Artistic Coloring: Add Life to Cast Shadows with Beautiful Color (Copic Marker)

Artistic Coloring: Add Life to Cast Shadows with Beautiful Color (Copic Marker)

People sign up for Copic Marker classes and read tons of tutorials, desperately wanting to blend better. Smoother blends, easier blends, prettier blends.

They think blending will make their coloring look more realistic. Then when it doesn’t work, they sign up for shading classes. The merry-go-round starts all over again.

Let me ask, how lifelike are my butterflies here? Do they look like they’re fluttering on the page?

Now let me tell you a secret…

Read More
Student Success Story: Lori's Independent Coloring- On the Rocks (Copic Markers)

Student Success Story: Lori's Independent Coloring- On the Rocks (Copic Markers)

More Than Pretty Projects

You take a lot of classes. You color a lot of Copic Marker projects. You begin adding details and artistry with colored pencils. But are you really learning anything useful?

Coloring classes teach you how to color a specific project. Art classes teach you how to apply new skills to OTHER projects.

Our goal at Vanilla Arts Company is to develop skills rather than a pile of pretty projects. This week we look at how Lori is applying what she’s learned in classes to this amazing independent project!

Read More
Tools On My Desk: Fineliners & Technical Pens, Which are Safe for Copic Markers?

Tools On My Desk: Fineliners & Technical Pens, Which are Safe for Copic Markers?

Big Marker, Small Details?

Have you ever tried to color butterfly antennae with a Copic Marker? Ouch!

Whether you are adding twigs to a tree, dotting a delicate ladybug, or picking out long flowing stray locks of hair, there are many times when a big fat Copic marker is too big and too fat for the job.

Never fear! Grab a fineliner pen.

But it can’t be just any pen, it must be a Copic safe pen! That’s right, not all technical pens work with Copics…

Read More
Coloring in Times of Stress & Sorrow: Tips for Finding Relief Through Art

Coloring in Times of Stress & Sorrow: Tips for Finding Relief Through Art

Can creativity make you feel better?

I think so.

Coloring can be emotionally uplifting.

Spending time focused on things you love, like Copic Markers, colored pencils, cute stamps and coloring images— just being surrounded by color— for many of us, it soothes and calms the mind.

It simply feels good to be creative.

So knowing that coloring can make the best day feel even better… And now, with all this pandemic stuff…

Can we use coloring to help us cope with our emotions and struggles this time of social distancing and isolation?

Read More