.
Actually, your yellow is probably fine.
It’s the colors all around your yellow that are killing the glow. In the video, we’ll discuss why the orange and surrounding colors are responsible for killing your yellow glow.
LEARN MARKER + PENCIL COLORING TECHNIQUES
Marker with a dash of colored pencil…
The Blend - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses solely on smooth blending with Copic Markers. Learn to blend or improve your current blending technique with this intensive skill building approach to coloring.
Colored pencil with a touch of marker…
The Point - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses on efficient techniques for Prismacolor colored pencils. Learn to layer colors with confidence and artistry through this intensive skill building approach to coloring.
TECHNIQUES USED IN “PUMPKIN STACK”
The following techniques can be spotted in the GLOWING PUMPKINS video:
I underpaint with two violet markers. Yes, there’s lots of purple under the black hat AND under the orange. Watch the video to see how I do it.
I also underpaint areas of the hat and pumpkins with yellow. Underpaint isn’t always for shade!
No black markers were used on the hat. If you look closely, the inside rim of the brim was done with a black colored pencil but that’s the only black. If you want a dimensional hat, you can’t color it black because then how do you shade something that’s already black?
Most of the details are added with a dark purple colored pencil. Why doesn’t it look like purple? Ahhh, that’s a secret we cover in the Pumpkin Stack class at Color Wonk!
HALLOWEEN SMILES
Pumpkin Stack is my latest digital line art for members of my monthly intermediate coloring group, Color Wonk.
Every month, Color Wonk members receive a new coloring challenge plus a full livestreamed demonstration with Q&A.
Receive feedback on your project in our exclusive forums or even personal coaching. Learn easy fine-art techniques to improve the look of your coloring AND make coloring easier!
Pumpkin Stack digital package is exclusive to Color Wonk in 2024. Access ends October 31, 2024. Pumpkin Stack may return as a coloring kit in fall of 2025 at Sketch-Garden.com
MORE HALLOWEEN PROJECTS
(click the pic for more info)
COLORS USED IN “PUMPKIN STACK”
List contains affiliate links to Amazon, Dick Blick, and other trusted retailers. List also located at bottom of this page.
ADVANCED COLORING
INTERMEDIATE COLORING
WE TEST ORANGE INK
MAKE ORANGE BEAUTIFUL
UNDERPAINT ARCHIVE