Let’s Color a Realistic Bronze Star Christmas Ornament
Have you been using the same basic blending technique for years?
You’re a “10 year beginner”. You color well but you’re repeating the same ol’ same old— never learning, never growing.
If you're getting bored with coloring books and rubber stamps
If you're wondering why your projects always looks cartoonish
Or if you've always wanted to do more than just color
Let me show you the world beyond blending.
Marker painting is a fine arts approach to coloring and it's much more rewarding than blending the same ol’ blends again.
Marker + Pencil: Bronze Star Christmas Ornament
(click below to watch at YouTube)
And hey, don’t miss the Red Snowball and Aqua Chevron videos from this same project.
Tips for Coloring Metallic Bronze
TIP: You don’t need a metallic marker to color metal
In fact, the use of metallic pens and markers REDUCES your ability to color with realism.
TIP: You don’t need special metal techniques
Most gold, silver, or other shiny metal marker techniques were invented by people who like shortcuts.
Shortcuts never look truly realistic because realistic coloring is never a one-rule-for-everything situation. Stop waiting for someone to tell you how to color something. Instead, find a photo reference and start coloring the colors you see. It takes time and it’s never as easy as the shortcut but if you’re serious about making original art, this is an essential step towards independent coloring.
TIP: What’s Amy’s best tip for shading metallic ornaments?
Watch the video to learn why good coloring involves constantly revisiting areas you thought were finished.
Antique Color
Advanced Independent Coloring
a basket, a knit blanket, and over 20 antique Christmas ornaments for you to color
Original digital line art by Amy Shulke
Vintage Trimmings: a Christmas Celebration of Color
Perfect for Copic Markers with or without colored pencils
Study Package Includes:
Vintage Trimmings digi stamp in black and gray line versions (PNG & JPG)
48 page full color PDF guidebook including photo reference, color suggestions, value study, tips, and over 200 full color progress photos
60 minute video of Amy’s color selection and swatching process.
Recorded version of the Vintage Trimmings Livestream where Amy demonstrates the knitted background texture plus several key ornaments
Vintage Trimmings is not a class or tutorial. This is an advanced independent study for students learning to color without constant guidance.
Copic Marker List
Amy used Holbein Colored Pencils over Copic Marker. Pencils listed at the bottom of this article.
KNITTING:
E42, E41, E40
BROWN BASKET & ORNAMENTS:
BG78, E79, E77, E74 or E55
RED ORNAMENTS:
BG75, R39, R37, R35
BLUE ORNAMENTS:
BG78, BG75, BG72, BG70
GREEN ORNAMENTS:
BG99, BG96, BG93, BG90
BRONZE STAR:
W6, E79, E99, E37, E35
Related Reading
More About Brass, Gold, and Bronze Markers
We test Copic inks. See results here.
Copic underpaint blending recipes.
Copic project palettes using color theory.
Supply List: Vintage Trimmings
