Dead End Blends - Why 3 Marker Combos Lead to Cartoonish Coloring

DEPTH AND DIMENSION IS NOT REALISM

You’ve been coloring with alcohol markers or colored pencils for a while now.

You’re pretty good at blending and you can do the whole shade/highlight thing.

But you’re missing something.

You can color— just not the way you want to.

You’re struggling with realism and at first, you thought it might be the markers. Maybe you don’t have the right colors or even worse, maybe markers are the wrong medium for realism?

Or maybe it’s you?

Today’s video is all about about the Marker Dead End.

That no-escape place where everything you color ends up looking like a cartoon.

It’s not you, it’s your blending combination!

Don’t worry, there’s a simple explanation and once you see the reason, you’ll take a giant leap forward in your coloring!

“Christmas Cupcake”. Copic Marker + Holbein Colored Pencil on Strathmore 300 Smooth Bristol Board. 9 x 9” by the author, Amy Shulke.

WATCH: DEAD END BLENDS

Why 3 Marker Combos Lead to Cartoonish Coloring

(supply list at bottom of this article)

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TRIM THE TREE

Not ready to unwind the big tangles of strand lights yet?

Let’s color instead, it’s so much more fun!

Christmas Cupcake is an artist-grade digital stamp perfect for realistic coloring.

PURCHASE INCLUDES FULL SUPPLY LIST FOR ALL COLOR BLENDS

Let’s color pastel green frosting with lots of folds and waves, using my supplies or develop your own unique twist.

Christmas Cupcake digital stamp comes in two line colors: black lined version for easy coloring and disappearing gray lines for realism.

SUPPLY LIST FOR “CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE”