6 Styles To Color Like A Pro

When someone mentions coloring, colored pencils are what comes into many people's minds. Colored pencils are incredible because of their versatility as well as ease of use, which makes them a go-for item by colorists. But as you advance, you might want to venture into the world of watercolors, markers, acrylics, pens, etc.

This would be an exciting world to delve in since mixing materials will bring a new level of mood and texture to your coloring project. In this piece, we will cover the different techniques you would use to realize this. Keep reading for some insight.

1Underpainting With Watercolor

When creating the first layer of painting, a monochrome wash - referred to as an underpainting - is used. You can then add some layers of transparent washes over the monochrome wash to achieve great luminous and realism effects. You could begin by mixing a shade of light purple (a mix of ultramarine blue and cadmium red will work wonders). Neutral tones of green or blue would also work.

As you lightly paint your item using this purple, you should pay attention to the shade and light. And because you do not have to focus on color, you could put more effort into shape rendering. Use a light hand and soft painting brush to prevent the purple from overshadowing the other sections of the painting. Allow the underpainting enough time to dry before you proceed to glaze. Working on the paint while it's still wet increases your risk of muddying the remaining colors.

2Splattering With Acrylic

It doesn't get any better than this. With a fairly wet brush, it is also possible to splatter or flick paint onto the work surface for that uneven splatter effect. It works wonders when you want to create a starry night or an abstract landscape or if you merely want to add some texture to your pieces.

3Blending With Gel Pens

With some gel pens, your smear becomes easy, and this would be viewed as a drawback, but it isn't. You could leverage this quality by intentionally blending different colors or using a single color to create a gradient effect. Some gel pens will be drier on the page, while others tend to be wetter. When blending, it is best that you use wetter pens.

You could try it out on a blank page to assess which pen gives the best smear. Color a small box and try using your fingers or a blending tool to smudge it. Multiple tools are ideal for blending; you could use a bristle paintbrush, pencil eraser, silicone spatula, flat-ended cotton sponge (could be obtained from the cosmetic section of most drug and grocery stores), or a wet paintbrush.

4The Burnishing Technique

Burnishing is a technique where the pressure is used to combine layers and entirely color-fill the tooth of a paper. This results in a shiny and smooth appearance of the color on any piece of art. Sharp colored pencils are the best in this case because they aid in saturating the paper faster with color.

5Layering With Marker

If you want to color a wide background or open space, layering the pencil over the marker makes for an excellent way to cover it. Starting with the color marker before adding the colored pencil on top is an excellent way to create a large section of intense color, like the depth of the sea or a night sky. Combining the pencil and marker helps you get a deeper color compared to one or the other used alone. Ideally, you could use this technique with any color, for instance, the blues which are used in the sky.

6Blooms With Gouache

Of all the water-based mediums, gouache is one that you can efficiently water down to react and use like watercolor. Blooms could be used to add a base of color, which you could then paint on top of. Wet the brush with water and a slight pigment and then apply it to the paper. Using a different color and more water, you can blot bobs of color onto the paper. You'll be surprised by how the color spreads and bleeds into the paper.

If you're aware of the appropriate techniques when coloring, simple coloring art will appear like a stunning painting. But you need to remember that practice will help you get better at the coloring tricks mentioned here. Begin exploring now and witness breathtaking colored pages you have never imagined you would do.