Color Theory for Soft Pink Alcohol Markers
Episode 5 - Pink Petals (Dogwood) Swatching
Pink is probably the most popular blend in coloring; we see pink projects everywhere.
And yet so few people can color soft pink images with realism.
Are you one of them?
You try to color light pink with Copic Markers but as soon as you start to shade with a medium or dark pink…
Well, there goes the light pink idea. Let’s pretend we wanted to color dark pink, okay?
Stop ruining soft baby pinks with hot pink and disco magenta alcohol markers.
Shading pink is easier than you think.
All you need is a little color theory to help it happen.
Resources & Learning Aids
FREE video at YouTube
In this episode, Amy shares her color swatching process to select the ideal blending combination to color the pale pink petals of spring flowering dogwood.
Supplies and colors are listed at the bottom of this page
Did you miss Episode 4? watch it here:
Amy’s Swatch Sheet
(to be scanned immediately after the livestream))
Final Pinks
COPIC BLEND: RV63, RV52, RV00, RV000
UNDERPAINT: BG70 or BG90
PRISMACOLOR:
994 Process Red
1014 Deco Pink (or 929 Pink, see note below)
1021 Jade Green (can sub 1020 Celadon Green)
Extra Colors
(for background, stem, and leaves)
COPIC: BG93, E47, RV55, Y000, Y26, YG17, YG25, YG67
PRISMACOLOR:
914 Cream
988 Marine Green
1005 Limepeel
In the livestream, I chose 993 as a possible sub for Deco Pink but in hindsight, I’m not so sure. Hot Pink is much darker and if you have pressure issues, it’ll go down way too dark.
I think 929 Pink is a safer choice.
TIP: Pink is lighter than you think
Keep in mind that instinctually, you will reach for darker pink markers than you see in the photo reference. Step it down a bit, especially if you’re trying to color baby pink!
TIP: R markers are not pink, they’re light red
You can get away with using something like R20 instead of pink for a while but the light R markers look very warm and almost flesh-toned. R markers work fine for balloons or birthday cake but can be a problem when coloring flowers— Pale R flowers can look like lips or other unmentionables.
Purchase the Kit
Color along with Amy - Spring 2023 Color Theory kit
Files for THREE months of YouTube lessons: March, April, and May.
Easy PDF digital downloads include:
3 flower blossom PNG digital stamps—
Daffodil (episode 2)
Lily of the Valley (episode 4)
Dogwood (episode 6)
3 PDF worksheets (March, April, May) targeting specific colors from the photo reference
Amy’s PDF Copic color wheel
Free Photo Reference
Our dogwood photo reference provides lots of pink inspiration.
References are important because you can’t color realistic pink until you can see realistic pink.
Download the free photo reference from Pixabay here.
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Beginner level. Click above for more info.
Color with Pink
Designed for large scale, realistic coloring. Amy’s illustrations are drawn with minimal texture marks or decorations to let your marker art shine.
Take a Class
Amy has classes featuring yellow and yellow coloring technique
Or focus on blending skills
More About Pink Markers
We test Copic inks. See results here.
Copic underpaint blending recipes.
Copic project palettes using color theory.
Supply List
