Color Theory for Markers: Realistic Blue Florals (Live Swatching - Episode 7)

Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
 

Color Theory for Blue Alcohol Markers

Episode 7 - Blue (Forget-Me-Not) Swatching

Blue markers are easy to blend, the ink is very forgiving.

But the color theory techniques weā€™ve used in episodes 1-6 donā€™t really work for blue.

Have you looked at whatā€™s across the color wheel from blue? Yikes!

Complementary underpainting for blue isn't as logical as with other colors. So how do we shade and underpaint blue for realistic florals, clothing, or other blue and bluish objects?

In episode 7 of our Applied Color Theory lessons, Amy shows you how to make beautiful blue shade with a unique artistic twist.

 
 

Resources & Learning Aids

Copic Marker lessons at VanillaArt.com
Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
 

FREE video at YouTube

In this episode, Amy shares her color swatching process to select the ideal blending combination to color one of the rare times we see blue in flowers, on a sprig of Forget-Me-Not blossoms.

Supplies and colors are listed at the bottom of this page

Did you miss Episode 6? watch it here:

 

Amyā€™s Swatch Sheet

(scanned immediately after the livestream))

Blue Copic Swatch from free lesson at YouTube | VanillaArts.com

Final Blues

COPIC BLEND: B24, B23, B21

UNDERPAINT: V04 plus pop of light purple from V12

PRISMACOLOR:

109 Prussian Green (a transparent green)

932 Violet

934 Lavender (discontinued) or 1105 Orchid

938 White

1079 Blue Violet Lake

Extra Colors

(buds and stems)

I WILL UPDATE THIS AGAIN AFTER COLORING THE IMAGE ON 6/19

COPIC: G24, Y15

PRISMACOLOR:

1026 Greyed Lavender

TIP: Blue, violet, and gray are safe* shade colors

When the color wheel gives you a stubborn complement like orange (which doesnā€™t want to melt into shade under blue) you can try one of these ā€œuniversalā€ shade colors. They donā€™t always work and you may need to sample a bunch to find one you likeā€¦ but shade is a cooler, grayer version of the starting color. Blue and violet can cool colors, gray can be used to tone them down.

TIP: Black based grays add weight - both visual and emotional

Gray can be used to add shade under any color BUT it almost works too well. I personally donā€™t like the results of using gray on flowersā€” it makes them seem thick, heavy, and sad. To keep things light and happy, Iā€™d try blue or violet for flowers.

 

Learn color theory! Illustrator Amy Shulkeā€™s free YouTube series applies theory to Copic Markers. Color along with the three month kit including digi stamps, worksheets, color wheel. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers

Purchase the Kit

Color along with Amy - Summer 2023 Color Theory kit

This kit covers THREE months of YouTube lessons: June, July, and August.

Easy PDF digital downloads include:

  • 3 flower blossom PNG digital stampsā€”

    • Forget-Me-Not (episode 8)

    • Iris (episode 10)

    • Rosebud (episode 12)

  • 3 PDF worksheets (June, July, August) targeting specific colors from the photo reference

  • Amyā€™s PDF Copic color wheel

 

Free Photo Reference

Our forget-me-not photo reference provides lots of blue inspiration.

References are important because you canā€™t color realistic blue until you can see realistic blue.

Download the free photo reference from Pixabay here.

 

Color like an Artist

Vanilla Beans is a weekly Saturday newsletter full of coloring tips and articles about developing your artistry.

Announcements and video notifications are also sent to this mailing list. Click to subscribe.

 
 
 

Beginner level. Click above for more info.

 

Color with Blue

Designed for large scale, realistic coloring. Amyā€™s illustrations are drawn with minimal texture marks or decorations to let your marker art shine.

"Begonia & Balloons" digital line art for realistic coloring. Open spaces and minimal texture marks allow your creativity to shine. Perfect for Copic alcohol markers, colored pencil, or watercolor.

Color ā€œBegonia and Balloonsā€ with the blue Copic Markers we select in Episode 7

"Chocolate Chip Cookies" advanced level coloring kit for Copic alcohol markers and colored pencil. Realistic mixed media coloring. | VanillaArts.com

Color realistic blue linen stripes with Amyā€™s advanced Chocolate Chip Cookies kit!

 

Take a Class

Amy has classes featuring yellow and yellow coloring technique

Or focus on blending skills

The Blend, a 12 week online course. Copic Markers for beginners. Learn the smooth marker blending technique for depth and dimension. How to create original blending combinations.  | VanillaArts.com | alcohol marker blending

Never worry about blending again. Master beginner to advanced blends in 12 weeks.

"Blue Swan" learn to color white objects with a rainbow of Copic Marker colors. | VanillaArts.com | how to color with alcohol markers and colored pencil

Intermediate Copic class. Color a white swan using a rainbow of colors.

 

More About Blue Markers

We test Copic inks. See results here.

Copic underpaint blending recipes.

Copic project palettes using color theory.

 
 

Supply List

(to be updated after Amy selects markers and pencils in the June 16th livestream)

 
 

Previous Color Theory Episodes:

 
 
 
Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers
Use color theory to select realistic blue alcohol marker blending combinations. Free lessons at YouTube. Illustrator Amy Shulke demos a marker selection process using references and desaturation. | VanillaArts.com | Realism with Copic Markers