Coloring with Marker & Pencil: The Things We Never Think About
WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BE CREATIVE?
Coloring with alcohol markers and colored pencils is so much fun!
But there’s one little problem…
Your coloring looks great when you’re following a tutorial or taking a class.
But on your own?
You don’t know how to choose good colors
You’re not sure which colors to use where
And you’ve got some cute stamps but you can never think of anything clever to do with them.
Friends and family call you “creative” but you know deep inside, you know you’re really just copying someone else— they’re the truly creative person, not you.
Why is it so hard to be creative?
And shouldn’t you feel more creative now that you’re coloring a lot? Why do you feel less creative than ever?
That’s what we’re talking about in today’s video!
“Sugar Raven”. Copic Marker + Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Strathmore Bristol. 12x16” by the author, Amy Shulke.
WATCH: THE THINGS WE NEVER THINK ABOUT
(project supply list at end of this article)
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TIPS FOR MASTERING BASIC COLORING SKILLS
1. Try not to jump levels
Do you watch a beginner lesson, then an advanced demonstration, then jump to an intermediate tutorial?
In today’s video we discuss how a disorderly approach to learning tricks you into thinking you know more than you actually know.
Be sure to watch for a full exploration!
2. Avoid crafty and student grade art supplies
Learning to color is hard enough without fighting your tools!
Simple skills like blending and shading are easy to learn if you’re working with markers and pencil that want to blend and shade.
Yes, there are cheaper markers and pencils available but what’s your goal?
If you can’t blend and give up in frustration, was it really a bargain?
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 “SUGAR RAVEN”
The following techniques can be spotted in the THINGS YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT video:
I almost never color with black markers— afterall, how do you shade something you’ve already colored black? The darkest marker used in Sugar Raven is a C9 gray. This allows me value-room to sculpt the feathers with a 90% Cool Gray pencil and just a touch of Black.
If there’s a face in the project, that’s where I start! It’s easy to toss 20 minutes worth of coloring if I make a ruinous mistake on the face. Now imagine spending 3 hours on the entire body and background only to mess up on the face you nervously saved for last!
Not everything has to be pure photo-realism! I developed a fully realistic face but the body features playful splashes of color. Then the floral elements are pure fun with no intention of realism.
The color palette was finalized ahead of time and I stayed faithful to the palette throughout. Too many people introduce new colors late in the process which then damages the professional appearance. Resist the temptation!
COLOR A HALLOWEEN RAVEN
Sugar Raven is my latest artistic coloring kit at Sketch-Garden.com
I design line art especially for marker, colored pencil, watercolor, and mixed media colorists. The spaces are wide open with no texture marks or funky shapes which look cool as a sketch but don’t quite make sense when coloring.
Thoughtfully drawn line art allows YOUR coloring to be the star of the show!
Sugar Raven Kit includes line art, 30 page guidebook, and 3.5 hours of video inspiration to color your own ominous bird of yore.
MORE HALLOWEEN PROJECTS
(click the pic for more info)
ADVANCED COLORING
INTERMEDIATE COLORING
WE TEST ORANGE INK
MAKE ORANGE BEAUTIFUL
UNDERPAINT ARCHIVE