Student Open Forum

Struggling with colored markers

Struggling with colored markers

por Becky Congdon -
Número de respuestas: 4

Hi Folks!

    I am struggling with the colored markers and any feedback would be appreciated. I purchased a pastel set of prisma markers which in hindsight wasn’t the best for seed pods. Anyway, I had saved some acer maple seeds and they are colorful. I just finished the drawing, but if you have any suggestions, please let me know. I tried using a colorless blender from Prisma (alcohol), but doesn’t really “blend” much.  

   Stay warm and thank you in advance! 

Becky

Anexo FeedbackColoredMarkers.jpeg
En respuesta a Becky Congdon

Re: Struggling with colored markers

por Caroline Rushforth -
Hi Becky,
I think you have a lovely delicate touch with this Red Maple seed. It's beautiful.
But I do understand the struggle as well -my first real attempts with colored markers, and couldn't fine a blender etc because we live in the middle of nowhere. I finally got one tonight! and it helped a little. I also sturggled with keeping the shadow light enough and wondered if it might have been better to leave out the shadow all together?
I wonder if any of us have used colored markers much to date? We welcome any advice/experience!
Caroline
En respuesta a Caroline Rushforth

Re: Struggling with colored markers

por Carol Haley -
Hi Becky and Caroline,

I think the Red Maple seed is beautiful too -- especially down at the base. It looks as though you did get some blending. And I love the way you get the sense of transparency.

The markers are a bear. I have spent a fair bit of time playing with them (still not skilled, though) and found a few things that helped me -- 1) the type of paper used -- I started by using printer paper, which didn't work at all well for shading AND bled through. I tried out the markers and blenders on bits of different kinds of paper until I found what paper worked. 2) I tried some tricks suggested in a video on the Dick Blick store website www.dickblick.com for Prismacolor markers that included some tips for blending - one includes blending colors right on the blender tip (you can wipe the colored ink off). The title of the video is Prismacolor Art Marker Tips & Techniques -- it looks as though it's on YouTube as well as the well as the blick website. 3) I too found the pastels weren't enough for what I was doing-- I also got another set. 4) For mixing colors and blending. I found it was super helpful to envision the whole color scheme in rough sketches on scraps of the paper I was using and then playing with the markers and blender until I got the color layering and color mixture I wanted (keeping good notes along the way), then I reproduced the better ones on the final drawing. 5) I needed to be more patient than I usually am! I'd be interested in others' tips too! Carol

PS I think I used vellum for my paper in the end
En respuesta a Carol Haley

Re: Struggling with colored markers

por Becky Congdon -

Hi Carol!

   Thank you! I appreciate the feedback and the information. I will check out that video too. I did notice that the paper can make a difference. I did a sumo orange (which is quite bumpy) on the same paper earlier  and it actually helped give it more texture. I used Strathmore watercolor paper (cold press). I should try this again sometime on smoother paper (Arches hot press). I like the idea of sketching to get the color scheme (like doing swatches for watercolors).  Also, I think Caroline was right about the shadows in ink. It was a little distracting (maybe too dark). A little goes a long way! 

Thank you!

En respuesta a Caroline Rushforth

Re: Struggling with colored markers

por Becky Congdon -

Thanks! Sorry I have been under the weather here and behind. I do agree that the shadows may be a little distracting with the pastel colors.