Aug 18 2008
Coloring Today: The Easiest Watercoloring Ever — With Markers
Surprise! You might not have been expecting to see a Halloween card today… Well, as it happens, Whipper Snapper is releasing two more of Anna Wight’s sets this very day and you know how I love to watercolor Anna’s images. Doesn’t the ghost have the most lovely smile? It looks to me like he’s been up to mischief. He seems just a little bit too gleeful over a spell gone awry.
This card represents the set called Hocus Pocus. All the characters have those big toothy grins, making them most endearing. These are real happy Halloween sets. I love them both! The other new set is called Spooky Expressions. You can see both sets here. The rest of Anna’s team will be making cards with her new sets, too, and you can check them out here: Pam, Jami, Carol, Trudee and, of course, Anna.
Since we’ve already covered basic watercoloring with inks, I thought we’d do some watercoloring with a slightly different means of applying the ink. You may find this to be the easiest watercoloring ever. It’s worthwhile to try several different coloring methods, not only for the various effects they provide, but because one of them may turn out to be just right for you — the one at which you excel.
These are the supplies I used for coloring my images – just a few markers and a brush. Of course, I also used water and watercolor paper. The paper I use comes in a tablet and is 100% cotton 140 lb cold pressed grain fin. My markers are Stampin’ Up! water-based markers.
Let’s get started by first stamping the image in Jet Black Stazon, which is a waterproof ink. The witch’s legs and hat are separate images. I stamped the hat first, masked it and then stamped the legs.
Use your marker to color a narrow line of black ink along the edges of the hat. More color can be added later if needed so it’s best not to overdo it at this stage. I prefer to approach small areas at a time because the ink is most workable soon after you lay it down.
Use a clean, wet brush to pull the ink from the edges to the center. In this photo, the gray area of the hat is the ink that was pulled from the edges. I wanted more shading on the right side of the hat, so I colored a little more with my marker. It’s shown blended in the next photo.
In this photo I’ve finished blending the ink on the hat. I softened the extra color I added and used the ink on the brush to add a little more shading to the left side of the hat, too. Be careful not to pull the fresh marker ink all the way across the hat. Just soften the color, then clean the brush and use the clean, wet brush to smooth back into the colored edge.
I’ve also added green marker to the edges of the hat band and black to the right end of the brim.
In this photo I’ve completed the shading and blending of the hat in the same manner as described above. Then I went on to color the legs, socks and shoes. I’ve also added a rather shocking green outline to the entire image. Yikes! It looks like she’s been electrified. Let’s tone that down a bit.
Use your wet brush to scribble back and forth on the green edge to soften the color, then pull it outward from the image. Be careful not to pick up any color from the image. The entire background will have a greenish tint with more color concentrated close to the image.
See the area immediately under the hat brim — the left side shows where I added a line of purple marker for some darker shading. The right side of the brim shows what that line looks like after blending. I did the same thing under the shoes which you can see in the photo of the finished card.
Wasn’t that fun? I painted the ghost the same way, with Amethyst ink. I went over his teeth and eyes with the Inkssentials white opaque pen and added Stardust Stickles to one tooth. I edged all the white panels with ink directly from the pad to the paper, and decorated the background with some retired Stampin’ Up! Halloween papers.
The sign dangles freely from the ghost’s hands, tied through punched holes with the fibers.
This card was a lot of fun for a change. Some stamps just lift your spirits and take your cares away. I think I need more of that. Don’t we all? I hope you enjoyed today’s coloring. Have a joyful day!
I love this, you are soooo talented with your watercoloring!
I just loved how simple you explained your terrific card. It makes me believe that I can accomplish the same thing.
The card is very Fun!
Hope to see me tutorials in the near future.
Thanks.
Yet another excellent, well photographed and accurately written tutorial. Your tutorials are just what the doctor ordered and through your expert guidance I may just learn how to watercolor. Thank you Leslie.
This is so darling and you make all these coloring techniques look SO easy — and I think I could even attempt this one — LOL!!! It looks FABULOUS and having the step by step photos breaks it down so nice and easy!! THANK YOU for all the work you put into these fabulous tutorials!!!
Fabulous tutorial. You watercoloring is wonderful. I’ve been working with a variety of watercoloring tools this week, but I’ve never tried using the markers like that. Thank you so much for always taking the time to be very helpful.
What an adorable card! I just love Anna’s images! And you did such a fantastic job on your tutorial. I love it that you made it look so simple!
I love your coloring and this card, Leslie! That witch with the hairy legs is too funny!!!
Cute card. I saw these images on Anna’s blog this morning and wondered about the legs. Your card shows how cute they can be when you know how to put it all together. tfs
Bev J. (Maxell on SCS)
Such fun images, love all the embellishments too, neat to see how you do the shading the effect is awesome!
Oh WOW!! I love it!! And wonderful way to color the image too - thanks for the well done tutorial! I love the crazy fibers on the card! So fun!
Great card and great tutorial. Thanks for the lesson.
Leslie,
This card completely rocks! I love the tutorial! I have never colored directly on the paper and then blended –I always picked up color. The thought of scribbling on the paper made me nervous! Well, you proved I need to just jump in and try it! Your card is so stinkin’ cute! Those images— too fun!
You made this technique sound so easy! I like the effect, and it’s one technique I haven’t tried. Thanks!
When I grow up, I want to watercolor JUST like you! Leslie, you make it looks so easy…but you really should see the mess I made when I tried this! LOL! Because I looove your finished projects, I’m going to keep trying! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!
This is just adorable, Leslie!! I love how you’ve colored this, and thanks so much for your wonderful tutorial too!!
Wonderful tutorial, hysterical card. I SOOOOO want those sets!!! Absolutely adorable images.
LeAnne
Hi Leslie, You are so talent for watercolor on the Witch hat and legs. It is funny. Thank you for your great tutorial.
What an adorable card and toooo funny, lol! I love Anna’s images and your wonderful tutorial! Your watercoloring is fabulous!!! TFS
This is a great card, and a great tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us!
That is so adorable! I love the green shading around the image. This is my favorite way of watercoloring right now, as I have all the SU markers, but few reinkers.
Oh wow~ this is really neat. and looks easy enough for me to do it!
Most EXCELLENT indeed! I love everything about it!
Leslie ~ YOU are amazing!!! This card is SO VERY HALLOWEENIE! Thanks for the tutorial…everytime you do this, it gives me confidence to try, try again
Such a FUN card and of course your coloring is always awesome and your tutorial is fantastic. Love the wit here!
Great card! Love the tutorial using the SU markers! I love the hat sitting on the legs…too cute!
Adorable card, Leslie — love your tutorial . . . wonderful work as always! Such a happy Halloween card!
This is so cute! I’m glad you pointed out the sparkle on the one ghost tooth, I didn’t catch that at first glance and I love it! And your write THE BEST tutorials. You almost make me feel like I could actually pull off this amazing coloring myself. I’m skeptical though. But I really need to head into the stamp room and give it a try… (I feel like I need to go buy a good watercolor brush though rather than using my aquapainters…!)
Leslie this is an awesome tutorial!! Thank you so much for breaking it down into simple steps for those of us who are remedial watercolorers! I’m sure more encouraged to give this a try since you make it look so easy!
WOW! WOW! WOW!!!!! This is so awesome!
holy MOLY! This is over-the-TOP!!!!!!!!
Another excellent and well presented tutorial!! Now, how in the world did you decide to do green around the main image? It looks fabulous, but I would never have thought to go there!!
ACK Leslie?! We both did the hat and legs, too funny!
Love the ghost holding the banner, cute!
What a fabulous tutorial! I love your card, too!
Oh My Gosh!!! This is just gorgeous!!! I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your technique.
This is a wonderful and fun card, and the tutorial is SUPER!!! Thanks so much for sharing your time to make these great tutorials. I know they are very time consuming to photograph and write up with everything else you tend to in your life. Your generosity is truly priceless!
Too darn cute, Leslie!!! Those hairy legs crack me up!! I didn’t know you could watercolor with markers. I’ll have to try that!
This is too too cute Leslie, love those hairy legs, lol!!! Your directions are marvelous!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Did you hear my chuckle?!? What a silly and cute new stamp so beautifully marker watercolored. Love all the colors, textures and sly ghost too. TFS
OMG that card is tooo cute!! I love your design and your watercoloring is fab! Great tutorial-thanks!!
Leslie, you are amazing! I can’t wait to try this technique — it’s nice to know that someone still makes beautiful art with the SU markers!
You were the Runner Up Tutorial of the Week at Card of the Week.com. You can see the original post here.
I did use a picture from your post, with links back to the site and the original post. I hope that is OK. Please feel free to <A href=”mailto:susanna.boyd@gmail.com”email me if you need me to change anything.
I also have an “I was featured” on badge for you if you want it
Thanks again for sharing!
What a fun card! I have tagged you on my blog, I hope you will hop over and take a look.
Cazzy xx
Love it! Thanks for the SU! marker watercolor technique. I got some Copics before I became a demonstrator, but now I need to tinker with our own markers so I can demo them!
Incredible card and a gorgeous tutorial. LOVE that stamp set and the way that you used the fibers as the spell is nothing short of pure genius! WOW! Thanks for the amazing inspiration, :O) mel
This is adorable! I love that witch!
I LOVE this card!!! What fun images — and your coloring is out of this world! Thanks for the tutorial!
What a wonderfully cute card! And your instructions are just as wondeful!
Leslie, this is an awesome tutorial! I love how you broke it down and made it seem doable. I’m looking forward to giving this a try!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Love your tutorials. They are so clear and hopefully someday my coloring will be just as lovely as yours.
Shawn K.
Thank you for this awesome tutorial! I found you were absolutely correct - it is the easiest way to watercolor - ever! Thanks!!!
GREAT tutorial which I will have to try. I need as much help with coloring as I can get and these are supplies I actually own! Where do you find your watercolor paper?
Stunning Leslie!!!!
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The card is fantastical!!! And thank you so much for another great watercoloring tutorial.
I adore this image and your awesome coloring! You rock your tutorials! Deb
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“Becca at AmazingPaperGrace.com is Sharing the Comment Wealth and I picked you”
I have yet to try watercolouring with markers - your tutorial is so clear - I will be giving this a go.
I love the way you have done this tutorial. I am excited to try it out and see if I can do the water coloring with markers. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
“Becca at AmazingPaperGrace.com is Sharing the Comment Wealth and I picked you”
This is a wonderful tutorial. Well explained and beautifully photographed to show the details. Have checked out your other colouring tutorials as well, and will be checking back regularly for much needed inspiration.
I have added a link back to your blog and tutorials and shown an example of your great work. Let me know if this is not acceptable to you and I will remove it, but I think that your work should be highlighted as it is so good!!
I will also be flagging up your blog on the docrafts cardmaking forum.
Thanks again for taking the time to show us these great techniques
Kathleen
This is way too cool. Thanks for the GREAT info!!
Thanks for this! What a great colouring job!