Coloring a stylized poinsettia

Crisp layered colors
As I promised a few days ago, here is the colored step-by-step tutorial that I worked up for the free poinsettia download. I hope you enjoy coloring it your own way!

I printed my image on a piece of our Art pack paper. I always make laser prints or photocopies. (I know some of you ask about ink-jet printers, but sadly I don't have much experience with those, as I always work with toner).

I started with a light, even base coat of my lightest colors. I used R21 for the red and YG11 for the green leaves. I colored in circles, evenly soaking the paper so that my base color was nice and smooth. Then, I let this dry completely before I added my darker colors. This helps keep the color edges crisp.

Next I colored the green leaves. I wanted to work in a graphic style, not a realistic style. This is what I had in mind when I drew this whimsical, stylized poinsettia illustration.

 I used YG13 and YG17 to create the gradient on each leaf. I left the outer edge on each leaf light. I first feathered on YG13, then feathered a layer of YG17. The, I carefully blended the YG17 with a layer of YG13 and faded that out into the leaves with YG11.

If the base coat of ink isn't totally dry, then this technique doesn't work very well because the darker colors will bleed out and not be crisp enough. For darkest green areas, I added G28.

Same for the red. The base coat needs to be totally dry. Then, the red petals are much smaller and reds tend to bleed more, so I used a slightly different color order. I layered my dark R29 on each petal, then went back and blended out with R24 and R21. The center of each flower has a layer of R89.

This also prevents a build-up of too many layers of dark red. (On some papers that buildup turns into a sticky residue where the paper can't absorb any more.)

You can see the difference between the left flower, which has been blended, and the right flower which only has R29 and no blending yet.

I colored the flowerpot with Y00, Y13, Y21, and Y28. I layered and blended each of those colors. Then, I wanted to add some extra punches of contrast to the leaves and blossoms.

On the leaves, I added some very light streaks of R22 over the dark green area. I also added some light highlights of Y13 to the edges of the leaves. (See the close-up). It's hard to see that those are red streaks, unless you look really close.

Then, in the dark red I wanted to add hints of contrast as well, so I added tiny streaks of BG09. I know it seems strange, but the dark blue-green helps the reds pop-out more. Why did I use BG09? I really don't know. That was the marker my eye saw first in my stack of markers and I said to myself "Well, that color will work". Really, I could have used any dark blue or green or even purple to add pops of shadow color.

I finished the whole picture by adding a soft blue background. I used B00 and feathered it out towards the white of the paper. Usually I would come back with the colorless blender and blend it to make it fade, but the finished edges were so soft it worked fine without the need to blend. I colored right over all the black flourishes.

Then, I took the YG13 and colored in the flourishes. Since blue is found in green, there wasn't a problem of having a light blue base to the green areas. I added tiny bits of contrast to the larger flourishes with little dots of G28.

I hope you enjoyed this different, stylized look to my coloring. Now I have a pretty Christmas poinsettia to use for gifts.

Have a great weekend!

Free Poinsettia Line Art download

I can't believe it's December already! This year has really flown by. Anyways, this week I am working on a fun tutorial and I figured that I would share the line-art with you ahead of time, so you can experiment on your own, before you see how I color it.

This is my early Christmas gift to you. You are welcome to click and download and share this line art coloring page. I encourage you to color it, then display your finished creation around your house.

May you find some peaceful time during this hectic season to just sit down and color. Have a great week!

Coloring a stylized butterfly

A few months ago I had a chance to draw this really awesome butterfly. Drawing things like this is very meditative for me- I'm sure many of you can relate. It took many hours to draw, and I drew it with a 0.03mm multiliner on the Copic Art Paper (sketchbook paper).  If you would also like to color this exact butterfly, it is now available for download here on the Copic website, along with a few other doodles in a similar style. Check out our whole range of illustrations for download, since they're only $0.99 each.

Anyways, I was at a demo recently and I had a chance to color the butterfly. Although there are many many details, when you color it, you can choose to ignore most of those details, and have them just become part of the patterning.

I printed the butterfly on the Copic Art Paper  so it wouldn't bleed when I colored it in.

The technique I used for this entire image is feathering colors. I started with a light V12, feathered up, then I took a B66 and feathered down into the V12, and I went back and blended with the V12.

Then I feathered the B66 up, feathered a B04 down, then blended with the B04. I feathered the B04 up into B02, and that up into B00.

I repeated the process up along the top edge of the wings. Then, I went into each of the inner segments and repeated the same color scheme.

Once I'd finished those sections, I colored the main background of each wing with a feathered gradient from Y11 into YR65, and finally into R37.


Although the finished piece is a full sheet of paper, it was surprisingly quick and easy to color (I think it took about an hour, and I was demoing for customers as well). I love how vibrant the colors appear! the finished piece looks a lot more complicated than it really was.

The store that I was demoing at liked it so much, they asked if they could keep my colored piece. I was happy to share it with them, since it was so easy to color.

If you are looking for something a little different to work on, I encourage you to check out our full collection of downloadable coloring sheets and make your own fun artwork.

Have a relaxing week coloring!

III Academy

Coming Soon! III Academy

I am so excited! For the past few months we have been working with two incredibly talented artists to bring you the most amazing tutorial-story. Chihiro and Alisa are some of our newest staff members, and they are cooking up some of the sweetest things I've ever seen. (If you've followed the Copic blog over the past year or so, you may have already seen some of their great manga coloring tutorials.)

Soon, we will have regular installments of awesome tutorial Mangas (Japanese comic books) teaching how to use ALL the Copic markers and other art family products imported by Imagination International, Inc. (III- that's us!). Did you know that we sell more than just markers?

So, hop over to the Copic website and check out the teaser images for our new III Academy.  Meet Chihiro and Alisa, and  their fun new III Academy characters. You can also download some free, sweet Valentine images to color.

And please, if you stop by the page, leave a comment here for Chihiro and Alisa, letting them know how excited you are as well!

Free Winter digi art

Many of my friends and family are enduring a very bad blizzard in the Northeast this week. In thinking about them, I drew this little picture that I wanted to share with you. If you are stranded in your home, but you still have heat, electricity, and the ability to color, maybe coloring this snowman will give you something to fill your hours.

So, from my desk to you, please enjoy this free digi image. May you be warm and cozy, and have no reason to brave the elements this week!

Cute Witch, free art and classes

Free Digi Image
Ooooooohhh! It's Fall!! I love drawing Fall pictures. And I love sweets, so what's better in life than to sit down and color a sweet little Halloween picture that I just drew?

Actually, I drew a picture because of guilt. Nancy reminded me that I haven't updated my blog in a month. Sorry!! So, here is a free digi image to keep you happy for now, and then tomorrow I'll post the full tutorial.

Colors used: BV11, BV13, BV17, G14, YR14, YR68, E31, E34, E39, E00, E21, Y11, Y08, B34, B41, BG000

 So, click on the outline image, save it to your computer, and have fun coloring! (For personal use only. You can refer people to my blog for the full tutorial if they are interested in where you got it).

Consider it my little gift to you for enduring my laziness in blogging.

Make a cute card from the image, color it to hang it on your fridge, give it to your kids...just make sure you share the smiles. Smiles you don't share with others are wasted opportunities.



Copic Class Updates
Meanwhile, the year is winding to a close and we only have a few more classes left to register for. Next year we are going to fewer locations, so if you see a class near you, sign up! If classes don't fill, we aren't likely to head back to that area. You can visit the Copic website for registration and class details.


Oct. 3 Vancouver, BC  Standard Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Oct. 4 Vancouver, BC Intermediate Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Oct. 4 Orlando, FL Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Oct. 4 Orlando, FL Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Oct. 11 Houston, TX Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Oct. 11 Houston, TX Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Cindy Lawrence

Oct. 11 Kalamazoo, MI Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Debbie Olson
Oct. 11  Kalamazoo, MI Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Debbie Olson
Oct. 24 Portland, OR  Standard Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Oct. 25 Portland, OR  Intermediate Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens


Nov. 8 Manhattan, NY  Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Nov. 8 Manhattan, NY Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Nov. 8 Minneapolis, MN Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Debbie Olson
Nov. 8  Minneapolis, MN Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Debbie Olson
Nov. 7 Atlanta, GA  Standard Certification, taught by Colleen Schaan
Nov. 8 Atlanta, GA  Intermediate Certification, taught by Colleen Schaan
Nov. 15 Indianapolis, IN Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Lori Craig
Nov. 15 Indianapolis, IN Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Lori Craig

Anime, Workshops and more!

Summer is here and I sure am busy! Read carefully to find where I will be this Summer, or to take a workshop. Lots to do for all ages and interests.


Anime Expo
July 3-6,  I will be hosting a range of classes at Anime Expo in downtown Los Angeles. Copic will be sponsoring our own workshop room, with classes on everything from basic Manga inking, to creating your own Kaiju Beasts (like Godzilla or Mothra).

Here's a fun downloadable anime girl to color that I drew for Anime Expo a couple years ago. Enjoy!

FREE Workshops this Summer
If you are in the Eugene area, I will be teaching some free workshops through the City of Eugene Libraries.

July 15th, 6-7:30pm, Downtown Library "Tracing Memories, Relaxation Coloring" Color scenes from around Eugene, learn how to create your own outlines from digital photographs, and have fun.

July 16th, 2-4pm Downtown Library Teen, Markers & Airbrush Art. Learn how to color with Copic Markers and experiment with the airbrush system.

July 17th, 2-4pm Bethel Branch, Teens, Intro to Zombie Drawing.
July 18th, 2-4pm Sheldon Branch, Teens, Intro to Zombie Drawing. This fun class will leave you screaming for brains! Come learn the basics of anatomy and how to make your own Undead.

Upcoming Papercraft Classes
If you are in the Portland area, I will be teaching some coloring classes and be hosting a book signing at Main St. Stamping in Tigard, on Sat. July 26. More details later.

Certifications and Workshops
There are a LOT of Copic Certifications and Workshops coming up. Visit the Copic website for registration and class details.

Now Open, Filling Fast!
June 20, Grand Rapids, MI Standard Certification, taught by Debbie Olson
June 21, Grand Rapids, MI Intermediate Certification, taught by Debbie Olson

June 27, Boston, MA Standard Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence
June 28, Boston, MA Intermediate Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence

July 11, Philadelphia, PA Standard Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence
July 12, Philadelphia, PA Intermediate Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence
July 18, Madison, WI Standard Certification, taught by Debbie Olson cancelled
July 19, Madison, WI Intermediate Certification, taught by Debbie Olson cancelled

Aug 8, Garden City, NY Standard Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence
Aug 9, Garden City, NY  Intermediate Certification, taught by Cindy Lawrence 
Aug 8, St. Louis, MO, Standard Certification, taught by Lori Craig
Aug 9, St. Louis, MO  Intermediate Certification, taught by Lori Craig
Aug 9, Chicago, IL Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Debbie Olson
Aug 9, Chicago, IL Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Debbie Olson
Aug 15, San Jose, CA, Standard Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Aug 16, San Jose, CA  Intermediate Certification, taught by Sherrie Siemens

Opening Soon!!
Aug 23, Milwaukee, WI  Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Debbie Olson
Aug 23, Milwaukee, WI  Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Debbie Olson
Aug 23, San Marcos, CA Whimsical Faces & Hair, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Aug 23, San Marcos, CA  Airbrushing for Papercraft, taught by Sherrie Siemens
Sept. 5 Alexandria, VA  Standard Certification, taught by Lori Craig
Sept. 6 Alexandria, VA Intermediate Certification, taught by Lori Craig

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!!

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!

Color with me!

Have fun coloring!
Even if you can't come to an event with me this weekend, I want to share an image that you can color for yourself.

I drew this little image with a 0.3mm multiliner, then scanned it in. I colored the skin with E000, E51, E13, and BV00, cheeks are . I colored the hair with E31, E47 and 0. The purple areas are BV00 & BV04. I used Y21 and YR30 for the yellow background. Other colors: R85, C1, BV23, YG05, BG70, B93,

Here is your very own image to click and save to your computer. Print it out, and have fun coloring, even if you can't come visit me!