Today we are talking about Coloring Large Scenes with Copic Markers.
One of the things many people have told me that they struggle with is Coloring or Blending Large areas with Copic Markers.
So, you avoid the larger stamps and refuse to try creating your own backgrounds.Let’s break it down so I can give you some tips to make coloring larger areas less intimidating.
I’m using the Mushroom House Background Stamp from Hello Bluebird in this post, however I do have many Online Coloring Classes where I’m creating scenes that also have large areas to color.
Let’s go over some of the reasons why people are hesitant to color these large areas:
- Can’t get a good blend using Copics.
- You can’t create enough depth.
- Your image becomes very flat and blotchy.
- The colored area looks streaky.
LHere’s why you are having these issues…
Paper: Are you using a Copic Friendly cardstock? If you are using regular cardstock the paper fibers are not heavy enough to keep the ink in place. I use and recommend Copic Xpress it Blending Cardstock.
Shadows and Light Source: If you are coloring a large area you have to make sure the shadowed area is wide enough in order to make the shadow make sense for that image.
Blotchy: You are going back over the dark colors with the light. You are making your darker color separate and causing blotchiness.
Streaky: You’re not adding enough color to the paper. So, if you’re using R81, R83 and R85 to color and it’s not smooth. Add another layer in that order exactly how you laid the color down the first time.
Colors: Maybe you are wanting to attempt larger areas but you don’t think you have enough Copic Marker Colors.
Now that we know all about why you are having a hard time coloring larger areas, let’s see how we can improve and make you more confident when coloring these larger stamps and areas.
Free Copic Marker Budget Planner
I’m so happy you have stumbled across my site and onto this page so you can grab my Free Copic Workbook and Guide! This guide will help you; decide what Copic Markers to buy, figure out a Copic budget and create your own coloring style!
Here are 3 simple tips if blending large areas with Copic Markers makes you nervous.
First Tip:
Use lighter colors. For some reason using the bolder colors always scared my students when I was teaching locally here in Southern California. Also, if you mess up by the infamous blob or going outside the lines a little it’s much easier to hide or cover it up.
Second Tip:
Color in sections. I color from dark to light, for me it makes more sense to pull out the darker colors with each lighter shade. Normally I’ll add all the shadowed areas and then keep pulling color out with each lighter shade until the image is all filled in.
The Flicking Technique is a great way to effectively pull out color and keep that dark to light graident.
If you’re confused about the Flicking Technique and want to learn more about the different ways to color using Copic Markers check out my blog post and video on Different Styles of Coloring with Copic Markers.
You also want to make sure you are creating a wide enough shadow, so make sure when you flick, that you flick in a wider range.
Another reason why you want to color in sections is because you want to make sure the ink is wet enough to blend.
For example: When I’m done shadowing one side of the house by the time I work my way back to the next color the ink is already drying making it more difficult for the colors to blend.
So, instead I’ll start with under the roof and blend out all the colors till I get to the lightest (in the center of the house) then I’ll do the bottom left corner and then the right. The lightest color E40 will all meet in the center of the house and then I’ll do the smaller areas like under the windows.
Third Tip:
When coloring a larger image most people think, “I need more of a variety of colors.”
But that simply is not true. I used E40, E41, E42, E43 and a tiny bit of E44. If you have a color combo from light to dark you can easily get 2 or 3 different looks with that shade.
Take a look at the photo. I can use E40-42 for dirt, blonde hair, the house, cream colored shirt or other clothing.
Then use the E42-44 for other items on your card, like I did with all of the gnomes hair and the pants. It’s just all about how much of that main color you want down that you would add more of.
Another example is the top of the mushroom. I used R000, R30 and R32 which is the same color as the flowers and cheeks minus the R32.
You could also mix colors like the R32 to the E43 and E44 for an auburn color hair or even a green to the E40’s for more of a khaki.
I enjoyed coloring these little gnomes so much and adding patterns on the clothes. I have a few other gnomes colored up for another card where I added some patterns. Creating patterns and textures on your stamped images is a great way to always get a different look to your cards using the same stamps.
Copic Marker Combo List for my card:
- Mushroom House + Fence – E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, N0, N1, N3, R000, R30, R32
- Grass and Leaves – G24, G21, G20, YG11
- Flowers – N0, N1, R30, R000, BV000, BV0000
- Rocks – N0, N1, N3
- Dirt Path -E42, E41, E40
- Clouds – N0, N1
- Sky – B000, B0000, YR0000
- Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R30, R32
- Hair – E42, E43, E44, E47
- Beards – N0, N3
- Green Gnome – E42, E43, E44, YG11, YG13, YG17, N5, N3, N1
- Purple Gnome – N0, N1, N3, BV02, BV00, BV000, BV0000
- Peach Gnome – YR20, YG12, YR00, N3, N1, N0
- Teal Gnome – BG13, BG11, BG10, N0, N1, N3, N5, E43, E44
Free Copic Marker Budget Planner
I’m so happy you have stumbled across my site and onto this page so you can grab my Free Copic Workbook and Guide! This guide will help you; decide what Copic Markers to buy, figure out a Copic budget and create your own coloring style!
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Love your card so much! I’ve been away from using my Copics and don’t have many but you’ve inspired me to add to my inventory and learn how to use them. Thanks you for sharing all you do!
These we folk are so very sweet. Their home is so cute and very welcoming. Dreaming about finding them in my little garden. Coloring very nice and as you said forgiving. Thank you for providing these hints.