Coloring With Copics Tips ~ Willow With Umbrella

I am really enjoying my Guest Designer stint at Whiff of Joy - Katharina was so generous with her stamps and even sent extra to use as Blog Candy, which will be coming up very soon. Todays card uses three new Whiff of Joy releases, Willow With Umbrella, the Fall Grass background stamp and a sentiment from the General Sayings Set. It was so fun to color everything with my Copic Markers  (for tips see below).  I stamp an image then watch Law & Order as I color and it is so relaxing.

This image was stamped twice so that I could cut out the umbrella, the shape and layer it so that it is both curved and three dimensional. I added some Crystal Effects to the polka dots and also the rain.

I used the second stamped image to cut Willow out to create a mask for her so that I could fit her into the Fall Grass background. I will just keep that mask with the stamp for use in the future.

My final trick on today's card was to color her eyes blue, then add a bit of Inkssentials Opaque White Pen to the pupil. I used the white pen on the rain and to highlight here and there as well.

There is so much going on with the main image and the background stamp so I kept the rest of the card simple. The sentiment was stamped on  the new Nestabilities Ribbon Tags Trio.

I sponged around the paper with a bit of pink chalk ink. Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink ribbon was slid through.

Copic Marker Tip: So many people are jumping on board the Copic wagon only to be disappointed. Play with them a bit and you will fall in love. Like any artistic product, there is a learning curve. You need to learn how to use them as they differ significantly from other mediums. I will start giving a series of tips to help you if you are new.  Be warned: I myself am still learning and hope to one day take a Copic Certification with Marianne, the Queen of the Copics.

Todays tip is layering. People hate to layer because they feel it will waste their product or ruin the paper. The magic of alcohol ink markers is that they do NOT ruin your paper, and as for the waste, the sketch and Original hold a LOT of ink and they are refillable.

Layering

Two ways of layering make alcohol markers special: tone on tone and the highlight/main/shade or highlight/main/contrast type of layering. I am completely self taught so may not use the official words, but I get a lot of e-mails asking, and that is what I do. You can get several colors from ONE marker by going over the same area again with that same color. You can't do this with water based markers as it will eventually break down the paper. The alcohol of these markers dissipates so it doesn't ruin the paper.

With pressure and layering you can shade and graduate color in a beautiful way similar to working with charcoal pencils. If you are new to Copics, start with simple images with enough space to show the color graduation. Draw a circle and practice using only one marker. First color the circle in completely, then outline the edge again and again with the marker, moving toward the center, yet using the most pressure at an angle so that the tip presses more on the outer edge than the center.

The vibrancy of the colors develop even more when you use a color that is completely different yet still able to blend - for example a light pink, a medium pink, and a pinkish brown or a red. The brown or the red makes the pink appear even more PINK and makes it pop. Not sure if this makes sense but try it!

In the Magnolia Image to the left I used Baby Skin pink all over then Blush for a child's super rosy cheeks, and under her eye as a shadow I used Pale Sepia (a tan brown), which I then washed out with more Baby Skin Pink and a Colorless Blender. You would never think to use brown on a face but it does work her to emphasize her chubby cheeks. Copics makes it possible to use such an odd color combo.

I also like to use orange with yellows, or green with blues. When you layer over the dark or contrast shade it will blend thanks to the Colorless Blender and/or the highlighting shade (the lightest shade).

As I did this  on the fly please forgive the bad pictures but this messy one to the left, using R20 Blush as the main color, shows the three effects I talked about today. Outside the circle is the orignal Blush at one layer.

I hope that helped and wasn't even more confusing. It is so much easier to show I need to learn to do a video tutorial - but I am REALLY techno challenged.

Thanks for stopping by - happy coloring :)

Suzy

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Willow With Umbrella, the Fall Grass background stamp and a sentiment from the General Sayings Set of 6

Paper: Bazzill Bling and Bazzill; Select White by Papertrey

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic Pixie Dust and Turquoise Gem

Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities Ribbon Tags Trio; Stampin' Up! White and Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon; Crystal Effects; Copic Markers; button; Fiskars Threading Water punch; Stampin' Up! corner Rounder punch; Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen.

Comments

[Mel M. M. M.]

Wow gorgeous card and amazing pointers! I feel a teensy bit less afraid of my coupla new Copics. Thanks! :O)

[Nancy Ward]

Suzy,

Today, October 23, I posted an entry on my blog with a link to this tutorial. Would you let me know if that's OK?

Thanks,

Nancy Ward

[Debbie Fisher]

Another gorgeous card!!!

[Kay]

Wow, what a beautiful card. So grateful for the tip about layering colours. I would never have thought to do it that way, and I use COPICs all the time.

For anyone who is having trouble, I would definitely endorse what you say. Stick with them, and very quickly (and almost without noticing) you will get the hang of them....and seriously they will then never leave your side. I take mine all over the place, and they are now my most treasured possession (it wasn't always the case though LOL!).

Kay

[Irina]

Just a WOW card!! Love everything about it!! The image, the layout, all the details and of course your awesome coloring!!

[Elena]

This card is fantastic! I love the colors! Your coloring is amazing! Very beautiful detailed work with umbrella and girl's eyes! Thank you for sharing the tips with Copics...

[Conniecrafter]

Oh she is just adorable and the coloring is fantastic, love the dimension, sweet card!

[Shirley]

What a totally beautiful card! I really like how you painted her and the BG. Add dimension to the drops and umbrella was so creative!

[Kathy]

What a gorgeous card!! I love what you have done with this image! The colors are gorgeous and I agree you dont need much else!! Perfect ~ love it :)Kathy

[Eva]

Oh my goodness....this card is way too cute!!! Love your coloring and just all the details, down to the raindrops!!! Fabulous!!

[Jennifer]

I come to your site everyday.... and sometimes several times a day. LOL I love looking around and I especially love everything you do with the Magnolia stamps. I was very happy to see the Copics tips today. I have been practicing with mine alot. I hope I can be as good as you some day!

[Kristina Miller]

Your card is beautiful...I love your coloring tips too...Thanks so much for sharing with us...Kristina

[Monica]

Your card is stunning! Thanks so much for that awesome tutorial on how you color with Copics!! I really enjoyed reading it and found it very helpful! You rock!!

[Heather]

Wow super tips!! And your card is lovely!!!

[lindah]

I don't remember how I found you, but when I did you went directly into my google reader! I love to read about everyone's advice on copics...self taught or not! keep 'em coming because you use them very well!

[Carolyn]

Beautiful!!! I am so happy that you were selected as their guest designer!!! You do such AMAZING work, and I could never understand who would pass up having you as a DT member. I would think everyone would want you:o) I love what you did with this card!!! You have an incredible way of bringing life to all of your creations! I cannot wait to see more:o)

Hugs!
Carolyn

[Kim]

Beautiful card and THANKS for the Copic tips!
Hugs~ Kim

[Andrea]

What a wonderful card!
xAndrea

[Heather Fullerton (Retired Heather)]

What a wonderful card. I love all the details. Your color choices are fantastic. Your copic tips was really easy to follow. I am sure this will help a lot of people.
Heather

[Carolee]

This card is really pretty, I am really falling in love with these stamps, when I wasn't sure at first. You do such a great job! Thank you so much for the copic tips, I appreciate all the help I can get with them.

[Korin Sutherland]

Wow! This is absolutely gorgeous!! Love the image and your coloring is the bomb!

Great job Suzy!

[laura]

wowza, you are great with the Copics!