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Simple Marker Tutorial

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I really struggled to learn how to color using traditional media. So I hope this might help people scale the learning curve.

For a few years this was my "formula" for doing commissions, and when I have to get something done sketchy and quick, but still want it to look halfway decent, I'll take this approach. In this tutorial I'm using Prismacolor markers.

So we obviously start with lineart.

It's important that you use pens that won't bleed. Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens work great, and they're india ink. So they won't change color over time. I've also used Microns (which tend to bleed easier) and Staedler pens (which are sometimes hard for me to find.)

At this point I just go in with a thin line, not worrying about line weights, because I'm going to go over the lines again at the end. More about that later.

STEP 1

LIGHT PEACH = base skin tone

Decide where your light source is coming from. Here it's coming from the viewer's right. I tend to leave white (i.e. not coloring over) the parts where I know I want it to shine. Nose, chin, maybe a cheek, etc.

My marker here was going a little dry, but it still works.


STEP 2


DECO PINK = Darker Skin tones/shading

I go in with Deco pink above the eyes, under the nose and lip, and anywhere else I think a shadow will naturally lie. Studying B&W photos is a good way to learn where shadows typically fall.

STEP 3


LIGHT CERULEAN BLUE = shadows

I go over some of the DECO PINK areas with LIGHT CERULEAN BLUE to make them deeper shadows. The blue goes well over the pink. Though as you experiement you'll find that as you branch out with colors this blue might not work. Especially if you use different markers (With the copic colors I use instead of bluish purple it comes out sickly green, Ugh!) But for our purposes here, it works fine.

STEP 4

BLUSH PINK = lips
CANARY YELLOW = hair
LIGHT CERULEAN BLUE = eyes

I just added a little BLUSH PINK to the lips as a base. In case you haven't picked up on it, I'm working lighter to darker colors. The base for the hair is CANARY YELLOW, again keeping white the areas I want to shine. Also I just dabbed a little blue in her eyes.



STEP 5


YELLOW OCHRE = Medium shadows in hair
LIGHT CERULEAN BLUE = Shadows on costume
POPPY RED = upper lip

I've gone in with YELLOW OCHRE to the hair where it needs to be darker than the base coat. POPPY RED adds both a little more vibrant color and shadow to the upper lip, and I've simply added the LIGHT CERULEAN BLUE where I want shadows on the already white costume. I suppose you could use a gray on the costume, but it would seem duller to me. That's up to you.

STEP 6


BURNT OCHRE = darkest shadows in hair
YELLOW ORANGE = addition color on hair
BLUSH PINK (BLENDED WITH LIGHT PEACH) = tip of nose

Here I've just simply added the BURNT OCHRE to the hair where the shadows should lie darkest.

I added a little dab of BLUSH PINK around the edge of the white space I left at the tip of her nose. Then I blended the edges of it OUTWARD with LIGHT PEACH. (don't blend inward and remove the white shiny part you left at the beginning.)

I also added YELLOW ORANGE to the hair here and there where it would add just a little extra color. Generally in the direction of the oncoming light. (This scan makes it a little hard to see because I haven't adjusted the colors any in photoshop.) If you want to skip doing something like that, you can. Or you can use a different color. It's up to you.



STEP 7


GRASS GREEN = background
PENS AGAIN! = thicken up the lineart.

Since Emma here is very warm (in terms of color value, not personality) I just threw a cooler color behind her to make her pop out more. In this case GRASS GREEN. But any cool color would work I guess.

At this point, with the coloring done (whee!) I go over the line art again to thicken it up, giving different line weights to add some life. Also, sometimes you need to make the lines darker if the markers lightened them up. (Which happens, especially with the Microns and the Staedlers.) I also thickened up her eye lashes.


TAADAAA! There it is. A nice shiny new drawing ready for you to sell and make millions. (remember me when you're famous!)
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Comments21
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ga82briel's avatar
Thanks, I think this will be useful!