Friday 3 February 2012

2012 Promarker Tutorials - Monotone

Good Evening all!  I'm back again with another promarker tutorial for you and this time we're looking at colouring in monotone.  It might seem a bit daunting as of course your colours are somewhat restricted but in case you haven't noticed my banner up there you'll see I kinda quite like colouring in monotone and hope to teach you how to do this and *think* in monotone :O)


Firstly I would HIGHLY recommend using an image you're familiar with.  Doesn't necessarily have to be the easiest one just one you personally enjoy and are familiar with.  If you've previously coloured one in photograph it then use your photo editting software and turn it into GREYSCALE.  A lot of the free programs also do this.

This will be your guide whilst you train your brain to think in monotone.  So firstly grab your coloured image, I've used Miss Mirabelle by Hannah Lynn (Crafts & Me)

 Next use a photo edting program and turn your image greyscale (I think photobucket does it).  Print it out or save it on screen.  This will give you a great guide how dark or light colours are in greys and help with shadows and highlights



OK feeling confident?  Grab a full set of greys - I use COOL GREY 1-5 plus the BLENDER.  If you think in terms of skin tones then the blender will be equivalent of ivory, cool grey 1 will be your blush and cool grey 2 your vanilla or colour you use for shadow. 

For the skin tone I started with the darkest colour first in the shadow areas on the skin so use COOL GREY 2 and add some shading.


Next use your COOL GREY 1 which will be the equivalent of your blush and working from the dark into the light blend the colours in



Then to finish the skin off use your blender which is the same as ivory and it should be looking nice and luminous like below :)

Next look at your greyscale image and you'll see the bra bit is darker than the top so I used the darkest greys here COOL GREY 4 & 5 and a lighter mix for the top COOL GREY 3 & 4.  If anything appears to dark just run your blender over it lightly and let it dry.


Then onto the hair, I used COOL GREY 5 for the darkest parts at the roots etc then blend that in with a mid tone COOL GREY 3 then the lightest bits are COOL GREY 1.  You can also leave a bit of white showing or again use the blender to lighten the highlight points.



And here she is completed!  I only did one layer on this one but you can add a bit more depth to it doing a 2nd layer or using coloursoft/prisma pencil too 


Here's the 2 completed side by side.  Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and do have a go at this lovely technique, you'll be hooked!


9 comments:

Aunty Sue said...

great tutorial will definately try really struggle with monotones like this. xxx

Cath Wilson said...

More great work, Vix - beautiful shading there x

Doreen said...

it's goegreous. Thanks for it
Hugs
doreen

Debbi Powell Designs said...

As always, another great tutorial. I love the tip you gave about changing a coloured image to greyscale...fantastic! It really does help you.

Also there is a little something on my blog I'd like you to see, here That is gorgeous!!!! There is a little something for you here http://cards--galore.blogspot.com/2012/02/some-lovely-newsand-it-couldnt-have.html

Debbi x

Shazza said...

fabulous!!!!!

Papercraft By Carole said...

If I ever decide to put my watercolours to one side and go for a set of pens, I am going to have to use your tutorials to get me going!! You are very talented!! Cxx

Sue said...

Hi hun
hope you feeling better 2day, fabulous tutorial, awesome colour work as always, sue,x

Unknown said...

simply stunning hun i also love that stamp is she a digi or rubber hun?? xx

Lau W said...

Oh just fantastic !!!
xxx