Strawberries and Copics

Tonight I tried something new--yes, I'm experimenting on you!  But I'll get to that later. First, several of you have written me to say that you bought some Copic markers, but you aren't sure how to blend them. As a preface, I am not a Copic expert.  I have never even watched an expert use them. (Nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.) But I have certainly loved the ones that I have and enjoyed playing with them!  There are many factors that set these markers apart from water-based markers. To name a few:

• They are solvent-based, meaning that you can use them on many surfaces that you cannot use water-based markers on. Think glass, acetate--anything that you could use a Sharpie on.
• They blend beautifully and seamlessly with practice. (Try getting a smooth gradation with three different shades of a water-based marker!)
• Because you can get replacement tips and ink refills, they are really a lifetime marker.
• They come in 322 colors. . . Ahhhh. . . (Pinching myself to wake up!)  Seriously, I will never own or even be able to convince myself that I "need" 322 colors, but I like options as much as anyone!
• If you have an Original or a Sketch marker, you can get a nifty-keen little air can and airbrush set-up that enable you to use these markers as an airbrush. Maybe you'll never want that, but again, options. . . 
• Did you see what Trudee Sauer did on her blog post yesterday with the white grosgrain ribbon?  Incredibly clever and non-messy!  I adore elegant solutions--thanks, Trudee!

When I said that I was experimenting, I just received this stamp today, and I just tried my Copic Airbrush kit for the first time tonight. If I were doing it again, I think I'd go a bit lighter on the airbrushing . By the time I cut the circle out, I didn't have any white space left to show a gradation. Starting from nearer the beginning though, I was already coloring this image when it occurred to me that I should be taking pictures as I went. Keep in mind that you can click on any of these pictures for a larger version if you cannot see what I am talking about.

Picture 1: I had already used a YG00 and YG03 marker to color the dish. I usually start with the lighter color, then quickly switch to the next darker color for my shadow areas, then come back in immediately with the lighter marker on top to blend the two together, trying to get rid of a linear look.  I was starting on the strawberries, using R20 (lt. pink), R29 (Lipstick Red), and R59 for shadow areas (Cardinal). Notice the pink blotches on the upper right of the berries; those will be my highlights.

Picture 2: Look at the top right berry: see where there was a hard line between pink and red?  I got rid of that by blending over the red with the pink marker. (You can also use the colorless blender.) It helps to work quickly, wet ink into wet ink.

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Picture 3: I'm progressing on the strawberries, one at a time.

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Picture  4: The berries are finished, and I'm ready for the tops. I used YG03 and YG 95 for the tops (not pictured).

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Picture 5:  Here comes the really experimental part: I got a wonderful box from Ellen today, a veritable treasure trove! One of the cool things it had was Eclipse Art Masking tape, a 6" wide roll of masking paper with a low tack so that it would not harm the card stock surface. I stamped my strawberry image on the Eclipse paper and carefully cut around the stamped image. It took a few minutes, but I can save this mask and reuse it.

Picture 6: After masking the strawberries and bowl, I used a pale blue marker to airbrush around the outside of the bowl, and I added some shadow areas in the lower left with a pale gray marker.  The airbrush kit was very simple to use; I read the directions, assembled what I needed to, and had it working within five minutes. (Let's don't tell Rick that I can understand technical directions if properly motivated. ) I can see some cool possibilities for this airbrush system, but those ideas will have to wait until I have more time to play!

Stamp: Strawberries on outside (Lockhart), I Like you Berry Much on inside (A Muse)
Papers: Memory Box Christmas Brights Collection, Stamper's Select White by PaperTrey
Ink: Versafine Black  (I do not recommend Staz-On black with these markers since it is also solvent-based and can bleed when you use the Copic markers with it. I prefer the PaperTrey white card stock to my Whisper White when I use Versafine ink since Versafine black tends to smear on Whisper White, even if you dry it with a heat tool. If you have only Whisper White, you might try Palette Noir ink instead of Versafine.)
Accessories: Copic Markers in the colors listed above, as well as B000 and W2, paper piercing tool, red grosgrain, and red eyelets (SU), Sakura Black Gelly Roll pen to dot the black seeds.

Finally, many have asked which color package I have for Copics.  I do not have any of the current color packages. I have 48 colors that Ellen suggested after trying most of the colors, many but not all of which are comparable to the SU card stock colors that I already have. If I were you, I'd keep watching Ellen's blog for an exciting announcement about her color selections. She was hinting about it in this post. ;-D

Have a great day! (Here's hoping for a new SU catalog to come today. . .)

Comments

[Sue]

1.

Beautiful card - wonderful tutorial. I own ONE Copic Marker. :0)

[Viv (VivLyn)]

2.

Awesome card and tutorial, Debbie! I might have to invest in the airbrush! Your background looks beautiful!!

[Karen]

3.

Thanks for the tips. Beautiful card. The strawberries show the shading so well.

[trudee]

4.

Awesome, Debbie!! I have been putzing around with the airbrush, too. It's so cool! That image is just *perfection*!!

[Penny]

5.

Thank you Deb for this lesson! You put a lot of work into your blog and it is easy to see you love what you do and we all love you! Penny

[amy]

6.

I'm speechless....this is stunning. I'm not sure I'll ever have enough money to buy more than a few of these Copic markers, so I'll have to live vicariously through you!

TFS,
Amy

[dawn burnworth]

7.

Thank you so much for this wonderful post. It must have taken some time. What a terrific look that airbrush gives the background. I am in awe as usual of your talent. I would never have thought of the black gel pen on the strawberries. Thanks for sharing with all of us. This is stunning.
Dawn B.

[Michele Kovack]

8.

Debbie,
Thanks for all the helpful info! I love my Copics and didn't realize I could use the lighter color to blend. I exclusively used the Blender! I'm glad you stated that you have to work fast...cuz if you don't the ink dries and then it is difficult to move! I love your card by the way! Hey I'll see ya at CHA in July! I'll be looking for ya!

[Sophia Landry]

9.

Wow, I love your coloring, you did a great job, I guess I will just have to keep practicing with mine to get that great blending. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your step by step!

[florence]

10.

AWESOME, thanks for the information, that card is fantastic, it feels like I could just pick one and eat it now, so life like.

[Charmaine]

11.

Just fabulous! I'd like to dig into that bowl of strawberries!

[tgrdina]

12.

This card is magnificent. I saw the Copic markers at an expo and my always-realistic daughter wouldn't let me spend the $$$ on them! After seeing this card, I may have to save my pennies and get myself a few! Thanks for sharing. Your tutorial is excellent.

[Julie Campbell]

13.

Thanks SO much for the tutorial and all of the info! Your card is beautiful, btw! I really want to get some of these markers and I am really excited to see what the '48' colors will be! Great post!

[Jo Ann Kay Shive]

14.

Debbie, Thanks so much for the tutorial. You are very generous with your time. The card is wonderful as usual. Can't wait to see what you come up with tomorrow. These stamp companies should pay you because your talent in using them is what sells them. Thanks again for the turtorial. Jo Ann

[Lindsey]

15.

OMgosh this is stunning. Your coloring is incredible! Very neat! Great job!

[StamperSharon]

16.

Fabulous coloring and shading, Debbie -- just gorgeous! Thanks so much for your tips, I still need practice with these markers!

[diane mcvey]

17.

Wow, thanks for all the great information! I appreciate the time you took to do this for us...you are so giving! The card is fabulous, and the tips are priceless..keep them coming! :)

[Lesa]

18.

Way cool! Love this! Too pricey for me at this time though, darn! Keep sharing!
Lesa

[Rose Ann]

19.

Amazing, Debbie! Those strawberries really just off the card, they are so realistic-looking! Beautiful card, and thanks for the tips. (I am waiting for Ellen's Copics...but I think I told you that already).

[Michelle R]

20.

Your coloring is magnificent...as is your tutorial. I've been thinking seriously of investing in the Copics. I guess I just need to be patient enough for Ellen to announce which 48 colors I *need*.

[Angel]

21.

Adorable card and great instructions!

[Otter]

22.

Gorgeous!! This is my favorite lockhart stamp!!! When or when will Ellen carry copics in her store!!!

[Linda]

23.

AMAZING! Thanks for showing us what these markers can do. I purchased one for a small project. It glided as smooth as butter.

[K Ostvig]

24.

Very cool. I dont have any of these yet, and I use the word YET liberally because it will be years before I start to get them, unless I get an unexpected inheritance, but I really want them now. The air brush looks like a great tool also. Can you use that with SU markers as well?

[Heather Mitchell]

25.

Love the strawberries... they look good enough to eat!
I just started a new blog to post my creative side. If you're interested, you can find it here: http://stampsscrapsstitchesnstuff.blogspot.com/
It's not nearly on the same caliber as most of the other blogs I read, but you have to work with what you have, right??!?! Hope you like it!