Note: All images from:
https://store-04628.mybigcommerce.com/cart.php?tk=hk3gpisaauegr8vi699bealb91
I was playing around with a fab background image, adding different secondary images and thought, why not color with different mediums? It is easier to see the difference when so much of the image is similar, in this case the background (lighthouse). So here is a comparison of a few. There are others, and I love them all, and there may someday be a part two. But for now, we have what we have.
Starting off my favorite way to color; art pencils with mineral oil to blend!
Used along with Harvest Aquina, who is collecting muscles along the beach after the first lighthouse, powered by candles, was built. I love the softness of using the pencils and blending out from an image. I struggle with small spaces, getting a shaded look without a lot of area to leave 'white' spots. Then I struggle with open spaces where there is not a lot to color in. Still, I love the soft look achieved here. It is peaceful and sweet. the downside is, of course the time. This is he most time costly way to color, so I only send these cards to people I really love.
Coming up next was one colored simply using fine tip markers, Sharpie's, Le Pen's and Papermate. I will say I like the Sharpie's best, they are smooth and bleed least. Oh, I did try to make the sand blend out with one Chameleon pen ;).
The positive here is that this is the fastest way to color I have found. Just straight coloring with no blending either using fine markers or pencils is quick, therapeutic, and still has a nice end result. But it's just nice. My problems with it are: the doubled over areas, the bleeding capacity when I am trying so hard to stay in the lines, and the limit of colors. Although the final might be fixed by having multiple brands I found blues were too similar between the Sharpie and Papermate, that's when I called in my Le Pens. The Le pen's have a very fine tip which was enjoyable, but again colors were limited. Still it's a good enough card to send to someone I like. I added a mermaid to the water here (Mermais Kailani) and some fun embellishing, making it a bit more darling.
Finally I played with my Chameleon markers. For those unfamiliar with these, they are an alcohol based marker system where each pen is used to create multiple shading affects of that color.
I struggled with the sand, I will admit it right up front. I added more color, removed color, and just couldn't get the right look. Then, I decided, if the waves had been ebbing and flowing like they do, maybe the sand would look this way. The sand is done using one pen. The ocean done is using one pen. The grass (not the bushes/trees) is done using one pen. This is a very efficient way to color. There is a limit of pens, but they are manipulable, saving money (compared to other alcohol based pen systems) and space on the craft table. The time is slightly longer then fine tip markers, but way less than artist pencils. In my opinion the look is slightly less desirable than art pencils, but much better than fine tip markers. Image used is Summer Sisters. I added a punched edge and a circle punched sunshine. I would send it to someone I love.
Other forms of coloring: water color pencils, ink and blender pen, chalks may be featured in another blog. Things you will not catch me using; Distress Markers (mine dried out ridiculously fast), any form of crayon (too unpredictable), or Gelatos (again, unpredictable). Yet, every time I say never.....
