Coloring Shadows/Backgrounds
 

I've been following the threads on how to color an image and have seen some great ones here! In my browsing of them and a lot of blogs I have noticed that not only do a lot of them color their images so awesomely but they also have a "way" of coloring shadows or backgrounds to really make that image pop off the paper! I've seen the halo's but, I'm not sure I'm even wording it right but hopefully someone will understand! Help?! Anyone?!! LOL!

Thank you in advance:D !

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I want to know also


smallcity

I love the shadowed effet used an many Three Trees cards and the skaters in Winter Post cards. But have never been able to get the long reflected shadow effect. I've tried Michelle Zindorff's blog but only get a web page expired message. I too would like help.

Uh oh, I may have to resort to begging or, perhaps bribery....?! LOL! I'm game to surf a blog or two if anyone can point in that direction!!

TIA!

Here is an example of a lady's card that really ROCKS the example of what I'm looking for directions on how to do! I really want to color like this lady when I grow up! She's awesome!

http://paulatracy66.typepad.com/paper_possibilities/

Looks like pastels and blender pens or markers and blender pens. I'd say pastels because the halo edge is quite soft but am not 100%. I think there was a tutorial on shading on this forum... I'll have a look

OK couldn't find it. My fav way to colour at the mo is to use markers and do a light fill colour then use the darker colour round the edges and bleed the darker colour into the lighter colour with the blender pen (this creates a gradient between the two colours). The way I do halos around images is just with dry pastels and I apply them with a cotton bud (tip what ever you call it) :OD

I often use chalks to go around my images. Here's an example where I just use a pom pom and the chalks. In this image I did a bit more out of the image than just the close shadows:

http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...&ppuser=186647

I'd like to know how to make the blue sky that looks like it has clouds on it...anyone want to share that 411? I love how it looks...

Mothermark did a tutorial here - http://mothermark.blogspot.com/2008/...shed-card.html
I don't see the video there now, but I do remembering watching it, so you could always drop here a line.

Her video tutorial is on this link :-D

http://mothermark.blogspot.com/2008/...pvideo_18.html

Wow!
 

That example is AWESOME!:-) You did a great job!! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! I"m going now to check out those videos!

Not sure if I can help with the 'halos' but some great shadows can be made with real subtle colors. You don't need to do a dark grey. Greyed lavender is good color if you have Prismas. You can do that under or over a true grey or by itself.

subscribing so I will have the videos and examples when I am ready to try this. Thanks for the info

Hambo Stamps
 

OMG!! I'm in love! I LOVE your stamps! I just went to your website and checked them out, after a visit to your blog too! I just love the plumber! It "cracks" me up! LOL!!

Thanks Michelle! That's been a real popular one.

Debbie Olsen had a tutorial a long time ago on her blog showing how to "float in" a background and wet the paper at the outer edges of where you want the color to fade away, then bring in the color. I was a while back but she may have a search feature or topic list you can use to find it more easily. HTH!

Paula uses gamsol and Prisma pencils to create her shadows. I asked her. She just lightly shades in the color and then blends it outward away from the image.

Here is another fabulous tutorial by Leslie....

http://leslierich.blogs.splitcoastst...-with-markers/

She used markers on watercolor paper to give a shadow. Lots of detail in this one too.
Hope this helps...

Also... Craftess uses a mop brush and an ink pad. She has a fantastic gallery too.

subscribing

I use the same technique, but I use hand-me-down colored pencils from our grown children.

Pax et bonum,

Carol

blending colors
 

I'm new here and love this site! I've already learned some new techniques. I'm not sure that this comment is even going to go to the right area..... I'm particularly interested in blending colors and learning to do life-like shadowing and welcome any and all suggestions and sources of information.

Another way to blend colors that I am learning is to get a plastic lid (such as one on a margarine tub and, using your watercolor felt pen, create a smear. The larger the area to be painted, the larger the smear. Take your paint brush, dip it in water and add it to the smear using more water at one end of the smear and less at the other. This way you have a range of the same color from a wash to just short of full strenth. Let it dry when you're done with it and just add water to use it again and again. When I want to do very full color, I wet my brush and wipe it directly on the pen nib. To save money, I've just started using re-inkers instead of the pens. I also have been using the dollar store paint pallets that have the circular as well as the rectangular angled areas rather that margarine lids. I find the elongated angled areas really good for smearing and having the stronger color at the bottom with the wash strength (for lack of a better word) at the top.

Any comments or suggestions would be welcomed. ~ Rusti

Rusti welcome to SCS. You are going to love this place. Thanks for the tips...

i had a heck of a time finding this forum again.. is there a way to keep track of the forums that you're interested in?

Go to the top and click on Thread Tools. You will get a drop down menu. You can click on subscribe. Then you have to chose how you want to be notified. Hope that helps...

So how do you decide what color to use for making a shadow? I haven't done it b/c I've seen them in all different colors and I don't know how to choose a color that "goes" with the image.

Carrie

One way to think about it...if the majority of colors you use on a card are 'warm' (on the red side) then use a shadow color that is warm. And the same with 'cool' (blues) colors. Most pencils and Copics are marked warm or cool. For a warm shadow maybe use a subtle/light pink first as a base then use a warm grey on top. For cool shadows slate greys are good. Or a light blue then a cool grey or slate grey on top.

Or to confuse you..if you want the background to fade out use cool colors and really warm colors on the image to make it pop. I did that on this card. Warm colors pop out and cool colors recede.

Hope this helped some!

Pencil coloring
 

I love this video. I think she does a great job and makes it affordable, simple and gives great directions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCCo9...eature=related

Hope this helps someone else too.

Kerry

Sue also has an awesome gallery. Check it out here. She is also an SCSer..

http://www.heartprints.net/

Subbing

blending colors
 

I don't know about using different colors, but what I use for different depths of shadow is a continuum of deeper shades of the same color. For lighter colors I might add a grey tinge in the darkest area. I have no idea if I'm doing this correctly, but until I learn better, this is what I do.

I've seen others put a strip of ink from where they want the shadow to start and use a blending pen to spread the color. I haven't been very successful with this method. I can't seem to get the color to blend evenly.

:-D Rusti

Thanks Dawn, I love this site already. I've learned more in the past week or so from reading the forums and tutorials than I've figured out on my own in the past year. I also really enjoy the feel of the site ~ the willingness of members to support each other and share knowledge is fabulous.

I got a "surprise" day off today! YEAH! Now I can try out these cool ideas I've been reading! Off to the crap room....oops I mean off to the craft room! YEAH!!!!

After seeing this tutorial...I am going to have to get our Markers. lol I have held off for quite some time with the help of my blender pends, pastels and inks. But I need to try this.

I really want that witch stamp as well! :)

Thank you for this link! I never thought that actually using watercolor paper would be the way to go, and Stazon!! Uhg! I have always had a problem with the paper coming up, and the black ink bleeding!! Oh how funny... I can't wait to try this!!

subbing

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What an awesome question! I'm so glad I found this thread. I have new watercolor markers from Tombow and new Prismacolor pencils that I am going to be playing with today and this will certainly help my technique! thanks for the great links!! :mrgreen:

OK, what is gamsol and where do you find it? TIA!