Layering Different Tones

I was coloring a little girl for a graphic I am working on and I realized that I was going to color her in a different way than I have shown before, so you get this fun tutorial.

Usually I talk about coloring by layering colors in the same family, starting light, and adding dark, then going back and blending with the same light color. Today I'm going to show you how I sometimes blend with an entirely different color.

Blending with a different tone
In this image, I want a blue overtone, but I had a limited color range (I was being too lazy to walk into the other room and get all my markers). So, rather than start with a light blue, and gradually work darker, I started with a BG sequence.

1. In the first image, you can see I had BG01, BG45, and BG49. I added colors as layers, just like normal.

2. Here I added my more subtle blue tone by layering B41 over the whole image. I used it to blend, instead of the BG01, because the BG01 was too intense, and I needed a softer tone. Notice how the shadows retain their intensity, but the highlights now have a softer blue tone, and many of my harsh lines have softened (my final output will be very small, so i am not trying to blend out all streaks.

3. Last, I added the other colors to finish off the image. Because B41 is still in the same similar range as the BG family, you don't see much subtle variation, except that the BG has lost it's intensity.

But what if we totally switched color families?

Here is my second example. In this case, I did exactly the same thing, but I started with the fairy in the BV family. When you look at the second image, notice how the pale blue totally changes the whole feel of the artwork. I like this purple sequence much better. The blue highlights really set off the purple shadows.

So, in each case, only the base color changed. I know I have talked about base colors in the past, but I really want to drive the point across that the base color can change the whole feel of your work. This is a great way to work with a limited color range, or to match an image to a specific paper.

I hope I inspired you to experiment a bit with your color range, have a Happy New Year!

Certification updates

January & February Certification Classes
Do you have a dream this year of taking one of our Certification classes? Register Now! 
Every year, people wait until after the new year to register, and then they get surprised when classes are full.

Beat the rush and register today!

Standard Certification Classes
Freshened up for 2013, these classes are the perfect way to gain a solid foundation in using Copic markers. Learn how to choose papers and ink, how to blend, and experiment with airbrushing. For more details, please visit our website and download applications and information on each class.

January 9, 2013 Anaheim, CA (CHA) taught by Lori Craig FULL


Feb. 1 Irving, TX  taught by Cindy Lawrence
Feb. 1 Tempe, AZ taught by Sherrie Siemens
Feb 15th Orlando, FL taught by Sherrie Siemens




Intermediate Certification Classes
These classes are a great way to expand from the basic technqiues learned in the Standard Certification and make your work more artistic. For more information and for applications, please visit our website.

January 9, 2013 Anaheim, CA (CHA) taught by Cindy Lawrence
Register Today!

Feb. 2 Tempe, AZ taught by Sherrie Siemens
Feb. 2 Irving, TX taught by Cindy Lawrence
Feb 16th Orlando, FL taught by Sherrie Siemens


Copic Color & Ink Workshop Series
Our new project-based intensive workshop! Come spend two days perfecting your Coloring skills and creating amazing new projects. Explore coloring on a variety of surfaces, and get an in-depth airbrushing experience. The only prerequisite is the Standard certification. You can register at the Copic Website.

Jan. 10-11th  Anaheim CA Register Today!

Feb. 22-23rd Orlando, FL taught by Colleen Schaan and Sherrie Siemens  Register Today!

Certification Updates 2013

January & February Certification Classes
I can't believe that it is almost 2013! Wow!

This last month has been crazy here at the US Copic Headqaurters. Imagination International, (we're the Copic importers for North America) moved locations, consolidating a few scattered warehouses into one new, centralized location. Which meant that I had to move into a new office and I got behind in updating about classes (but now I have a clean office and I feel so much more productive).

So, for 2013, here are the first classes of the new year:

Standard Certification Classes
Freshened up for 2013, these classes are the perfect way to gain a solid foundation in using Copic markers. Learn how to choose papers and ink, how to blend, and experiment with airbrushing. For more details, please visit our website and download applications and information on each class.

January 9, 2013 Anaheim, CA (CHA) taught by Lori Craig almost full!!


Feb. 1 Irving, TX  taught by Cindy Lawrence
Feb. 1 Tempe, AZ taught by Sherrie Siemens

Info will be going out soon for:
Feb 15th Orlando, FL taught by Sherrie Siemens

Intermediate Certification Classes
These classes are a great way to expand from the basic technqiues learned in the Standard Certification and make your work more artistic. For more information and for applications, please visit our website.

January 9, 2013 Anaheim, CA (CHA) taught by Cindy Lawrence

Feb. 2 Tempe, AZ taught by Sherrie Siemens
Feb. 2 Irving, TX taught by Cindy Lawrence

Info will be going out soon for:
Feb 16th Orlando, FL taught by Sherrie Siemens

Copic Color & Ink Workshop Series
Our new project-based intensive workshop! Come spend two days perfecting your Coloring skills and creating amazing new projects. Explore coloring on a variety of surfaces, and get an in-depth airbrushing experience. The only prerequisite is the Standard certification. You can register at the Copic Website.

Jan. 10-11th  Anaheim CA about half-full! Register Today!

Info will be going out soon for:
Feb. 22-23rd Orlando, FL taught by Colleen Schaan and Sherrie Siemens

Free Coloring White Sample page

Pages for my swatch book
Happy December! I was coloring something white this weekend and realized that I had not updated my white swatches in a while. None of them were what I wanted, so I figured I needed to make some new swatches for my color sample book.

 Do you have a swatch book? One of the first things I suggested years ago on this blog was to keep a swatch book. I use small, 5 x7 portfolio books to keep track of my colors. Always write down the paper you are using and what colors you try.

I made this handy chart that you also can download to try coloring your whites with. When I make swatch sheets, I frequently like to keep one color the same and swap out the other color. In this colored example, I kept my C1 the same on each image, and swapped out the different blues. On the next page, I'll still keep the C1, as I think I like it, but I am going to try shadowing with purples or BV's.

For full directions on coloring a snowman or things that are white, I have some really old directions here, or  coloring white objects is discussed in my book The Copic Coloring Guide Level 2 : Nature.

Meanwhile, here is a copy of this chart for your very own use! This handy chart is sized to be a 1/4 page. You are welcome to download it and use it for your own personal swatch books, or you can use it for a class if you are a teacher. Please do not sell the image, as I am sharing it with you for free.

Have fun coloring white!!

Copic Color & Ink Workshop Series

New Classes for 2013!
A few weeks ago we had our annual Copic Instructor Meeting, and spent a week working on our classes for next year. Along with fine-tuning our current Standard and Intermediate classes, we tested our brand-new class series (and I guarantee, you will LOVE the new classes!)

Copic Color & Ink Workshop Series
The first class is being offered just before Winter CHA in Anaheim. You can register at the Copic Website.

Note: The prerequisite for the Workshop Series is Standard Certification only.

Each workshop event is two days. You pay one fee and get to take all the class topics. Classes will be taught by two of our regional instructors. Students will take 4 different classes over the two days, and rotate between teachers. Topics include:

• Coloring Ethnic Skin Tones and Various Hair Styles
• Oodles of Doodles and Backgrounds
• Airbrushing Made Easy
• So Many Surfaces

An optional Evening Round-Table Discussion/Critique Session is also being offered for a small additional fee.

We would love to see you at one of these classes! This year we will only be offering the new Color & Ink Workshop in 10 locations across the US and Canada. Each year, the curriculum may change, so if you like these topics, then REGISTER right away! Classes are limited to a total of 50 students per location.

Soon you will also start seeing our Standard and Intermediate classes listed for 2013, so check our website for those details as well.

For more details please email Nancy:  nancy@copicmarker.com

Had a Great time!

I had a fabulous time drawing and coloring this week at the U of O Tools of the Trade show! Every year I meet so many inspiring artists and companies. This event is truly one of my highlights each year.

Here is one of the images I drew and colored this week. I can't remember all the color combos used, but the dress is BG52, B05, and B24, with V28 in the deepest shadows. The gold is Y02, Y21, and YR23. The reds are R89 and R37. The skin was E000, E11, R01, and some subtle pale purples, blues, and pinks. The white is outlined with BV31 and hints of YR30. The faded blue background is BG000.

Have a great weekend coloring!

U of O Trade Show

Tools of the Trade Show, Nov. 7-8th
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week I will be at the University of Oregon Tools of the Trade Show as a guest artist. The show runs from 10am to 6pm each day. Last year I drew some really neat artwork. I've got some cool pictures drawn that I am looking forward to coloring this year, and I really hope you will join me!

Here is one of the pictures I drew at the event last year. I must say, this is my favorite illustration from 2011. I really can't wait to see what I draw this year!

The U of O bookstore is located in Eugene, on 13th and Kincaid. Parking is really tricky, but you can park over at the old hospital parking lot.

There will be many other fine artists and other art supply companies represented, so come check out the other fabulous talent at this year's show. There are lots of opportunities to win doorprizes as well.

I hope to see you there!

T Shirt Winner!!

Thanks to everyone who left fun comments on my T-shirt giveaway. The random winner chosen was:

Beth Matson  who said...
I'll have a B26 Christmas without you.

Way to go Beth! I'll have a B26 Christmas without you as well (I think this game is kinda fun).

Book 3 Blog Hop Winner

Thank you all for leaving comments on my blog. Colleen and I are so happy that people are enjoying our book, and we are thrilled that we can help someone new win a copy of the new book.

The random winner from early this morning goes to:

Leslie Parks said...

This blog hop has performed its purpose: I now KNOW I need that book. Before I thought it might be nice to have. What I like is the different styles included. I've seen so many copic-colored images of strange-looking children that I love the diversity in this book. (I do not believe you would enjoy coloring while laying on your stomach.)

Actually Leslie, I love to color on my stomach. growing up I would usually draw and color on my bed while laying on my belly. It takes a little longer to get up from that position than it used to, but I still love it. 

Congrats on winning! We hope you enjoy the book!

Paint the town R29 Blog Hop

Win a Free Shirt!
This weekend, I need to get away. I've been cooped inside coloring waaaay too much. Not that coloring is a bad thing, but the world is a really big place. So, I'm grabbing my markers, I'm leaving my desk, and I'm gonna Paint the Town R29!

(Actually...I've been coloring with the Copic Instructor Team!) We just had our annual team meeting, and yesterday we got to all wear our new shirt.

Do you also need some new threads to wear as you get out on the town? Today we’re giving you a chance to win your very own Copic t-shirt!

Leave a comment on this post and you are entered to win your very own “Paint the town R29” shirt. I’ll choose a winner on Tuesday, October 30th.

As part of your comment on my blog, please leave your favorite color saying, but substitute a copic color instead.

 For instance, I'm tickled RV04 (shock pink)  or I'm feeling a little B12 today (ice blue). Be creative! Like, This week I went to the beach and got an E13 (light suntan).


Then, go check out the other blogs and enter to win. You have lots of chances to win! Enter at each blog, then check back to see if you’ve won.


Colleen Schaan   

Debbie Olson  

Lori Craig  

Sherrie Siemens  

Cindy Lawrence 

Sharon Harnist 

Michele Boyer  


Can’t wait to win? These t-shirts are exclusive to the Copic website. You can purchase your very own “Paint the town R29” from the Copic store. Check out our growing selection of limited edition t-shirts, exclusive to the Copic site. Please Note: Contest is only open to US and Canada residents.

Good Luck and Happy Hopping!

Copic Coloring Guide Level 3 Blog Hop

Commenting has now closed- Thank You!

Book 3: People
Can I tell you how excited I am to have a blog hop for this book? I am Thrilled! Colleen worked so hard to pull together all the finishing touches to make this book a reality. I had a lot of fun working with her to create the tutorial images. We really wanted to get a wide variety of looks and styles into this book, and I feel that we succeeded.

Today we are doing a very special blog hop, in honor of the Copic Coloring Guide, Level 3: People. I was asked to share my favorite project from the book, and while I really love my card project, I must say that one image I had the most fun drawing and coloring was my Author image/self portrait.

You can see here how much I enjoy coloring. I love this image. It is me in an idealized world.   Nowadays, I am usually sitting at my desk, coloring and working on something that needs to go straight onto my computer because it was due last week. Not quite as much fun as laying on the floor, just happily drawing whatever I want.

I really don't like self-portraits. I hated those assignments in art school, and I never liked drawing myself in a realistic manner...so I wouldn't. I almost always draw myself as a comic. The hair length is usually reflective of actual length at the time of drawing. Here's a self-portrait form a 2008 blog post. You can see in this image I have shorter hair.  Some artists never change the way they draw their self-portrait, and so it may not be reflective of what they really look like. But you could totally pick me out in a crowd, based on my author image, right?

The picture I drew for our third Copic book is actually based on one of my favorite self-portraits, however. This image I drew back in 2006 for a gallery show. I think this pretty well sums up what I feel about the notion of realistic self-portraits in general. I was not happy at that time with the notion of a self-portrait, but it was rather important, as it was supposed to go with my artist statement.




Not very nice to throw darts at your own picture!

Now, to get on with our exciting Blog Hop!! Please visit the other contributors to this fabulous book.

Inside Copic Coloring Guide Level 3: People, you will find a CD with blank tutorial images to color, and detailed step-by-step directions, as well as many fabulous finished card projects.

Each participating designer is hopping today to give you a peak at their favorite project from the book - and a chance to WIN your own autographed copy! 

Blog Prize!!

To help kick off the celebration of the new book... each designer on the hop is giving away an autographed copy of the book...signed not only by Colleen and myself, but by the individual designer too!  Please comment on this post for your chance to win your copy of mine!  Commenting will be closed on my blog at Midnight, on the 26th.  Winners will be announced on each designer's blog. 

Jane Allen

Melissa Andrew 

Michele Boyer

Jennifer Dove 

Beate Johns

Sharon Harnist

Melanie Holtz

Michelle Houghton

Debbie Olson

Claudia Rosa

Colleen Schaan 

Can't wait for your copy? 

Copic Coloring Guide Level 3: People is now available at many stamping and scrapbooking stores. Visit your local store today and ask about availability.  It is also sold through the Annie’s catalog, accessible online at Annie's.

OK, have fun hopping along, and good luck winning your own copy!!

Fall Pumpkins Class, Freebie

Coloring Pumpkins for Beginners Workshop
Tonight I am teaching a private workshop to beginners, and one of the projects we are coloring is this lovely Fall pumpkin image that we shared as a freebie a year ago or so. It was really popular, so I wanted to use it again.

Here is the image once again, and you are welcome to download it and try coloring it in your own workshops. In fact, here is the handout accompanying my class tonight:

It is generic, as I am using a variety of colors, and no two attendees will have the same colors. You can easily adapt any of your own color combos into this project. However, this is a truly beginner project. The lines show you where to put shadows, and the areas are simple enough that beginners should have no problem experimenting.  Note that when teaching beginners, it is sometimes easier to color large images. I have printed the blank picture out to be about 4 or 5 in. wide, so my attendees can have an easy time. This handout is meant to be printed at 8.5 x 11 in. so beginners can really see the image enlarged and understand where to put shadows.

I hope you find this useful. Please use this to teach others!

Certification Updates
We still have a few classes open in 2012. Look in November for our 2013 class schedule. Register now for any of our remaining 2012 classes.

Standard Certification:  
Classes are filling fast, so if you want to register, check out our website for Standard classes:
Oct. 26th Portland OR, taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 2nd Houston, TX taught by Colleen Schaan - Filling Fast!
Nov. 2nd Calgary, AB, Canada taught by Sherrie Siemens
Nov. 9th, Grand Rapids, MI taught by Debbie Olson






Intermediate Certification: There are still a few spaces left in our upcoming classes. Please check out our website for Intermediate classes:
Oct. 27th Portland OR, taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 3rd Houston, TX taught by Colleen Schaan - Filling Fast!

Nov. 3rd Calgary, AB, Canada taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 10th, Grand Rapids, MI taught by Debbie Olson

Fall Coloring Contest

Looking for something fun to color? Want a chance to win some neat prizes?  Head on over to the Copic Blog for a chance to enter our Fall coloring contest.

Simply download the image, color it using Copic Markers, and follow the rules listed on the Copic blog. I can't wait to see how you color this cute image!

Limited Edition! It's Here!

A couple days ago, a special delivery arrived on my desk. I can't tell you how many YEARS I've been waiting for this...

25th Anniversary Sketch Marker Set

But, what makes this set special is that it has a Super Brush nib on one end and the other nib is a Standard FINE!!

People have asked me for years, "When are you going to make a marker with a brush nib and a fine nib?" Now that marker is here. This nib is identical to the one found on a Copic Original marker.

I can use the firm, fine nib for small detail areas, and I don't have to go searching for another marker to be able to smoothly blend larger areas. The colors in this set are carefully chosen to include blending groups, but it includes colors that you can't find in Copic Original markers. I know some of you have sets of Sketch and a few Copic Originals for the fine nib...This set won't duplicate the Copic colors, but it does include some of the most popular Sketch colors, including some of the new 2012 colors.

Here I drew a quick sketch of a tree with my .5mm multiliner, then unwrapped the new marker set and gave them a try.

I think I'm in love! 

The sleek black bodies were first introduced in a special anniversary set from the year 2000, and were chosen again to celebrate 25 years of Copic Markers. However, the set from 12 years ago didn't include fine nibs. The black body also helps you tell the difference between these markers and your current collection of Sketch markers.

We are so excited to have the new anniversary set! The first few stores that had pre-orders are just now receiving these in stock, so ask your local retailer if they have them in stock, or see if they can order them for you. You cannot buy individual colors...they are ONLY available as a set. I think you'll love these just as much as I do!

Certification Update

Wow! Another busy year of classes is winding down. I want to let you know that these are the FINAL classes for 2012. We will begin posting our 2013 classes in November. We will be having a class the two days before Winter CHA in Anaheim, so if you are trying to figure out your schedule for January, keep your eyes open for those dates. Meanwhile, here are the remaining locations for this Fall. Classes are filling fast, so if you want to register, check out our website for Standard classes:

Sept. 21st Vancouver, BC taught by Sherrie Siemens
Sept. 28th Sacramento, CA taught by Debbie Olson
Sept. 29th Warwick, RI taught by Cindy Lawrence

Oct. 5th Indianapolis, IN taught by Colleen Schaan- Almost Full!
Oct. 12th, Philadelphia, PA taught by Debbie Olson
Oct. 26th Portland OR, taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 2nd Houston, TX taught by Colleen Schaan - Filling Fast!
Nov. 2nd Calgary, AB, Canada taught by Sherrie Siemens
Nov. 9th, Grand Rapids, MI taught by Debbie Olson

Then, to accompany those standard classes, we have matching Intermediate classes. Check out our website for Intermediate classes:

Sept. 22st Vancouver, BC taught by Sherrie Siemens
Sept. 29th Sacramento, CA taught by Debbie Olson
Sept. 30th Warwick, RI taught by Cindy Lawrence

Oct. 6th Indianapolis, IN taught by Colleen Schaan
Oct. 13th, Philadelphia, PA taught by Debbie Olson Almost FULL!!
Oct. 27th Portland OR, taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 3rd Houston, TX taught by Colleen Schaan - Filling Fast!

Nov. 3rd Calgary, AB, Canada taught by Sherrie Siemens

Nov. 10th, Grand Rapids, MI taught by Debbie Olson

We hope to see you at one of these classes. Look for our exciting lineup of 2013 classes in November.

Texture Techniques, Part 3, Fur

Coloring Fur
Thank you all for the wonderful comments about my new book coming out next month! I think you will LOVE all the content included in that book. So far, I think it is my favorite from the series.

Meanwhile, I am getting ready to head out of town for a comic convention down in Los Angeles this weekend, but I realized that I forgot to post the rest of the cat tutorial. Sorry! Here is the third installment on coloring textures without using the colorless blender. You can click here for part 1 with the blank image, and part 2 with details about the sweater.


We will color the fur using three colors, just like the sweater. I want to have a solid base color, then add texture with a middle color and deepen the texture with a final shadow color. While I am using the Yellow family, you can try this with any color family. Please experiment!

I start the fur with a base of Y21, colored smoothly over all the cat. I colored the nose and tongue with R85 and the shadow inside the mouth with W7.

Next, I add the first layer of shadow. I am not coloring over the entire cat, only in the shadow areas. People will interpret that the whole cat has texture, as long as you give details in the shadows. I add a soft layer of E31, using only the tip of the brush.

Look at my little swatch example on this step. See how much white I leave? You want this much white visible on the areas where the E31 meets the Y21 base. In the darker shadow areas you can cover up more of the base yellow.

The E31 works as a very subtle shadow to the base color of Y21 because when you add gray to yellows, they quickly turn brown. Yellow in shadow loses intensity/saturation, in other words, they turn more gray. So, using brown for a shadow instead of a darker yellow works well.

Now I add my final texturing color of E44. Again, I am only working in the shadows. Just like when I added the darker green on the sweater texture, I use only the smallest hints of this color, and I am applying it with the very tip of the brush. Don't forget to color the shadow on his mouth and chin.

E44 comes from a more neutral/gray brown family (E40's) than the E31. Again, I am choosing a color for my darker shadows that has more gray built into it. This is an example where you don't have to follow the color family rules, as long as you know why you are breaking them. Once you find color combos that you like, write them down! You may like these colors not just for a tabby cat, but also for coloring tawny hair or the center of a sunflower.

Here is the final cat. I finished the fur by darkening my shadows a little more carefully, layering hints of E31 and E44 as I felt they were needed. I added a hint of a ground shadow with BV31.

I hope you had fun coloring along. For those of you who are interested in comics, I will be in the Copic booth at Comikaze on Sat. & Sunday, in the LA Convention Center. I would love to see you there!

sneak peek...revealed

Have you figured out what my surprise is?

Here's a hint...

and if you can't find it from that hint, here's a double hint-hint in the coming soon section...just scroll down and you'll see it.

I can't wait!

I know you'll love it :)

sneak peek...

Before I post the rest of the cat/sweater tutorial, today I wanted to share a snippet of another big project I've been helping on.

I'll let you ponder what it could be for a day or so... :)

(I'm pretty darn excited!)

Texture Techniques, Part 2, Sweater

Textured Sweater
I hope everyone had a good weekend. I wanted to share part 2 and 3 of the sweater cat post from last Friday. If you haven't downloaded it and colored it yet, please do, and practice along!

This next step is all about technique. Many of the techniques I use depend on how I am holding my marker.

I started with the same base color of G12 that I worked with on Friday's examples. For coloring large areas like the base green, I work with the brush end of the marker, coloring using the side of the brush.

Next, I add details in the shadows, using my slightly darker green, YG17. For these details, I hold the marker straight up and down, using only the finest tip of the nib. When you push straight down, you will get dots of varying sizes (see diagram). Don't worry about damaging the nib, it will bounce right back to shape.

Use the very tip of the marker and scribble in the texture, leaving plenty of areas that are not blended. Go ahead and add some dots of color as well.

As you can see from this close up, my scribbling is very irregular, but, it goes from darker and dense, to light and sparse. This is the technique you need to practice: Scribbling in shadows that appear to get lighter and darker, simply by how much ink you add.

Notice that on the lighter end, instead of scribbles I move more to individual dots. This color is layered over a lighter color on the cat's sweater, so those dots floating in open space won't look as strange.

On the original cat image, you will see that I give the suggestion of where to put the shadows through the dots that are already drawn in. For simplicity, the light is above the cat, so you are adding shadows on the underside of the image.

If you want softer color variation, work while the base color is wet and the two colors will soften together a bit more. If you want stronger contrast, work while the base color is dry. On the ribbed edges of the sweater, I did not scribble, rather, I colored in the direction of the ribbing.

Next, I add a darker layer of green scribbles/dots. NO BLENDING! Resist the urge to go back and blend the colors together.

Here I added G28 as my darker green. I use a lot less dark green, and I make sure that plenty of the lighter green shows through. Again, on the ribbing, color smoothly, in the direction of the ribbing grain. We are only adding the dotted sweater texture to the main area of the sweater.

Look closely at my pattern diagram in the corner. I am adding so little dark that I never really scribble, I simply dot it in, over the top of the middle green, again, getting lighter as you work into the highlights on the sweater.

At this point, you can make a decision- too much or too little texture? If you feel that the texture is too harsh, then you can add more texture to blend.

To soften edges without blending, take your lightest color, in this case G12, and heavily dot it over the entire sweater. Do NOT color in circles and blend, as this would destroy all your careful texture. All we want to do is soften edges. By dotting on the lightest color, it softens a little bit, without washing out the full texture.

Look closely at this final sweater sample. Compare the before and after. You need to make sure that the dots are really juicy for it to move colors around.

This is also a time when you can add a subtle tone of another color. For instance, you are trying to match a particular green paper with your coloring. However, the sweater needs to be a hint more gray or yellow green. At this point, dot in some of whatever color it needs, be it a pale gray or a more yellow.

Here is the final sweater, colored with texture, instead of using the colorless blender to add texture. Later I'll show you a method for coloring the fur with texture as well.
 

Texture techniques, part 1

Texture without the colorless blender
 It has been a while since I made a tutorial about textures. Today I want to share an image that you can print and practice with on your own. Be sure to test your ink compatibility before coloring, or photocopy this image so you do not ruin your marker nibs.

In the past, I have shown how to get the look of fur or sweater using the colorless blender solution or a rag. However, sometimes you just don't have those tools around, so I want to share techniques I use to achieve that look with nothing more than the marker itself.

Is texture needed? How will this change my image?

First, decide if you need texture. The lines will tell you if it should have texture. This sweater is drawn with rough edges and little dots to suggest texture, so it needs a texture to match. The fur is not smooth, it is drawn as long tufts, so it would not get the same, short stubby texture that the sweater needs. If an image is drawn with smooth lines, wiht no suggestion of texture, then it may look strange if you give it too much texture.

Here is the cat colored with no texture (blended), then a sample using almost exactly the same colors, with texture added.

Look at how the colors change because of how they were applied. The darker brown, E44, on the first cat is almost lost. When it is layered on for texture, without blending, it stays much darker and retains the contrast.

On the sweater, I decided to leave the highlights white. The other three greens are the same. However, the difference in contrast is so much stronger. These are all creative decisions you will have to make. EXPERIMENT! it is only a piece of paper. try coloring the sweater a couple different ways to see how much contrast you like, or how strong/subtle you want the contrast.

Usually, when I add texture using a rag or cloth, it will lighten an area up as well. Keep this in mind when you are choosing colors. If you add blender it will get lighter, if you layer dark colors, it will go darker.

Next week I will finish up with more examples. This weekend, practice coloring this cat with texture in a few of your favorite ways, then I'll show you some techniques I use. Feel free to post samples of this to your blogs (giving credit to where they can get the image for themselves) and post links on the comments here.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with!