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If you think card-making, you will invariably think stamps, and coloring characters. So I thought I’d share some coloring techniques with you and I will come back on each one in future posts in more detail.
To help identify the techniques used by our design team members, we will try to point out which technique was used with which image for the cards we will be putting up here.
Of course, to color stamped images, you need stamps. Whether they are made of rubber or clear acrylic, and which models to use each of us have our own preferences.
Inks used for stamping
Before getting to the techniques, here is a rundown of the different inks available to you.
For techniques using wet paintbrushes, it is highly recommended to use oil- or solvent-based inks that will not be affected by water. I have named Staz-On (solvent-based) and Versafine (oil-based). Personally, I prefer Versafine, because it prints in more intense color and it is designed to clearly print detailed images.
For techniques using wood pencils and blending media, oil- or water-based inks are best. Be careful not to use solvent-based ink if you are using Taltine or another product in that range, as the ink will run as the solvent will react with the chemicals in the medium.
Finally, for Copic or Promarker fans, solvent inks such as Staz-on are to be avoided. These markers are alcohol-based, so they react with the solvent and the design will blur. The best inks for this type of technique are Memento (Tsukineko), Brilliance (Tsukineko), Distress (Ranger) or Memories (which must be heat-set). In all cases, pigment ink (such as Colorbox) is not recommended as the pigment is too thick and will not dry properly.
As for color used, it can be black or brown, whichever you prefer.
Techniques used to color characters
Now, let’s get into the various techniques for coloring characters.
Coloring with inks and a round brush
Using various water-based inks with a round brush. Many like to use the «aquapainter» or waterbrush filled with lukewarm water. For this technique, you pick up some ink with the damp brush bristles and apply it to the edges of the design. Then, you’ll pull the color toward the inside of the image to achieve a dark-to-light shade and give depth to the character. This technique requires a little bit of practice but it is readily available to most people.
My tip : to make the shading easier when using a round brush, I suggest applying the color with small circular movements from the edge of the color to the center of the image, pressing just enough water into the tip to allow the color to spread more easily.
Materials: Watercolor paper (90 lbs or 140 lbs) of superior quality, round brush and water-based inks such as Distress, Mémento and/or Color Box.
Coloring with watercolor pencils
Using watercolor pencils and a round brush. For this technique, you begin by adding the base colors to the image with the pencils, then adding the darker tones. You then use your damp round brush to dilute and mix the color and spread it to create dark-to-light shading, which will give depth to the character.
My tip : to make this technique easier, you must control the amount of water in the brush bristles. If too wet, the color will be removed rather than spread out. So you want a damp brush, not a dripping wet one. Again, using small circular motions will help creating a nice shade.
Materials : Watercolor paper (90 lbs or 140 lbs), round brush, watercolor pencils. There are many different watercolor pencil collections out there, just make sure you use a well-know, good quality brand for best results.
Coloring with wood pencils and thinning media
Using wood pencils and a thinning medium allow for nice, soft and well-blended colors. For this technique, you begin by applying color with the wood pencils and you use a paper pencil dipped in thinning medium such as Taltine, flaxseed oil or Dorso oil, the latter being frequently used in Pergamano techniques. This technique can be used on any type of paper.
My tip : use Dorso oil rather than other media, as others will be generally thicker and oilier. Dorso is a finer oil designed especially for color blending. Furthermore, Dorso oil comes in a small bottle with an opening that is just big enough to put the paper pencil through, so no mess, and no oil dripping on your work.
It is also possible to use pastel crayons for this technique. However, pastel crayons are messy, so it’s more difficult to get a clean line to your drawing.
Materials : Good quality wood pencils. The brand most recommended are high quality Prismacolor pencils. Thinning medium, such as Taltine, flaxseed oil, Dorso oil, etc. Paper pencil.
Note : Dorso oil is available for purchase at the store and online, in the Pergamano section.
Coloring with Copic or Promarker
Those are felt-type pens. As mentioned earlier, Copic and Promarker markers are alcohol-based. They require good quality paper, but because they are not water based, they won’t make the paper pill. You must however be careful of the saturation level when you work. Also, these are meant to work with color combinations – 3 colors, light to dark, with 2 or 3 values in between each (example: I will use Copic markers in 3 shades of blue: B00, B02 and B05, for a good gradation of color). I recommend starting with the lighter color, adding the medium shade on specific areas such as lines and folds in the image, then adding yet a darker shade in an even thinner line, and finally blending, using the lightest color from the beginning.
This is all complicated to explain and is a visual process, you can find videos demonstrating the use of Copic and Promarker markers on the web, or you can enroll in Copic classes at the store if you would like to deepen your knowledge of this technique.
I will conclude with a few examples of characters colored using the different techniques previously mentioned, to show you the different results from one technique to the next.
Watercolor pencils
Inks
Pastel crayon
Copics
Wood color pencils
I hope this article has caught your interest and maybe even helped you understand more clearly the different aspects of coloring.
Have a great week and happy crafting!
Clara
http://claralesfleurs.scrapbooking.over-blog.com/
