Alcohol Marker + Colored Pencils: 5 Tips for Mixed Media Adult Coloring

HOW TO COMBINE COPIC MARKERS WITH COLORED PENCILS

Have you ever thought about mixing alcohol markers with colored pencils?

The two mediums are very popular and it sounds like they could work together… but how hard is it?

In her latest FREE video, professional illustrator Amy Shulke shares five tips for combining markers and pencils for amazing mixed media projects.

WATCH: FIVE TIPS FOR MIXED MEDIA COLORING

with Copic Markers and Prismacolor Colored Pencils

(supply list at end of this article)

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TIPS FOR MIXED MEDIA BEGINNERS

1. Do I need special colored pencils?

I cover this question in-depth in my latest YouTube video above. Two of the five tips explain pencil characteristics you’ll want to look for before beginning mixed media.

You’ll be surprised at my pencil brand recommendations which conveniently will save you money, time, and frustration.

2. What type of paper works best for both markers and colored pencils?

In the video, I outline the types of paper which make markers and pencils look their best, plus how to find the best paper for you.

I currently work on Strathmore 300 Bristol Board and the video explains why.

Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Paper Pad, Smooth, Tape Bound, 9x12 inches, 20 Sheets (100lb/270g) - Artist Paper for Adults and Students - Markers, Pen and Ink Buy on Amazon

3. Are there any incompatibilities between markers and pencils?

Markers are a wet medium and pencils are dry. Mixing them may not be as simple as you originally expected but once you understand the basic mixing rules, they’re extremely simple to follow.

Tips four and five cover when and how to layer markers and pencils for best results.

As with all my videos, I include lots of side facts and information, helping you grow and experiment with mixed media coloring.

LEARN MARKER + PENCIL COLORING TECHNIQUES

Marker with a dash of colored pencil…

The Blend - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses solely on smooth blending with Copic Markers. Learn to blend or improve your current blending technique with this intensive skill building approach to coloring.

Colored pencil with a touch of marker…

The Point - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses on efficient techniques for Prismacolor colored pencils. Learn to layer colors with confidence and artistry through this intensive skill building approach to coloring.

TECHNIQUES USED IN “STRAWBERRY TOAST”

The following techniques can be spotted in the 5 MIXED MEDIA TIPS video:

1. I always color dark to light with both markers and again with pencils. It’s easier than light to dark and insures that my shade and shadows are the correct values to create depth, dimension, and realism.

2. I colored the toast first. The toast uses several very pale markers which would damage the deep, dark brown areas of the hazelnut spread. For this reason, I often color the objects starting with the lightest item first and ending with the darkest.

3. Toast only looks like toast if you include the texture. I created the holes, nooks, and crannies with marker, then colored the spaces between them with colored pencil.

4. The shiny highlights of the hazelnut spread are not white. That’s a peach pencil plus lavender.

5. The toast and spread are very neutralized colors which really helps the red berries pop!

6. The same lavender pencil used to highlight the hazelnut spread is also used to shade the toast and the strawberries. Using the same colors for different purposes helps everything in the project look related and cohesive.

COLOR STRAWBERRY TOAST

Strawberry Toast is a lesson in using negative painting techniques to develop realistic texture.

COLOR STRAWBERRY TOAST HERE

RED COLORING KIT

WE TEST RED INK

MAKE RED BEAUTIFUL

UNDERPAINT ARCHIVE

SUPPLY LIST FOR “STRAWBERRY TOAST”

Purple Alcohol Markers: You Need This Colored Pencil for Purple Success!

HOW TO COLOR PURPLE WITHOUT PURPLE MARKERS

Have you ever noticed that the V Violet family is always the smallest family in every brand of alcohol markers?

And within the V family, there are very few truly purple markers?

Remember, there’s a difference between violet and purple. Violet leans towards blue and purple leans towards magenta.

Sure, there are a few purples in the mix but we’re often given several unrelated purples which either don’t blend well together or look terrible side by side.

So how do we color beautiful purple flowers and other objects without purple markers?

In today’s video, Amy shares her approach to purple and how to create the purples that Copic, Ohuhu, and ProMarker do not make.

WATCH: COLORING A PURPLE ALLIUM FLOWER

With Copic Markers and Prismacolor Colored Pencils

(supply list at end of this article)

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If your device blocks embedded video, click here to watch at YouTube.

TIPS FOR COLORING PURPLE WITH ALCOHOL MARKERS

1. Be willing to experiment.

Even when a company makes a light, medium, and dark purple blending combination, I’ve found they don’t often blend easily together. Look outside the natural combination, experimenting with the addition of red violet or violet markers to create the feeling of purple.

The goal is a combination which “reads” as purple even though it’s not made with 100% purple markers.

2. Mix your media.

Alcohol markers work well with a wide variety of other mediums such as colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, and even pastels. The trick is to understand how to safely layer these mediums to prevent marker nib damage. Research how other artists layer their colors. Pink pastel over violet marker may be your new perfect purple!

3. Stop avoiding purple.

For years, I was very picky when selecting floral images for classes and courses. I always favored violet colored flowers because Copic makes more violet markers than purple markers.

But violet isn’t nearly as interesting or beautiful as purple! The solution isn’t avoidance, it’s being honest: If we want purple, we’ve got to make it ourselves!

Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Paper Pad, Smooth, Tape Bound, 9x12 inches, 20 Sheets (100lb/270g) - Artist Paper for Adults and Students - Markers, Pen and Ink Buy on Amazon

TECHNIQUES USED FOR “GIANT ALLIUM”

The following techniques can be spotted in the My Favorite Purple Marker video:

1. I always color dark to light. It’s easier than light to dark and doesn’t waste ink.

2. I colored the full-face florets before I colored the side-view florets which sit towards the edges. By working from the center outward, I grouped the shapes, coloring all similar shapes at one time.

3. I use a flick stroke moving outward from the floret center towards the points of each petal. Then with the lighter color, I flicked inward.

4. Soft pencil color was applied over the violet markers in a glazing technique.

5. By including a range of violet and magenta values around the purple, I make the purple areas look more purple in comparison.

6. Don’t be afraid to come back and increase the value of your dark spaces between the florets. This creates depth and keeps it from looking like a big purple basketball.

COLOR GIANT ALLIUM HERE

PURPLE & VIOLET COLORING KIT

WE TEST VIOLET INK

MAKE VIOLET BEAUTIFUL

UNDERPAINT ARCHIVE

SUPPLY LIST FOR “GIANT ALLIUM”