Let’s tame our light reds

Add dimension and realism by underpainting with Copic Markers! Use B32 underneath your R blending combination to cool off and beautifully desaturate the heat of your light red colors.

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.

Peach Dahlia

Elena’s Advice:

Shade doesn’t glow, but red does.

If you want to color something with a more sedate light red color, stop looking through your R markers for shade.

Why? Because the darker the red, the more fiery intensity it adds. Shade isn’t fiery or intense.

Instead, grab a B marker! The combination of the cool blue underneath warm marker families creates a dampening effect that makes the shady light red you’re looking for! I know, blue under red sounds scary! Trust me, the contrast of the strong R with the soft blue will show your friends how brave you are when you color with such sophistication!

Red ink can be stubborn, so use good quality paper designed for blending, not paper-crafter’s cardstock!

Tame Red Workshops

Vanilla Arts Company - Sakura Blossoms

Vanilla Arts Company - Luminous Lanterns

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

Further Reading:

Improve Your Coloring: The Color You Use is Not the Color We See

This Isn't Paint by Number - Change Your Copic Marker Blending Philosophy

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.