Wednesday, April 2, 2014

That Scary Feeling: Please Respond

I often get comments on my posts here or Youtube videos to the tune of coloring (or shading) is "scary" or "intimidating".  Can you help me by posting in the comment section below if you sometimes feel this way:  what to you is intimidating or scary? Is it:

A.  choosing the right colors

B.  blending the colors

C.  knowing where the colors go

D. coloring an unfamiliar image

All feedback or questions is helpful in planning my future coloring videos!  I hope to demystify the process as much as possible.  Although I have enjoyed creating art most of my life, I've had very few formal lessons (6 after school classes in 3rd grade and Art 1 and Art II in high school), but I continue to go back to those basics (yep, the 3rd grade ones, believe it or not) and keep things as simple as possible.  It's fun!  It doesn't have to be hard.  You can do this ;)

Again, thanks so much for your help and encouragement!  I really appreciate all the notes I've been getting about the videos and so glad you are all enjoying them and learning.  The goal now is to make every new project a video.  I am so thankful Gina is broadcasting them on StampTV now on a regular basis to reach a wider audience.  Please subscribe if you have not already, as you will get an alert when I upload a new one.

Have terrific day!  It's almost the weekend :)

46 comments:

  1. I would have to say All The Above! Seriously, but if I had to chose just one it would be C. Thanks for asking!

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  2. If I had to choose just one, I would have to say, "C". Great post! I would love to see your recommendations since you do some beautiful coloring!!! Thanks Melanie!

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  3. Hi Melanie, I find coloring intimidating at times. I am usually not sure which colors to use so that I would get the look I want to achieve, such as getting dimension to hair or clothes instead of just having flat color. I hope this helps. You always make it look so easy.

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  4. For me, it's blending and also knowing where to leave some light.

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  5. I also lneed help on #3 and shadows- light source is a big one for me also. I'm excited for you to show us how to color like you!

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  6. Knowing how to determine where the light source is coming from is a challenge for me. I also have trouble with some color families. For instance getting the Copic purples to work together is a real challenge. Greens seem to be very easy, but purple is my favorite color and I have a real problem getting the purples to look just right

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  7. The light source is sometimes my most hard for me but sometimes not know exactly where to do the shading can be an issue as well.

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  8. Definitely blending using different colors. Ex: brown out to yellow...

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  9. Third grade basic art lessons would be great for me. I have trouble with the light source. I get that if a flower is hanging over a leaf, the leaf would be darkest where they meet and lighter farther way. After that, not so sure. Your coloring is spectacular and you make it look easy. I try to mimic what you do.

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  10. C Coloring is my area for improvement

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  11. I guess A and C. I also don't have any Copic, or other similar type, markers so I am limited in the colours I can use. Thanks for all your videos.

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  12. Okay, I admit it...A, B, C, and D are somewhat troublesome! I think I have too many Copics and have trouble picking the right ones to blend with.
    Jan

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  13. For me, C would be what causes me the most trouble.

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  14. I would have to say that the whole idea of using Copics is so daunting to me, I don't even try. I have bought a few but I won't buy anymore because I know I can't master them. I will stick with colored pencils or Inktense pencils. I LOVE the look of Copics!

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  15. where light source is coming from. What colors to use. My copics just doesn't blend well, I guess I need a lot more practice :)

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  16. All of the Above....

    And keeping the light source correct throughout the project.

    Thank You for asking. I appreciate all the help.

    Faith

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  17. Hi Melanie!

    I have trouble choosing the right colors. I think that if I could do that then the other things you listed would fall into place! I hope!! :D

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  18. I would say I have problems in all the above areas. Blending and light source especially.

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  19. Thanks for asking! It's blending but mainly not knowing where the light source is..I don't understand that

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  20. I would have to say A, choosing the right colors that will blend together.

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  21. All of the above. I tend to over blend too.

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  22. I would have to say all of them!!! I love the look of images colored with Copics and sometimes i really like what I color. But most of the time, I feel like I get the shading wrong or the actual colors wrong! I've been told practice makes perfect and i have found the more I do, the less fearful I am, so that's a good thing.

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  23. I have stuck with pencils because I can blend those fine. I feel like with the markers they are a challenge to blend. Particularly if there's a big difference from a light color and darker color.

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  24. Melanie, I need assistance from the very basic technique. Could you plan a series of developmental videos that build on each other? Start at simple and continue through very basic instruction on light source, shading, colors that work well for certain affects.

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  25. Choosing the right colors as well as where to put them. I love your videos! I enjoy the picture tutorials also. You have inspired me to try things over the years I thought I couldn't do. thank you and many Blessings to your and your family.

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  26. I really struggle with all of the reactions. many of the teachers on utube like warm colors. I really don't. I need help coloring skin so it doesn't look so orange. my niece has med dark skin, but with pink undertones. they call her skit olive, but it really isn't. sometimes I can blend and sometimes I cant. I think i am trying too many different kinds of color (example, distress ink and markers, inktense pencils, copic markers, memento markers, prisma color pencils.

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  27. I really love your videos so much and your stamps are so beautiful. I'm making things I have always wanted to make. thanks so much.

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  28. Melanie,
    I have problems with all of the above.
    The reason I love your videos is because you show me what colors to use and where to put them. I have been taking notes on the colors you use to blend which really helps me when I am trying to color a different stamp than the one you feature in the video.
    Thanks so much for doing these videos!

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  29. deciding where the light source is from & adding shadows!

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  30. What a wonderful question. You're very brave asking. LOL.

    My problem is I think I must over blend as they end up looking shiny & a bit blotchy so are no good to use anyway. I guess that 'B' would be my answer.

    Love your blog & vids.

    Hugs,
    Monny

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  31. First off, thank you for being willing to address our fears! I love your videos because they are so empowering. You really do make me feel like I can do this. Having said that, I will admit that I would love to improve enough that I don't have to have a colored reference as a "cheat" every time I sit down to color. So my biggest fears are A and D but quite frankly, I would benefit from more information on all of them. Thanks again and I look forward to the resulting videos.

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  32. I get confused when... which ink goes on which paper. IE: which paper to use with Momento ink, which paper to use with Stays-on etc. How much space to give highlights/shadows. Copics are costly and I don't know which colors to invest in. Yes, I am blonde.

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  33. If I had to choose one I would say C. I think a major issue for people is that they color in too much...not leaving enough white space and choosing too dark of shades.

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  34. My worst nightmare is blending. Deciding what colors go well together and will blend well.
    Love your videos. Edna B.

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  35. Could you please post a chart of colors that go together and which to use first, 2nd 3rd and so on. Thanks. ED

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  36. Blending and shadows are my two biggest difficulties. Your videos are so helpful and I am glad you are going to continue them.

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  37. I'd have to say knowing where to have light and shadow, to give depth when coloring. Thanks so much for asking and for making the videos, they are so very helpful.

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  38. Love all your videos Melanie! I think for me it's getting the shading where it goes. I love to do deep shading, but sometimes I can't figure out where the deep goes..lol.

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  39. I too would have to say all four, but choosing one I'd go with C.

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  40. Thanks for asking these questions. Can't believe that you have never had lessons!
    I have trouble picking the colors. Ones that will blend. I usually try on scraps and once I get the right combination, it is easy to blend copic markers.
    I have bought so many, and then discover that I already have them in my collection! Bummer!
    Once I get the right colors, I jot the numbers down on post it to the board above my table. I have your colors there too. Like the iris that you recently did. That is helpful.

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  41. Thanks for asking these questions. Can't believe that you have never had lessons!
    I have trouble picking the colors. Ones that will blend. I usually try on scraps and once I get the right combination, it is easy to blend copic markers.
    I have bought so many, and then discover that I already have them in my collection! Bummer!
    Once I get the right colors, I jot the numbers down on post it to the board above my table. I have your colors there too. Like the iris that you recently did. That is helpful.

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  42. I think it is more knowing where to shade! Each coloring medium is different so learning how to use whatever you use is one thing, but where to shade is universal.

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  43. I would choose A. because I don't use copic, I prefer colored pencils, intense-ink pencils, or water color pencils. Pencils are my main medium.
    I would love to see water colored pencils, and the colored pencils. Either, Derwent, Faber Castell, or Prisma pencils. Copic, to expensive, and intimidating to me.Pencils are stunning and fantastic to work with.
    thanks for asking, love your videos.even using pencils, I learn.

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  44. OOPS! I forgot to tell you. the fact that you keep your process simple and back to basics, is extremely helpful, regardless of what medium you use in your process. thanks heaps.

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  45. Hi Meanie, I Absolutely love your videos & your designs! I know coloring is supposed to be relaxing, but it makes me a nervous wreck. Lol. I've had my Copics for a couple of years & even took the Certification Class when it first came out, but I'm still intimidated. All of the above are my issues. So whatever you post is very helpful to me. Thank you! Hugs Traci

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)