Do you color the details first?
The details are why we fall in love with some coloring images and not others.
Yes, we love coloring with alcohol markers or colored pencils but we prefer some projects over others because of the details…
the stripes on a cat
the rust spots on an old truck
the polka dots on a butterfly’s wing
or the heart sprinkles on a doughnut
And because we love these little details, we jump in right away, coloring the fun stuff first.
Which then causes problems as we color the bigger elements around the details.
The quality of your coloring always suffers when you color from the top down.
If your coloring always has a last minute thrown-together look, even when you’ve spent hours coloring it carefully…
Or if you’re always just short of real depth, dimension, and realism…
My latest video explores why this happens and how to resolve the issue.
Color Wonk: Realism is NOT About Details
(click below to watch at YouTube)
Take the Online Coloring Class
“Heart Doughnut” is the introductory project for my new coloring group called Color Wonk.
Subscribers receive a new mixed media project every month. Membership includes learning aids and private monthly livestream demonstration.
Intermediate Copic Marker + Prismacolor Colored Pencil
The coloring is fun. The supply list is small. The lessons are low key.
And the results are amazing!
Note: Heart Doughnut is exclusively for Color Wonk members in February 2024. Then we switch gears and begin a new project. If you’re reading this beyond Feb. ‘24, the group will be working on a different lesson and coloring image. Click the more info button above to see the current Color Wonk project.
Tips for a smarter approach to details
TIP: Plan ahead.
You can paint yourself into a corner when you jump in right away with the details.
If I use every Copic color I own on the hearts, what color will be left for the frosting?
Think it though before you touch marker to paper.
Planned projects always look more professional because they’re fully thought out rather than a scramble to make random details look cohesive.
QUESTION: But what if I want to color white sprinkles on a chocolate doughnut? If I color over the sprinkles with a dark frosting color, I can’t add lighter details after-the-fact!
You’re correct. You can’t color dark frosting first, then add light marker details over the top.
But that’s why I want you to think it through ahead of time! When you plan dark frosting and light sprinkles, you’re also thinking through the challenge of coloring around the details.
Plan how you’ll shape and shade the frosting
Plan to use an easy blending dark combination
Plan for what to do if you accidentally color over a sprinkle
Prepare yourself for how to fix the frosting when it doesn’t look as dimensional as you intended
Psssttt… you know, I teach with several products that WILL allow you to color light sprinkles over dark frosting. It’s not impossible…
In fact, coloring light sprinkles over dark frosting one of the lessons in my Heart Doughnut online class!
Color Wonk
for the love of coloring
Monthly mixed media projects for casual colorers.
Membership includes:
Original digital stamps
20+ page guidebook with full color learning aids
Intermediate level instruction with a no-stress approach
Monthly live step-by-step demonstration with Q&A
Supportive community for encouragement and feedback
Copic Marker List
Amy used Prismacolor Colored Pencils over Copic Marker.
DOUGHNUT:
E99, YR24, Y23, plus underpaint
Purple and White colored pencil
FROSTING:
RV10, RV000, plus underpaint
Greyed Lavender colored pencil
SPRINKLES:
Carmine Red and Magenta colored pencil plus white paint pen
Related Reading
More About Pink Markers
We test Copic inks. See results here.
Copic underpaint blending recipes.
Copic project palettes using color theory.
Supply List: Heart Doughnut
