Colouring James the Bear with Copics and Prismas

I have had a lot of requests for a tutorial on how I mix Copics and Prismas or Poly Chromos Pencils when colouring my images.  I am not very good at these tutorials but I have decided to give it a try.  I have used a Lili of the Valley   James the Bear image for this tutorial. 
Just a short note about Prismas & Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, these are really soft wax like pencils (quite expensive but really worth the money), they both do the same job so this tutorial work for both.  Because of the soft wax like texture of the pencils you are able to spread them by using Paper Stumps and Low odour Solvent, I use Sansodor which is widely available from Art Shops.  THERE IS ONE RULE WHEN COMBINING THE TWO MEDIUMS – THE PENCILS MUST BE USED AFTER YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOUR COLOURING WITH THE COPICS,  - IT WILL COMPLETELY RUIN YOUR MARKERS IF THE NIBS COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PENCILS OR THE SANSODOR.   I use a small bottle with a sponge in and add Sansodor until the sponge is completely soaked this makes it easier to wet the nib of the paper stump.

To start colouring James apply Copic E53 around the hate and side of face as shown in picture one, then add E51 to bring the colour further out into the face making sure you also blend in E53 picture 2, finally using E50 go over the whole face blending in the 2 previous colours – picture 3

Using the same colours and method colour the rest of the fur as below.

Now for the Hat and Presents using R08 colour around the edges of the present and James Hat – picture 1,  using the same method as for the fur now add R02 – picture 2, and finally add R000 – picture 3.

The last step is adding the final colour to the pre4sent and his foot and ear.  BG13 has been used for the first step in colouring the blue present & ribbon, and R02 for the foot and ears – picture 1, the next blue to be added is BG11 & R000 is added to the rest of the foot and ears – picture 2.  The last blue is BG10.  You have now finished colouring James with the Copics and we will go on to the final step.

Now to add the deep shadows with the Pencils, The lines of pencil are a bit thicker than I would usually make them but this is try to make them easier for you to see.  Add a thin line of BLACK pencil around the edges of the red hat and present – picture 1, then dipping the end of your stump into the sansodor, use the wet stump and small circular motions move the pencil out into the image – picture 2, then add dark brown pencil around the edges of fur picture 2, to complete blend out the brown as before – picture 3

Here is the image with all the steps completed

The final card has been made with Bo-Bunny Papers and Snowflakes punched with Martha Stewart Snowflakes Punches  and glittered with Glamour Dust.
  Hope this has been helpful but if you need any more info or help please e-mail me.

Part 2 of Simply Adorables Copics Colouring Tutorial

 These photos appear quite small but if you click on them you will see a larger image

Here is the second part of the Copics and Polychromos/Prisma  tutorial I promised.  Before I start I will say that the photos are not too good as the light has been so bad today. 

The Copics you will need for this one are: Coat B97, B95, B93, B91  Dress E71, E70, E40, Shoes E74, E71, E40 Socks and Collar C2



Starting with the darkest colour B97 colour a narrow band around the coat as in Picture 1,  with B95 with circular movements blend in the darkest colour and bring out almost to the edge of the coat as in Picture 2 



The final stage on this side of the coat is to blend the dark and medium colours with B93 and take colour right up to the edge as in Picture 3.  Now we start on the other side of the coat, with B97 colour a narrow band around the edge and down the fold as in Picture 4  (these Simply Adorable stamps are fantastic for working out where to put your light and shade as the darker areas have been crossed hatched). 

 

Add a narrow band of B95 blending as you go as in Picture 5, then blend in B93 bring out a little bit further into the body of the coat as in Picture 6.



All that is left to do on this side is to blend previous colours with B91 and take the colour right to the edge Picture 7.  Colour in the Button Band starting with B95 at the top and Bottom and B93 in the  middle  and colour the sleeves using the same markers and method  as for the coat Picture 8



Now we cam start on her dress, with E71 colour a narrow band along all the edges and dark lines Picture 9, blend and bring colour out into dress with E70 as in Picture 10

 

Complete colouring of dress with E40, and colour the dark lines on Hem  with E71 Picture 11, complete Hem in the same way as the dress, Colour the Ribbon with B95 and B93, then colour the contrast band on her coat with B95 and E70 Picture 12



Using E71 and B95 colour both sides of each socks as in Picture 13 carry on colouring socks using small band of colour and using the lightest in the middle.  Colour shoes as in Picture 14 with E74

 

Colour the rest of the top of the shoe with E70 leaving a light white space in both shoes Picture 15 Finally use C2 to colour folds in socks and edge of collar, and colour ribbon as for coat. Picture 16



As all the colours are quite dark you will just need a Black Prisma/Polychromos pencil for the clothes, draw a thin line with the pencil where the sleeve meets the coat, down the sides of the coat, along the waistline of the dress, down sides of dress, and down the edge of the folds on the hem, finally along all sides of the socks and shoes as in picture  17 (hope you can see this) .  Finally blend all the black lines with Sansodor and Pencil stumps, your image should now look like Picture 18

Hope this has been helpful, if you have any questions please e-mail me and I will try to answer them
Hugs
Jacqui xx

A Little Colouring Tutorial – Colouring Face and hair on Simply Adorables

These photos appear quite small but if you click on them you will see a larger image
I have been asked how I colour the beautiful Suagr Nellie – Funky Kits Simply Adorable beauties, so I have come up with this little tutorial, I am not too good at taking photos and I am not trained in anyway so this is just my way of colouring, I hope it helps.  This is part one “Colouring Face and Hair” part two will be later in the week.

 
I have used a stamped Image of Joy (see Karen they stamp perfectly dear), and I will start on the face, I always use these 3 Copics for flesh E21, E00, E0000 (Picture 1)

 

Starting at the hairline and using E21 just bring the colour out into the face (not too far) also use the same Copic to colour the cross hatched sections as in Picture 2, Now using E00 go over the previous colour with circular movements of your marker so the 2 colours are blended then bring E00 further out into the face as in Picture 3



Now using E0000 as before go over the previous colours and then complete colouring the face as in Picture 4.  You will notice I have not coloured the neck at the same time as the face, I find the colours blend easier if you just colour one area at a time.  Using E21 colour around the edge of the neck including the cross hatched area Picture 5.


colour the rest of the neck as the face using E00 and E0000, as for the face Pictures 6 and 7


The final step is to add colour to her cheeks. using R20 and starting at the hairline (in line with the corners of the eyes) stroke a little colour on to her cheeks Picture 8

 

I again use just 3 colours for the hair E53, E51, E50.  With the darkest marker E53 colour along the hairline, The top of the fringe and wherever there are  hatched areas as in Picture 10.

 

Now using E51 cover the previous colour as in the face and bring out into the centre leaving a small area of white  Picture 11 , the next step is difficult to see as the colour is so light, cover the whole area of hair with E50 blending all the colours together as you go Picture 12



Now we come to the steps that give depth and warmth to your colouring, it is like magic, you will need a  Medium Brown, light and medium Flesh  coloured  Prisma or Polychromos Pencil  Sansodor Low Order Solvent available from any Art Shop  and Paper Stumps. Picture  13

   

With the Medium Brown Pencil draw a line along the hairline, top of fringe,under bow , at side of bow, along the fringe and at edge of large crossed hatched areas, as in Picture 14 (I have  used a darker pencil than I would normally use just to highlight the areas to be coloured).  Now using a paper stump dipped into Sansodor  using circular movements bring the colour out into the hair as in Picture 15

  

With the Light Flesh pencil  draw a smooth thin line around the face and neck Picture 16 using exactly the same method as for the hair using Sansodor and Clean paper stump blend the Light Flesh.  Picture 17.

 

Finally just add a little Medium Flesh to her cheeks and lips, this is the look you are aiming for Picture 18 .

Hope this is clear enough for you, I hope to have another tutorial on colouring the clothes on a standing  Simply Adorables figure within the next couple of  days

Hugs Jacqui x