How do you color with your copics--light to dark, dark to light, or ?

[dunkccc]

Hi,

I've started Suzanne Dean's Copic I class and I'm confused. She colors dark to light, the Copic Coloring Guide books shows base coat with light and work to dark, and my local teacher colors starting with medium, light, then dark.

What do you feel works best?

TIA

[Angelnorth]

Personally I colour light to dark but what your experience shows is that there isn't one "right" way to do it - experiment and see what you feel comfortable with! Have fun!

[cat_woman]

I colour light to dark. Its just a personal preference I think and that's the way I learned to do it when I took art lessons way back. With my copics, I put a "base coat" with my lightest shade, then put in my medium shade, then my darkest shade. Then I go over it all again with my lightest shade to blend them so there isn't any noticable demarcation between the colours.

[Jeanne S]

I agree... there are really no rules. Try different techniques with markers and see what you like the best.

[Beate]

I usually color from light to dark. It makes it easier to blend the colors smoothly together. If I want to color folds on clothing though, I go from dark to light, since I want the blending not to be that smooth, but to stand out. Does that make sense?

[gingerd]

I too color light to dark. I want to ensure that I have adequate light space. I figure I can always add dark to an image.

[arlenevita]

I took Suzanne's class in Buffalo and really enjoyed it! So I color dark to light. To me it takes less time.

[PrincessBaach]

I like going dark to light as well, and that's just from watching Suzanne's youtube videos. For me, it makes the blending easier

[dini]

I tend to start light, work to dark, then work my way back again.

But it's true - there are no rules. Play around with it and find what works for you.

[ShellysImages]

I find myself doing both. I usually begin with my darkest colors and then move lighter.

[Crafts]

I did a poll on this question earlier this year: Do you color light to dark or dark to light? by Crafts at Splitcoaststampers . Although it wasn't limited to Copics, over 57% responded that they color light to dark.

In Reply #5 in that poll's thread, melissa59 said she first lays down the light color, then works dark to light. Since then, I've tried that method and use it sometimes. It's an approach that wouldn't have occurred to me until she posted it.