Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Mini Copic Marker Tutorial by Niki Estes

Hello, everyone! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! It's hard to believe a new year is almost upon us. I thought I would share a mini tutorial today showing the steps I went through to color this adorable little Henry Mouse hugging heart image that I used on my card today.

The first thing that I always do when coloring my images is to get out copic marker chart. (It's a blank chart that I printed and filled in with the copic marker colors that I own. I can't remember where I downloaded my particular chart, but you can print a very similar one here.) I use the chart to choose copic markers that coordinate with the patterned papers and colors I have chosen for my card. I am using some patterned papers from the Irresistible line by My Mind's Eye.

First, I colored the heart in using R27. Then, I added a little shading using R29.


Then, I blended the two colors by going over the heart again with the R27. Since these two colors are very close in hue, I went back over my shading a little more with the R29 also to darken the shading.

Next, I colored in Henry's tummy using E43 and shaded with E44.

I blended again with my lighter copic marker, E43. Again, these two markers are close in color so I added a little extra shading with the E44.

Then, I used the same steps (color entire area with light color, shade with darker color, and blend with light color) to color Henry's body using E44 and E47.

I colored Henry's tail using E43 and E44.

For Henry's ears, I colored the area with R30. Then, instead of using a darker marker to shade, I lightened the area using a blending pen. Blending pens don't actually blend the colors. Instead, they move the color around. So, I used the blending pen to lighten the tips of the ears and move the color down to the interior of the ear. Then, I used the R30 to add some more shading to the interior part of the ear.
Next, I added some shadows under Henry to help ground my image. I used W1, W3, and a blending pen. I started by adding some shadows with W1. Then, I added a darker area very close to my image using W3 and blended with W1. I went over the area with my blending pen to lighten it and push the color in close to my image.

For the next step, I needed a mask for my image. So, I stamped the image on some eclipse tape (a slightly tacky paper tape). You can also use a sticky note for this step.

I cut the mask out using scissors and adhered it over my colored image.

Then, I used a B02 marker and my air compressor to spray the image a blue shade that coordinates with my patterned paper. You could also sponge ink around your image.

When I was done, I removed the mask and my image is done. I save my masks so that I can use them again.

And here is my completed card. I added some rhinestones to the center of some buttons and lots of stitching on my patterned paper layers. I hope you enjoyed my mini copic coloring tutorial.
Have a great day!
Niki
Edited to answer some questions: You can see what the copic air compressor looks like here. You can download a blank chart to fill in with your copic colors here. I personally use Papertrey Ink's white cardstock for all of my copic colored images.

25 comments :

  1. Fabulous tutorial Niki! I think I need the air compressor....love that background!

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  2. The air compressor is wonderful! It made quick work out of coloring the background! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. thanks for the wonderful tutorial! love the even and fast covering the air compressor gives! Thanks for sharing and i love your gorgeous card!

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  4. many thanks for your clear tutorial!
    xxx Margreet

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  5. Wow this was so amazing. Thanks for sharing your talents.
    Kylie xo

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  6. great tutorial. thank you
    Love Sarah XXX

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  7. Such a fab tutorial. Thanks so much!

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  8. Great Tutorial! TFS! What paper do you use with your Copic Markers?

    xoxo,
    Lori

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  9. Thanks the tutorial! I am just getting started with Copics and can use all the help I can get.

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  10. this is cute what does the spayer look like

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  11. Super tutorial!! Absolutely adorable card too! I just love all the little details TFS :o)

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  12. I've often wondered at your technique with Copics, and now, mystery solved! Thanks for showing us, Nikki. It looks great and is easy to follow. I love how your mouse turned out!
    Your card is so gorgeous, I love the stitching. And its neat how the shading on the ground under him was not hidden by the blue you air brushed overtop, but was actually enhanced. So cool!!

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  13. OOps, type-o... Niki, not Nikki!! Sorry hun!! xo

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  14. Thanks so much for the mini tute! Lovethe little mouse

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  15. What a wonderful card, super! And thank u=you for the turorial!
    Hugs Jacqueline

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  16. An adorable card and a neat tutorial! Thank you!

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  17. Die Karte und die coloration gefallen mir super gut! Danke!
    GLG Moni

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  18. Wow I wish I could draw, get write up !

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  19. Awesome card AND tutorial!!
    Thank you - Happy New Year, Candy

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  20. Thanks so much for the fabulous tutorial! your card is sooo cute!!
    hugs,
    Rachel

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  21. Thanks for sharing. This is really helpful.
    xx Yvonne

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  22. what a nice tutorial, thanks a lot!
    I'm definitely going to folow your blog ;-)

    Greetings,

    Lins

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  23. wwwoooowww fantassssssssstic¡¡¡¡¡¡ thank you¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

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