CornishHeritageFarms.com

[Silvergirl]

Coloring detailed images can seem intimidating. No doubt, we've all looked at a detailed Thomas Kinkade or Sandra Kuck image and thought we could never color it with the same level of detail...

BUT... that's absolutely not the case!

Ellen Hutson shared her coloring expertise with part of the Cornish Heritage Farms' Design Team and we are sharing this with you. Ellen has a way of deconstructing an image and approaching the detail in a simple and clear to understand manner.

Join us this week in creating a detailed colored image and share with us your questions, tips and successes!

Supplies Needed: Stamps: Ready for Christmas (The Sandra Kuck Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms Ink: Graphite Black Brilliance ink by Tsukineko Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger Cotton White Stazon by Tsukineko Paper: Blush Red Dark cardstock by Prism Classic Crest Solar White cardstock by Neenah from www.ellenhutson.com Designer Paper: Figgy by Basic Grey Accessories and Tools: Copic markers Prismacolor pencils heat gun (optional) brayer (optional) Sewing Machine and thread Antique brass hardware by We R Memory Keepers acetate snowflake by Heidi Swapp
Step One Ink and stamp your image. The best method for inking your stamp and getting an even image is by braying the stamp with ink. In this example, I inked my stamp with Brilliance Graphite Black ink. Because I wanted to color right away, I heat set my image.
Step Two Once you have your image stamped, gather your Prismacolor pencils and Copic markers. Set your stamp with it's color index / label in front of you. Use this as your roadmap. NOTE: I've used water-based markers for this technique in the past. One thing to note is that you'll need to carefully color your image as to not create overlap lines with your marker. The fluid properties of the Copic markers prevents overlap marks and is a huge benefit.
Step Three Following the color index, begin to color portions of your image. In this picture, I colored the ribbon (a very prominant and vibrant portion of the image) in a very light red. Use your most pale marker colors to lay down the first layer of color. It's not critical to perfectly color in the lines. Ellen Hutson gave the analogy as "priming the room"... before you do the detail work.
Step Four Continue coloring your image with light shades of your Copic markers until you have colored in most areas of your image - light yellows, greens, pale browns and blues round out the base colors. I used about 7 different Copic markers to lay down the first layer of color. This step is really just about defining your color areas / "priming the room"... The details of the stamped image can seem overwhelming until you partition out these different areas. You'll be less likely to color a portion incorrectly (like getting carried away with coloring the tree in green and covering the little spots for the golden lights). Notice how pale and flat the image looks... it's now time to grab your colored pencils to give dimension and detail. ** NOTE: You are finished with your markers and can put them away at this point. I don't recommend using the markers over your pencil marks because the color will transfer to the tip. **
Step Five Using the stamp label again as your guide, color your image with Prismacolor pencil. The light marker color helps you see the detail you are trying to color. I chose to focus on one color at a time. The analogy of "priming the room" was used above for the first layer of marker color. Continue with this thought process by "painting" the main color into the area and "accessorizing" with highlights and shadows. Because it's important to add dimension, use more than one color for each area. For example, when coloring the ribbons, I used a couple shades of red and a brown. In fact, one of the reds has an orange tone to it, which makes sense looking at the label. The glow of the tree lights gives a golden cast to the ribbons in spots. Example on the ribbon: Primer: R00 - Pinkish White Copic Marker Paint: PC925 - Crimson Lake Prismacolor Pencil Accessories: PC924 - Crimson Red and PC1082 - Chocolate Prismacolor Pencils
Close Up of Ribbon You can see that the light marker and the contrasting pencil colors give a great deal of dimension to the final ribbon...
Step Six Complete any of the areas in red. You can really see the vibrant difference between using the marker colors and those that were colored with marker and pencil.
Step Seven Continue with other areas, taking your time in the shading and layering of colors, until the image is complete - one color at a time.
Finished Project Because this project has such detail, I felt it deserved to be enjoyed through the entire holiday season... and framed as holiday decor. I distressed the frame by sanding the edges, carried through the gold tones with the antique brass hardware and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger.

Notes:
-Coloring detailed images takes time. Working on an image like this can easily take an hour or more. It's not likely to be the image and level of detail for all my holiday cards (since I make nearly 100 cards). But, this is perfect for that special someone or holiday decor. Enjoy the journey! There is a supreme sense of accomplishment on completing a detailed image... and looking like a pro!

-Use multiple Prismacolor pencils to achive a realistic look. For example, looking at a person's hair, you're likely to see at least 3-5 colors and highlights. Use browns, beiges, red-browns, etc. for a natural look.

-Items that are white are rarely just white. Looking at the color index on the Ready for Chrismtas stamp, you'll see that the dress is white, but has reflections of color. Lights from the tree and shadows give this dress interest and depth. Use tones of blues, grays, and yellows to highlight that this is a white dress.

-You'll notice that I didn't use solvents or Copics to blend colors. The pencils add a nice texture. Blending the color with solvent increases your chance of a muddy color or reducing the detail.

-Detailed line art, like the Sandra Kuck Series, Tom Allen's Friendly Kritters and Thomas Kinkade's Series at Cornish Heritage Farms are all produced in the same manner. The darker, stamped spaces on your paper are areas you need to color as your highlights, shadows and main images (like the Christmas tree, carpet, etc.) with darker colors. The open places (like the dress or face) are lighter colors. It's the manner in which these detailed paintings are translated for papercrafters - so you'll need to shift how you look at the images in order to get a great result.

Thanks!

_________________
Lisa Silver
Silver Stamping

Copic Certified Designer

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly.

Last edited by Silvergirl on Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:52 am; edited 3 times in total

[stampwithkristine]

Thanks for all the great Tips Lisa. You did a great job of breaking it down and making it easy!

[Mona Lisa]

WOW. Jaw-droppin' GOR-ge-ous!!!! Thanks so much for sharing this with us Lise.
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Lisa
Art Director, Cornish Heritage Farms
www.monalisamoments.com

[Jennifer R]

Heee heee, I wish you posted this tutorial LAST week before I ventured into my detailed image colouring LOL!

I would definitely like to concur that applying the ink with a brayer made a HUGE difference in the quality of my stamped image. I'm currently working on a few more that I used the brayer on and I find you can achieve a more shaded realistic look than the first few I've posted in the gallery.

I also agree that you have to just have to take it one colour at a time and layer and layer until you get the look you want.

I actually liked colouring my images with my pencils versus my Copics bc I like the softer more blended look that make the images look more like art.

And finally the other technique I used was to step away from my images for a day. I did my initial colouring one evening (it only took about 20 minutes for the Make a Wish cottage) and then I came back the next day to finish the blending and addition of more colour. I found it less overwheming this way.

BTW, I just LOVE your sample project.....That stamp is on my list!!
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My blog: I said I'd never have a blog but I changed my mind

CHF gallery: http://forums.cornishheritagefarms.com/pp/showgallery.php/ppuser/574/cat/500

[Silvergirl]

Thank you so much for adding your tips here, Jennifer!

I agree that coloring with pencils alone give a very soft and artist quality. I love going back to my pencils too.

Thanks!
lise
_________________
Lisa Silver
Silver Stamping

Copic Certified Designer

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly.

[Lesley]

I need this class! I will bookmark it for future use! Thanks Lisa and for the tips Jen!
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Lesley
http://lesleylangdoncreative.blogspot.com/

[AlliMiles]

Fabulous work Lise! Your presentation is beautiful.
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Alli Miles
www.allistamps.blogspot.com

[sereikastamper]

This is delightful Lisa!!! And your final project is AMAZING!
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SMILES
Keri
Pink Lemonade

[mimihas5]

Excellent tutorial Lise. Thank you for writing it up.

Mary
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Mary

-I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good I can do or any kindness I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again. -unknown-

[DawnL]

Thanks Lise!!
Excellent note taking FAB project!!!
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Dawn~the llama mama
Thought I'd let you know that I am now in the Snapdragon part of my life...
Part of me has lost it's snap and the other part is draggin'.
http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/

[KimHughes]

You did an amazing job Lise
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My Resume

[raduse]

Excellent tutorial. Just posted a link to here and Keri's watercoloring one in the "how to color the Kincade stamps discussion" on splitcoast. I think a lot of the people that keep saying they're too scared to attempt both of these stamps would benefit seeing the tutorials.
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Bonnie

Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
http://stampinginthelight.blogspot.com/

[huntla1]

Thanks Lisa. I had often heard of mixing prismacolor pencils with Copic markers, but didn't understand how/why you would do this. Now I get it. I have a lot of the Kincaid stamps and a couple Critters, I have been hesitating on getting the Kuck stamps -- although I think the images are lovely and truly meaningful to me -- because I have not found a good way to color. I think you have opened a new door for me. Thanks for your careful and thoughtful descriptions.
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huntla1

[StamperSharon]

Wonderful tutorial, Lisa -- I've never combined pencils with Copics . . . such a pretty combo. Love your finished project!
_________________
SHARON HARNIST
Blog Inspiration: PaperFections
Copic Certified Design Team Member & Instructor

[Julia S]

Absolutely fabulous Lisa!!! Stunning!
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Julia
Product Designer, Cornish Heritage Farms
Belle Papier, my blog

http://bellepapier.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/