How much time do you generally spend...
 

It can easily take me a couple hours to make a card. (I often get interrupted by my kids or one wakes up from his nap.) Most of that time is coloring. The stitching and putting together the rest of the card usually goes pretty quickly. I'm slow when it comes to coloring, too! :grin:

I don't even keep track of it but I know I'll start coloring and by the time I'm done more than half an hour has passed by. It's so relaxing!

Coloring takes me forever only because I can't pick the right colors from the start.

I have to make some kind of chart for my pencils. Then I could match the color up to my paper, instead of coloring a couple of images until I find the right colors.

Thanks so much!! I will check them out.

I am sure if I kept track it would be a long time. I tend to stamp several images at a time them color while I watch TV or listen to a book on tape. A great way to spend an evening IMO.

It depends entirely on the image. Something simple might take 10 or 15 minutes:
Duckling by Crafts

Something more complex might take several hours over a couple of days:
Bunny & Violets by Crafts
or Chipmunk & Vinca by Crafts

I spend a long time if I'm coloring with Prismacolor pencils. I LOVE doing it though so it doesn't seem like a chore to me.

smcdonough, I make my own color chart of the colors I HAVE. Then it's easier to see what they look like in real life as opposed to relying on the outside of the pencil. I have a chart just for this purpose on my blog. You're welcome to download it if you like.

Oh wow! I can spend forever doodling around on one thing! I have a 3 yr old so it can take me hours to finish one task sometimes! Or ONE STEP in a card LOL

Don't worry it's normal....

you are not slow at all!

i LOVE to color, and when i have a "me day" i will sometimes stamp images and do nothing but color!! its so relaxing to me, almost like therapy, LOL

It depends on the size of the image. If I'm using Copics I'd say anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. Pencils go much faster for me. I like to take my time and make sure everything looks fab before putting the card together.

I can spend hours coloring because I like doing it . I use my Copics almost exclusively. I have done a little water coloring with Distress Inks.

I usually stamp several of the same image and color them in different color combinations to see which one(s) I like best :)

Judi I am by no means and expert, but your coloring charts had me coloring my card here in less than 1/2 hour-I say like 20 minutes and I colored two one right after the other. Really super easy and I loved the results!

Carol, that's such a darling card :D. It's good to read your feedback on those coloring guides.

When I'm coloring an image, some of my time is spent in trying out different color combinations. This week I did a raccoon's head four times before I was happy with the results. The first three attempts weren't necessarily wrong; they just didn't match my preconceived idea of what it should look like. The important part is that I enjoy the process of coloring, even when it doesn't turn out on the first try.

Your coloring guides are wonderful!!!!!

I use Prisma pencils and watercolor and I think they would be helpful with those mediums as well:)

What a sweet comment. Thanks!

The OP asked about how long it takes to color, and I was hoping my coloring guides would save some time. I don't expect anyone to copy one exactly. It's just meant as a suggestion. And if someone doesn't like the way I've colored it, then that's one less color combination she needs to try herself. ;)

I've also used Prismacolor pencils and watercolors. Pencils are the slowest for me, while Copics are the fastest. Watercolors are also fast for the actual coloring, but not when including the time spent in setting up and cleaning up. Maybe the problem is that I'm using artist watercolors, with various palettes, brushes, and water containers that need to be dried and put away after each session. My marker racks are always out on the worktable and ready to go.

I hadnt stamped in a couple months. The last 4 days i have been stamping. I was amazed at how fast the Copic technique came back. However with that said i think two hours for an image. A card takes all day though because I struggle with color, paper, and layout. Also it seems i am always spending time searching for something!

Bonnie

I believe it is better to take your time and do a good job!

I'm so glad I ran across this, I thought I was the only one who still liked to color. I use my pencils mostly but I keep trying to get the copic tech down, for some reason I'm having a hard time with it. Probably because I only had one hour class locally and the closest they will come up here is a 4 hour ride one way so needless to say I can't make their workshop. I use a variety of pencils, not just prisma. I really love my derwent and caarn but they are expensive! I don't do a lot of water coloring, I always feel it looks to bleached out but my aunt is helping me with it.
I print off a lot of digi's so I have a large box of stamps to choose from at all times. Sometimes I have more colored than cards, lol.

I used to love coloring, but over the past few years I'm over it. (for now, I will come back to it I'm sure) So for now I won't do it if I cannot do it in about 10 minutes.

:)

What ever I plan to use, either markers or pencils, I always take my time coloring. I find it very relaxing, so i never rush thru it. Its just one of those things I really enjoy! :D

I have made charts for my Copics, Polychromos and Inktense pencils and i find it really helps me make decisions on what colors i want to use too. Looking at the barrel of the pencil or marker, didn't work that good for me. Charts give me that real color "feel".

You might want to check out Dini's new tutorial on shading with pencils.
Splitcoaststampers - Tutorials I also have a tutorial on my blog that you may like.

I made charts too. One for inventory purposes that is in color number order, and another one that I color in with the pencils I have so that, like you, I can see the actual colors as I work. I even made a Prismacolor Pencil Journal that includes the charts, notes color templates etc. At first I thought I was kind of a dork, but then I blogged about it and got tremendous feedback so I guess I'm not such a dork after all :lol:

[/QUOTE]
I made charts too. One for inventory purposes that is in color number order, and another one that I color in with the pencils I have so that, like you, I can see the actual colors as I work. I even made a Prismacolor Pencil Journal that includes the charts, notes color templates etc. At first I thought I was kind of a dork, but then I blogged about it and got tremendous feedback so I guess I'm not such a dork after all :lol:[/QUOTE]


Your not a dork at all! I have even made charts for other things too. All my ink pads, distress stains, perfect pearls, and colors of mist sprays too. I just find its nice to have that reference to what it looks like (whatever i'm using) before i use it on a project or whatever. :D

I use color charts for everything! I love to color with Copics. Very relaxing and brings back memories of coloring when I was a child. I have charts that I made for stickles, distress inks,(if I have matching stickles I put a sample next to the ink), paint daubbers, smootch, and alcohol inks. Each product has their own strip of cardstock. I punched a hole in the upper corner and put a ring through them all. They hang next to my work space for handy reference. My copic chart samples are kept with my copics in their own special box.

It takes me longer to color with colored pencils--not sure how long. I have a lot of very small stamps. I color in cross-hatching directions, very lightly, then do sketch-style shading. I use Crayola pencils a lot. They are a "harder" or "waxier" texture than Prismacolors. You get a less intense color, but it is easier to avoid making it too dark. Prismacolor has some special shades that the cheaper brands don't.

If I'm in a hurry, I color with markers (Crayola supertips). I use just one shade, then a darker shade for shading. I never use markers for faces though, I use a yellow-orange Crayola pencil with a very light touch (or hazel for tan or darker skintones), then red orange to "blush" the cheeks (mahogany with a darker skintone).

Lots of great artistic advice here. Thanks for all the tips!