Coloring Mimi: A Copic Marker Tutorial

Hello!! Today I am sharing a tutorial on coloring. After I created the card for my Penny Black guest designer spot, I received several emails asking what colors I used to color Mimi (especially her hair)... and how I created the end result. So...I figured it has been awhile since my last Copic tutorial...so I would just create one to show you how I colored her. (Note: I think I used different purples for her dress on this card than on my previous card. I had already sent the card out and could not remember so I just picked new ones!)

Supplies used: Stamp- Flowers for Mimi (Penny Black); Paper- Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs; Ink- Memento tuxedo black pad; Copic markers-- Cool Shadow BG10; Egg shell E50; Blush R20; Dull Ivory E43; Brick Beige E31; Sepia E37; Dark Brown E47; Chamois E35; Lavender V06; Amethyst V17; Mauve Shadow BV00; Frost Blue B00; Ice Ocean BG72; Chrome Orange YR04; Golden Yellow Y17; Yellow Green YG03; Pea Green YG63

Here we go: I stamped the image on Pure Luxury cardstock with Memento tuxedo black ink: Next, I used Cool Shadow BG10 marker to outline the entire image. This shade gives a nice subtle shadow around the image and adds a lot of definition. It is important to do this step first so you do not smear any other colors you will use later coloring the image:

I used Egg Shell E50 to color the entire face and her hands. Next, I added some Dull Ivory E43 around the edge of her face and along the hair line and two circles of Blush R20 on her cheeks. You can see this on the picture below. (I would normally use some Dull Ivory on the hands where they touch the sleeves but in such small areas, I typically don't bother.) Then I go back to the Egg Shell and move the marker in a circular motion over all the new colors to blend them:

The Hair: The more colors you use, the more realistic and beautiful color you will get for hair. I love blending lots of colors to get a unique look. For Mimi, I used Brick Beige E31 to color the hair. I just put on the color fast, not worrying about hitting every spot since many colors will be layered on top:

I used Sepia E37 to color some strands of hair and esp. the hair underneath that would have natural shadow:

Then, I went back to my Brick Beige marker to blend the darker brown into the lighter areas, again working in a circular motion:

For a big more drama, I used Dark Brown E47 to add a few more darker strands:

Next, I went back to my Brick Beige to blend again and I also added some Chamois E35 for some highlights that I didn't blend (Sorry this picture is a bit blurry...you might be able to see better on the next photo):

To color Mimi's dress, I used Lavender V06:

Then, I added some Amethyst V17 to add some shadows:

Instead of going back to the Lavender to blend the Amethyst in, I chose some Mauve Shadow BV00 to blend the darker color in, using circlular movement:

For the birds: I colored them with Frost Blue B00:

Then, I added some shadow with Ice Ocean BG72:

I went back to Frost Blue to blend:

I colored the bird beak with Golden Yellow Y17 and then added a touch of Chrome Orange YR04:

I colored the rest of the birds the same way.

Then, I colored the stockings with Yellow Green YG03 on every other stripe:

I used Pea Green YG63 to add some shadow (and because the space was so small, I didn't bother to blend it):

I went back to the Golden Yellow and Chrome Orange I used on the birds to color every third flower on the flower strand:

I used the Yellow Green and Pea Green again to color the next flower and then I left the other flowers uncolored:

I used a Spellbinder's die to cut out the shape (sponged the edges with some sky blue ink) and added some metal dots to the flower centers:

Finished!

Instead of creating the same exact card, I changed it up a bit...and came up with this:

Total cutie Pie! Designer paper is by Echo Park.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Feel free to post any questions if anything is unclear.

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!