Hi All, Becki here…
I hope everyone has had a great bank holiday weekend?!
This is a little colouring project I started at the Workshop on Saturday when I thought I’d start a blog post about the importance of a colour chart!
Most Companies will provide their own printed colour chart for the mediums they sell. This is a good start for reference but you can’t beat a hand coloured chart that you’ve filled in yourself. (It doesn’t matter what medium you have… Alcohol Markers, Water based products, Pencils etc…)
This way you can see exactly what you own and what the colours actually look like. Which makes it so much easier choosing what will work for your project.
I will include some blank colour charts at the end of this blog post.
Loads of gaps on my colour chart but you can see what my most used tones are.
So whilst planning this post for the last week I thought I’d take my own advice as I haven’t used my pencils since I first got them. Why?!
Oh yeah because every time I picked up a pencil I was finding it was not the right colour. Seems basic and yet why hadn’t I done a hand colour chart. I finally did last week and ended up using my pencils over the weekend! Woohoo 😀
I sometimes chose a picture for reference if I’m ever unsure on colours of a bird or animal. I just think it makes life easier when you have a visual of how you want your colouring to look.
I don’t think I have ever seen one of these little chaps (Coal Tit) the same with a Firecrest (also in the stamp set). I’ve talked to so many customers who have said they have seen them. I’m so Jealous! Realistically if these little guys live near you who needs the reference right?! I keep filling the bird feeder at home and Mr Robin is a firm reliable in the garden. So I normally start with colouring a Robin.
I am using CS118D Garden Birds Clear Stamp set designed by the very talented Sharon Bennett.
Ok since writing the above I feel like a bit of a muppet! I strolled downstairs and went outside to check how full the bird feeder was and low and behold – a Coal tit. I couldn’t believe it! He flew away pretty quick.
So I can safely say I have seen all the above birds in my garden.
*Note this is just for reference so chose a colour, from your medium, which is a similar tone.
If using Alcohol Markers stamp using a Memento InkPad. I always start with the lightest colour which in this case was Warm Grey W0.
Using Water based products you will want to stamp using a Versafine InkPad.
I got a little bit carried away before I took the next picture but you get the idea….. build up the colour using similar darker tones.
By starting with the lighter colours it makes it easier to add darker tones, for shadows and texture for feathers, later. If you don’t like the blend you can always go over the darker ink with the lighter colour.
Use Warmer Earthy tones for the belly. I started with E41 and went in with E42 just for a bit of shadow at the top and bottom of his belly.
Again go in with a few Warm Grays on the belly. This just blends the overlap of colours better and adds some shadows and texture.
Finally go in with a White Pen. I sometimes think I overdo it a little with the white pen but I always think I will just add a stroke here and there and before you know it… my picture is covered.
So that is me finished Colouring one Fluffy Bird.
I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial.
This has got to be one of the longest posts I’ve written… If you made it this far ‘YAY’ and hope it helps!
Becki x
A4 Colour Charts you may need…
Copic Blank Colour Chart
Cleancolor Blank Colour Chart
Kurecolor Blank Colour Chart
ProMarker Blank Colour Chart
Spectrum Aqua Blank Colour Chart – Floral
Spectrum Aqua Blank Colour Chart – Nature
Spectrum Aqua Blank Colour Chart – Primary
Spectrum Aqua Blank Colour Chart – Essentials
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Marker Blank Colour Chart
Wow what a great tutorial Becki x and thanks so much for the ref charts they are going to be so helpful xxx
What a great post Becki, very helpful x
Very interesting blog post on colouring, must save this for future reference. Thank you
Thank you Ladies! Glad you all found it helpful 😀 Becki x
Great stuff Becki! I love the attention to detail that you have given those gorgeous birds. Mine usually end up as a bit of a mixture of all the breeds joined together! I promise to give them a proper identity as soon as I have made up my colour charts. You’re right, I’m sure they will really help. Thanks for a great post xx
Thanks Judy 😀 Nothing wrong with a mixture of all birds. I always worry I’m not choosing bright colours with my colouring. Think that’s why I enjoyed the dinosaur stamps really went for it with the bright colours lol. Still love my Greys, Greens and Browns mind. Thank you for the kind comments Becki x x x
This looks great. Thanks for the tutorial. Creative Blessings, Tracy x
I’ve just sat and filled out my promarker colouring chart – what a super idea, thank you so much xxxxx
Brilliant! Thanks for the tutorial. I just got these stamps for my birthday, so will be having a play soon. We get coal tits on our feeders regularly, but they fly off very quickly, especially if there are other birds around. It is the little white stripe down the backs of their heads that help to identify them
What a great help you are,you have given me a lot more confidence to do better things now, it will be great in cockadoodle the colours there will now make it look professional THANKYOU.
TRISH
Wow! Thank you for all the lovely comments on here 😀 It’s so nice to see people have read the post and found it helpful. Happy Stamping everyone x x x
Brilliant ideas – thanks for the charts – I shall be filling several in soon!
Thank you so much Becki for the tutorial and charts.
What a brilliant idea. I hadn’t realised you had used so many colours on the birds . I will be putting it into practise.
Thank you for all the comments I’m so pleased everyone has enjoyed this post. I do get a little carried away with colours Carolyn. You probably don’t need to use that many I just keep going and chucking more colours on. Colouring is always the best bit for me and with Sharon’s versatile designs it is so easy to change the colouring and have a completely different look 😀