5 Tips for Mixed Media Coloring (Alcohol Marker + Colored Pencils)
Supply list and project resources for “Strawberry Toast” below
Hey, creative colorists—
Are you ready to mix markers with colored pencil?
It’s not as hard as you think!
“Strawberry Toast” by the author, Amy Shulke. 8×8” on Bristol with Copic Markers and Prismacolor Pencils. Supply list and resources below.
HOW TO COMBINE COPIC MARKERS WITH COLORED PENCILS
Have you ever thought about mixing alcohol markers with colored pencils?
It seems like they could work together… but how hard is it?
I’ve been a professional illustrator for 25+ years and marker + pencil is my specialty!
In my latest FREE video, I share five tips for combining markers and pencils to create amazing mixed media projects.
FIVE TIPS FOR AMAZING
MIXED MEDIA
IN TODAY’S VIDEO…
I’ve got a bunch of tips to help you begin adding colored pencil details over gorgeous alcohol marker.
You can do this!
In fact, I find mixed media easier than plain markers or just colored pencil.
Let’s get started!
Video not playing? Click here to watch directly at YouTube.
TIPS FOR MIXED MEDIA BEGINNERS
1. Do I need special colored pencils?
I cover this question in-depth in my latest YouTube video above. Two of the five tips explain pencil characteristics you’ll want to look for before beginning mixed media.
You’ll be surprised at my pencil brand recommendations which conveniently will save you money, time, and frustration.
2. What type of paper works best for both markers and colored pencils?
In the video, I outline the types of paper which make markers and pencils look their best, plus how to find the best paper for you.
Contrary to the name, I actually don’t recommend working on Mixed Media paper. See below for the paper I use on 90% of projects.
3. Are there any incompatibilities between markers and pencils?
Markers are a wet medium and pencils are dry. Mixing them may not be as simple as you originally expected but once you understand the basic mixing rules, they’re extremely simple to follow.
Tips four and five cover when and how to layer markers and pencils for best results.
As with all my videos, I include lots of side facts and information, helping you grow and experiment with mixed media coloring.
RECOMMENDED PAPER FOR MIXED MEDIA COLORING
As I mentioned above, even though we’re doing mixed media coloring…
I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND USING MIXED MEDIA PAPER!
“Mixed Media Paper” is a marketing gimmick. Mixed media paper is actually mediocre paper which doesn’t work well for anything in particular.
It’s okay for ink. It’s okay for colored pencil. It’s okay for graphite.
But it’s never great for anything.
Mixed Media Paper isn’t even the same kind of paper from brand to brand. Most are thirsty (bad for markers) and a little soft (bad for colored pencil).
I highly recommend Strathmore Bristol Smooth in either the 300 Series (yellow cover) or 400 Series (brown cover). It’s relatively inexpensive and works great for markers and colored pencil.
Full supply list for Strawberry Toast below.
Good coloring happens between your ears - it's not about your hands
When you’ve tried all the tutorials…
Easy coloring has a limit and if you sense your coloring is flat, you’re at that limit.
You can keep rearranging the furniture— different blends, different step-by-steps…
Instead, let’s change how you think about coloring.
Learn to think like an artist.
And that’s what I’m here for—
I teach the art beyond basic blending
COLOR WONK
ARTISTIC MARKER + PENCIL
Color Wonk is a next-level coloring school full of projects similar to White Daisy.
My intermediate and advanced online workshops are based on fine art techniques, distilled into fun and friendly lessons for colorists and shy artists.
We’re not coloring with ye olde blending combinations— we’re thinking, growing, and learning.
STRAWBERRY TOAST: PROJECT RESOURCES
Full color and supply list at end of this article.
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
LINE ART: “Strawberry Toast” by Amy Shulke, available as part of your Color Wonk membership.
SIZE: 8x8”
TOTAL COLORING TIME: 3 hours
MARKERS: Copic Sketch Markers (colors listed below)
PENCILS: Prismacolor Colored Pencils (colors listed below)
PAPER: Strathmore 300 Bristol, Smooth finish (listed below)
PRINT DETAILS: Gray line PNG digital stamp printed onto Bristol with the Canon Pixma Pro 100
SUPPLY LIST: “STRAWBERRY TOAST”
Other Resource Pages:
