Let’s Create Organic Greens

Add dimension and realism by underpainting with Copic Markers! Use R14 underneath your YG blending combination to neutralize vibrant warm yellow greens in a very natural way.

Vanilla Arts Company teaches Online Workshops using the underpainting method. Students learn to layer colors realistically rather than blend.

Underpainting creates natural colors found in everyday life.

Bonsai Green

Elena’s Advice:

If you want to color something with a neutral dark green, stop looking through your YG or G markers for that perfect color. Instead, do what I do, grab a R marker! Why you ask? Because more YG or G will not make a subtle or neutral green. The combination of the R, and YG marker families will blend together to create that neutralized green you’re looking for!

Though the mixing of these colors may scare you at first, don’t worry! As long as you use a good coat of the second (YG97), third (YG95), and forth (YG93) markers you will be fine. Give the Copic ink time to blend.

Remember, it’s always good practice to swatch your colors. It’s a great warm up for your coloring session and builds color confidence.

Green Workshops

Vanilla Arts Company - Dragonfly

Vanilla Arts Company - Tonic

Crafts for Paws - Online Coloring Classes (Water Lily).

Further Reading:

Improve Your Copic Coloring : Are Your Darks Dark Enough

Why Pretty Copic Markers Make Your Coloring Look Flat

Looking for More Underpainting Combinations?

Elena Cazares is a Vanilla Arts student and a budding online instructor with beautiful sense of color and style. She is a hurricane of positive creative energy.

Elena runs CraftsForPaws.com, a 501(c)(3) non profit animal rescue. C4P’s donates 100% of their profits to rescue and care for worst-case stray dogs and cats in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

Shop to benefit Crafts for Paws at their sister site - Violeta Ink. Join Elena’s Copic Coloring Club here for online class announcements and catch her YouTube cardmaking series here.