Tuesday, February 22, 2011

using Copic markers for darker skin tones


Hi everyone!  For my Copic coloring class this month, I taught working with darker skin tones. So I thought I would post it here in case anyone was looking for information. I started with the colors I got from Suzanne Dean and her tutorial for African American skin tones which I used on the top left image. And then I just started picking up my markers and playing. Here are the skin colors for each image:  (click on the picture for an up close look)

Top left: 
E25, 13, 11, and 21 with R32 on her cheeks
her hair is E15,. 39, and 59

Top center: 
E13, 21 with R02 on her cheeks
her hair is the same as top left

Top right:
E15, 13, 11 with R02 on her cheeks
her hair is E97, 99, 17, and 29

Bottom left:
E11, 21 with R02 on her cheeks
Hair is E15, 39, and 59

Bottom right:
R02, E02, 01 with R20 on her cheeks
Hair is E19, 15, and 13

All her clothing is the same. For her leotard - R32 and 35. For her TuTu  G20, 21, and 24
for her crown, Y35 and 38 trim is done with a gold Spica glitter pen

For her tights, I used T1 with a bit of B41
R02 for her tongue and E31 for the inside of her mouth.

I found a tutorial a couple years ago about curly hair, and I truly wish I could find it again so I could give her credit for this technique. But for curly hair, I simply dot on the color in randomness. I start with the lightest and move through to the medium shade, then adding the low lights with my darkest color. I will then take the lightest and fill in any areas that are missing color. Do not blend! I think it gives such wonderful texture to curly hair and looks awesome no matter what color hair you're doing. Give it a shot, but make sure you have a light, mid, and darker color. Just use the tip of your marker to make the dots, so they're not huge. I think you'll love the result!

This adorble image is by Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too.

I hope you find this useful! Thanks for stopping by to see me and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!!

28 comments:

  1. These are fantastic Sharon, I'm going to put them in my Copic colors for future use. Thanks for making my day a little brighter. Great piece of work.
    Hugs, Janie

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  2. This one made me laugh out loud. She is really mad!!! Love those terrible twos and by the way you rocked the colors!!

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  3. Thanks for sharing a little of your classes with us ! Great job sure wish I was closer :)
    Hugs

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  4. oh my thanks for the info and i love love love that image....hugs

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  5. Oh...I need to print this post out and put it in my binder for sure. I have such a difficult time with darker skin tones. Thanks so much!

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  6. Fantastic work, Sharon!
    Many thanks for sharing it with us :o)
    Hugs, Candy

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  7. Thanks for sharing with us Sharon. It can be a worry getting sin tones just right !!

    Hugs, sandra xx

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  8. thanks for the tip ! I certainly will try it out one of these days.

    Have a nice day,
    Sonja
    http://scrapadoe.blogspot.com

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  9. Thanks so much for sharing this Sharon!! I will definitely be trying some of these combos out and your curly hair technique too!! xx

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  10. Excellent,excellent Sharon
    Thanks for the info and for sharing with us. Will save this and try for sure. This is really a great image too--now I want to see your completed card
    Hugs
    Monica

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  11. Awesome coloring, Sharon! Thank you so much for sharing it with the rest of us!

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  12. Thanks for the tutorial Sharon - what have I missed? I didn't know you were teaching classes. This will go into my tutorial file for sure.
    Thanks again . . Sandy

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  13. Ohhh, thanks for the tips, hon! Expecting more Copics today. WooHoo! LOVE the curly hair technique too. xxD

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  14. Thank-you so much. Being an African-American, most images I color are African-American but I've never found a list showing color combos to use. This will help so much. I'm saving this! Thanks again.

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  15. Oh, what a wonderful image! I had one granddaughter like that! Thank you for this tutorial - very informative.

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  16. WOW! So cool girlie! When I grow up I wanna color JUST like you do! Heehee! THANKS for the tips and colors used....very good info to fall back on! I love the image, too adorable! HUGS!

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  17. What a wonderful tutorial! Thanks so much

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  18. the top right and bottom left are my personal faves....this image is so stinkin' cute. I have it, too...so much fun!!

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  19. Wonderful color suggestions! I appreciate all the work you did to show us these color ranges! They will be so useful to us copic lovers! big hugs, Angela

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  20. Sharon, thanks for sharing those coloring tips.... this little stomping girl is just precious.
    Hugs
    Carole

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  21. What super great COPIC coloring info. From my COPIC idol. Thanks so much. I made a copy of this to keep close to my markers.

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  22. Your coloring is awesome Sharon!! I will have to try some of these! Thanks so much for sharing. Cute image.
    hugs,
    Chris

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  23. Beautiful coloring skills, girlfriend! You are rockin' those Copics. Great job!!!!
    Huggies ~
    Sharron♥

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  24. This is a very clear Copic tute Sharon. You did a real good job demonstrating the darkness of each set :o)
    Hugs,
    Cabio

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  25. Skin tones are so hard to do no matter what medium you use. Awesome job - thanks for sharing.

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  26. AWESOME tutorial...I swear, one day when I grow up I'll be good at coloring like you,...heehee...love ya ladybug!!!! Hugs

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