Coloring and Adding Accents to Critters

[jsperling]

I’m trying to learn how to do a better job coloring critters with Zig Real Brush markers. Looking for videos/tutorials/classes on shading and adding white accents. Does anyone know of anyone with good resources? Thanks in advance!

[Scrapjanny]

I sold my markers because I couldn't get them to blend well, so I'm sorry to be of no help there.  I think if you post this question in the General Stamping forum, you will get a lot of help.  Good luck, and have fun!

[melissa59]

I am the last person who should reply since I have absolutely no
artistic talent. But since nobody else has chimed in with suggestions
I'll do my best to help.

I use Copic markers,
which are alcohol based and the only markers I've had luck using when I
want to color an image. I did a quick YouTube search and learned that
your Zig Real Brush markers are waterbased. It looks like they work best
using watercolor paper with a paint brush or water pen. Here are a
couple of examples:

https://www.cathyzielske.com/2018/01/watercoloring-zig-clean-color-real-brush-markers-free-printable-swatch-chart/

Shading
and highlights are difficult for me as well. I have to imagine the sun
or other light shining from a corner of the page. Hopefully you'll find a
better explanation in one of the links below:

https://www.artinstructionblog.com/drawing-lesson-a-theory-of-light-and-shade

Links below as well. Sorry about the formatting. I can't figure out how to fix it.

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<div<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QwFzvtIl824" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="">

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[gingerd]

Zigs are for watercoloring. Use watercolor paper and allow the markers to do the hard work.

Stamp an image with watercolor safe ink. Allow to dry. This may take awhile on watercolor paper.

Then wet a section of your image. Dip your Zig onto the paper and watch the color spread. With your Zig touch a little and then spread the ink. They are super easy to work with. You have to let the ink flow into a space.

Oh and when you're watercoloring skip a section go to the next section. Allow the watercolors to dry. Then go back and get the sections you skipped.

[jeanne3579]

I agree hertily with gingerd. Let the colors dry before adding the next color. You can then blend them and still see all the colors. If you add color while it is still wet, you will just get a new color.

[DebbieinOC]

When I first started stamping I viewed a lot of Sandy Allnock's videos and posts. Here's one for Beginners for Zig Clean Brushes. She also started classes, which you do have to pay for, but they are comprehensive. She's a great artist and teaches all aspects of both coloring and the product. Good luck.

Here's a link to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=P2VFM2RfvyM

Here's a link to the page with class info:
https://art-classes.com

[lovinpaper]

One thing that helps with Zig Clean Color markers is the paper. I find it works better on Bristol Smooth paper. Something about Bristol allows these markers to flow and blend. This paper also takes the water, but not too much water. Another thing I have found that helps with Zig markers is the Zig Blender Pen. If your markers did not come with the blender pen, like mine, you can purchase it separately.