coloring and aha arts

In my quest to improve my coloring skills thanks to the #thedailymarker30day challenge, I went searching for more images to color. Not in the mood for florals yet, I discovered I don't have a lot of cute animals (who seem to be the fave for coloring). My stamp arsenal is full of graphic or nature images. But I found this little gal in an Aha Arts set (designed by Ashley Goldberg - love her).

Aha Arts Girls stamp

Avery Elle Storybook sentiment

Polychromos

What did I try? Imagining my light source over my right ear which would create highlights on the top of her head and her pocket. And consequently shadows on the left and under her chin. And applying light layers. With super sharp pencils. Cuz I watched this video.

What did I learn?
1. You can use only two colors (light and dark blue, light and dark gray) and hit the darkest areas with  a tiny bit of black. Especially on small images.

2. You can color a face with only one pencil (cuz my set only has one rosy tone) and blend it a bit with a white pencil.

3. An eraser can be used to lighten up an area. I did this to highlight a bit of her hair on the right side. I had a problem figuring out where to highlight/shade her hair. I'm OK with the top of her head but don't like the transition to the side. Maybe it's the way the image is illustrated.

I'm joining these challenges:

The Color Throwdown - #476

Addicted to Stamps - Baby it's Cold Outside (I've used cool colors)

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Something New (new is that I'm coloring- with shading)

AAA Cards - Chilled (my colors)

coloring and curves

Are you taking part in Kathy R.'s 30 Day Coloring challenge? I'm trying to give it a go this time - maybe not every day but definitely intent on practicing with color mediums.

So I started with colored pencils. Perhaps you saw my first attempts on IG. Today I turned one of them into a card.

STAMPlorations Tweet Love stamp

STAMPlorations Tweet Love die

Avery Elle Waves die

Polychromo (36) pencils

What did I try? Applying light layers of color, a light overall, then some dark (yeah, that's my problem... where to add "shading"), then the light again and then dark then light again. Hmm. I used "dark" around the stitched edges on these images and tried to keep Kelly L.'s tip to "shade where two things come together" in mind (like belly and leg, or head and neck).

What did I learn?

1. This is my standard 300g Folia cardstock. It's grainy. Plus I die cut the image first and I think my old cutting plates add texture to the paper. My result on the giraffe looks very grainy. Maybe I just needed more layers of color.

2. Note less graininess on the balloon - maybe cuz not run through my Big Shot?!?

3. An eraser can be used to lighten up an area. I did this to highlight cuz I cannot seem to keep an area of an image white/light when I'm in the coloring process!  Little area on his face and hooves.

4. I must research shading and highlighting. I know "consider your light source" in theory, but I have a hard time putting it into practice. Kinda like me and skiing... Anyhoo, any favorite videos on coloring for beginners?

Ah yes. As for the funky use of the waves die cut... it's new-to-me and happened to fall onto my counter and vaguely reminded me of a cage in a zoo. Giraffe. Bingo. That's how I roll, folks. Told ya, it's scary...

I'm playing at:

STAMPlorations - Stamps and Curves

Addicted to Stamps and More - #275

Die Cut Divas - Something New (my wavy die)
Dies R Us - Kids Card
30 Day Coloring Challenge

Hope your weekend is going well.