Here's that Copic fruit coloring tutorial I promised, on how to color the red fruits on THIS card -- all stamps are from Lockhart Stamp Company (Strawberries #2067, Apples in Chintz Bowl #2054, and Cherries in Colander #2077) and were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Neenah Solar White cardstock. Since I would only be using a portion of these images for Inchies on the card, that's why you'll see a square box penciled over the stamped images. Some of the fruits outside of the boxes I tested for different colors, so that's why they may vary from the fruits/colors inside the boxes.
All of the fruits used these Copic Sketch markerrs. The strange looking YR31 on the lower right end is a custom color, mixed with about one-third YR31 and two-thirds Colorless Blender fluid, to make a lighter YR31 shade. You can do this by filling an empty sketch marker, which are usually available for sale at most retailers that carry Copic products. Remember, for best shading results use at least two, if not three, different shades in the same color family:
You can see a closer view of any of these photos, by clicking on them.
STRAWBERRIES #2067:
This color choice may sound/look strange, but trust me -- it works! Remember, the berries outside of the box were tests and are completed -- I'm working on the berries within the penciled box. First, color the strawberry tops with RV02:
Next, using a medium shade of R35, color the middles of the strawberries and up onto a little bit of the RV02. (I know in the photo below the RV02 tops are not showing up very well -- I had to lighten my photo quite a bit, but it's still there):
Next, I used the darker R37 on the bottoms of the berries and generally along the left sides, where darker shadows would naturally be. I usually visualize my light source coming from the upper right corner, just about where the marker is placed in the photo below. Since I'm right handed, it's easier for me to color darker on the left sides of objects:
Next, I came back with the mid-toned R35 and blended the lower lines where the R35 meets the R37. With the RV02, I blended the mid R35 up into the RV02 -- this will move some of the R35 color up into the RV02 and darken/soften it a bit. I like the pink-toned berry tops a little better than left just white -- I think it's a bit more realistic. But if you prefer whiter tops, you can use the Colorless Blender marker for this last step, instead of using the RV02 to blend:
Last step is to color the leaves with G21 and YG63:
As you can see in the first large marker photo above, I finished the strawberry bowl with E13 and R35. The lower green background was created by blending G20 and G21 together:
APPLES IN CHINTZ BOWL #2054:
Of course, apples can be all sorts of colors, but I kept mine in the red theme of my card. I began by coloring the tops of the apples with my custom lighter YR31 (again the apples on the outside of the penciled box are finished or practice colors, I'm working on the apples within the box):
Then I used the same R35 from the strawberries above, and again, colored the middles of the apples:
Next, I used R37 again on the lower portions of the apples:
Then, same as with the strawberries, I came back with the mid-toned R35 and blended the lines between R35 and R37 -- I've done that on the left two apples within the box, leaving the right two apples unblended so you can tell the difference:
The next steps were the same as with the strawberries, except using the custom YR31 as the final blending step around the tops of the apples. Same G21 and YG63 were used for the leaves and E25 for the stems. The chintz bowl was also colored with the same greens, YR21, and YR23. The top background above the apples was colored with E13 and E50.
CHERRIES IN COLANDER #2077:
The cherries were colored a little differently. I started with the mid-toned R35 and quickly colored in each cherry -- leaving a little white showing is okay:
Then I used the RV02 and just gently pressed the tip of the marker wherever I wanted a lighter highlight in the cherries -- again, usually at the very tops or right top sides of the cherries. The lighter pink will gently push away the darker red ink already laid down, creating a subtle light spot in the fruit:
Next, I used the darker R37 to give some darker shadows/low lights to the bottoms and left sides of the cherries:
The final step was to go back with the mid-toned R35 and quickly blend away any tell-tale harsh lines. The same greens were used on these leaves and lower right background as well, and YR21, YR23 and E13 were used on the colander:
I hope these tips were clear and informative but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments to this post and I'll answer them for you. Thanks!
