Vibrant Periwinkle Coloring with Derwent Inktense
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Starting the Flower Yearbook
- Working with Prismacolors
- The Idea to Use Inktense Pencils
- Choosing the Color Combo for Leaves
- Coloring Leaves with Inktense Pencils
- Adding Iron Green to Match the Initial Green Colors
- Coloring Leaves with Leaf Green
- Adding Additional Colors to the Majority of Leaves
- Increasing Contrast and Adding Shadows
- Coloring the Periwinkle Flowers
- Adding Background and Final Touches
- Conclusion
Article
Introduction
In this article, we will explore the Journey of completing a flower yearbook and the challenges faced along the way. From learning to work with different coloring materials to overcoming color mismatches, we will Delve into the process of creating a beautiful and Cohesive final piece. So, let's get started!
Starting the Flower Yearbook
The idea of creating a flower yearbook came to me a few years ago. Each month, I dedicate my time to adding new entries to this book, hoping to one day complete it. However, I only had a couple of pictures left to uncover. Among them was one that I started immediately after I got this book three years ago. At that time, I wasn't quite experienced with Prismacolors, but I was eager to learn. This particular picture posed a challenge due to the unnatural and overbright colors I had initially chosen. Additionally, while I loved the leaves, I wasn't particularly fond of the flowers. Despite this, I knew I had to do something with this picture to fulfill my goal of completing the book.
Working with Prismacolors
When I first started coloring this picture, I had a brilliant idea to use dark green or maybe true green with my Prismacolors. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't as natural-looking as I had hoped. The colors were too vibrant and didn't match well with the other elements in the image. I wasn't satisfied with how the coloring looked, and I knew I had to find another approach to bring this picture to life.
The Idea to Use Inktense Pencils
After some consideration, I decided to ditch the Prismacolors and try finishing the picture with Inktense pencils instead. Inktense pigment is semi-opaque, which meant it would be easier for me to cover up the offensive green of the previous attempt. I imagined the light source coming from the upper left corner and analyzed each leaf to determine which parts would catch more light. This analysis helped me Create a roadmap for the color application.
Choosing the Color Combo for Leaves
For the first group of leaves, I opted for a color combo consisting of Felt Green for the lightest areas, Beach Green as a mid-tone, and Dark Indigo for the darkest areas. I used the Dark Indigo where leaves were folded or where one leaf covered another, creating shadows. The contrast between the shades of green and the deep indigo turned out to be pleasing, but it wasn't a perfect match for the bright green leaves I had previously colored with Prismacolors.
Coloring Leaves with Inktense Pencils
To address the discrepancy between the two sets of leaves, I decided to add Iron Green to the mix. Iron Green closely resembled the initial green colors but provided a better match. I erased as much Prismacolor pigment as possible and covered the three leaves with a combination of Iron Green and a touch of Felt Green. Once I applied Water, I was satisfied with the outcome. The leaves looked cohesive and blended well with the brighter green leaves.
Adding Additional Colors to the Majority of Leaves
Despite the progress made, I felt that the majority of the leaves looked a bit dull. To enhance their visual interest, I decided to add more warm colors. Leaf Green, a green shade with a brown tint, seemed like the perfect addition. I applied the pigment directly from the Pencil Core and focused on the shadowed areas of each leaf and the areas near the stem. I was pleased with how the intense pigment behaved on the paper, spreading smoothly without any stains. The paper itself held up well without any issues with bleeding through or buckling.
Increasing Contrast and Adding Shadows
To further enhance the depth and contrast in the picture, I used watercolor mondeloose pencils in brown and pale yellow. The brown pencils helped me increase the shadows where I had missed them while coloring with Inktense, while the pale yellow provided a touch of sunlight reflection on a select few leaves. This step added the finishing touches to the leaves, making them more visually appealing and realistic.
Coloring the Periwinkle Flowers
Moving on to the periwinkle flowers, I decided to use two different color combinations to achieve the desired effect. For the first flower, I used Deep Rose and Mauve, with Deep Violet for the shadows. The result was a delicate and soft appearance. For the Second flower, I opted for colder colors, such as Pickled Blue near the edges of the Petals and Violet in the center. To give the flowers a more watercolor-like appearance, I applied a larger amount of water and let the pink colors flow and Blend into each other. In the end, I felt that adding some lines with white gouache paint and using Prismacolor 90 percent French Gray for additional contrast enhanced the overall look of the flowers.
Adding Background and Final Touches
At this point, I still hadn't decided what to do with the background. Sometimes, I prefer leaving pictures in the book without any background, but I may consider adding something later when I finish the entire book. For this coloring, I used a synthetic brush that could hold a thin tip while remaining soft to preserve the smooth paper's surface. It was important to have a paper towel handy to wipe away excess pigment and water. When activating the colors, I always started from the lightest area and gradually worked towards the darkest, ensuring the preservation of the light and dark areas on the leaves.
Conclusion
Despite my initial reservations about this particular picture in my flower yearbook, I am thrilled with the final result. It took three years to fix and bring it closer to completion. The journey of learning and experimenting with different coloring materials, such as Prismacolors and Inktense pencils, was both challenging and rewarding. The addition of additional colors and the careful consideration of light and shading helped breathe life into the leaves and flowers. I hope this article provides valuable insights and inspiration for your own coloring projects.