New to Copic Markers?

I have been using Copic Markers for over 13 years now. Copic Markers are an alcohol marker so you can blend the inks together to create different colors, gradients and create shadows. They are professional artist markers that will run you about $6-$10 a piece! A little steep, yes. I don’t recommend going out and purchasing them right away. Do your research, watch videos, tutorials and soak up as much information as you can about them.

Paper and Stamping with Copic Markers

You can’t just use any paper and an ink when you are stamping and coloring in the images with Copic Markers. I use Black Memento Ink or if I’m doing the no line technique  I’ll use Desert Sand Memento Ink. Paper is also very important– you can’t just use any ole white card stock. It has to be a heavy card stock with a smooth service. My current choice of cardstock for Copics is the Copic Xpress it blending Card. I love it and for me it works really well with all of the layers of colors I like to add. I have also used  Neenah Ultra White, which works great when I was a beginner and not using as much ink as I do now.

Check out my other Copic Marker MUST Haves!

Check out my Favorite Craft Companies!

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What do Copics do.. what’s the big deal?

So what about these markers are so great you are probably thinking.. Well, they are alcohol markers therefore; they blend together. You know when you use a Crayola marker, let’s say a light pink and a dark pink and you want to create shadows or depth in your coloring. Well using Crayola markers will is going to give you lines and it’s NOT going to blend. Using an alcohol marker will allow these colors to blend beautifully. There are other companies who offer similar products I have used a few of them and I am not fond of them at all. I always go back to my Copic Markers.

Video Tutorial – Creating Pleats with My Favorite Things

There’s over 350 Copic Colors, do I have them all? NO! I don’t. I do have over 200 of them though that I have bought over the years. There are 4 different styles of Copics; Ciao, Sketch, Wide and Copic. For the type of coloring I do, creating cards and coloring stamped images I use the Sketch Markers. There’s a chisel nib on one end and a brush end on the other. I only really use the brush nib. All the nibs can be replaced if needed. Now, all of these markers are able to be refilled you can buy the Copic Refills for about $9.

Copic Refills amounts

• Sketch Marker – can be refilled about 12 times with the Copic Refill Container
• Ciao Marker – can be refilled about 15 times with the Copic Refill Container
• Wide Marker – can be refilled about 7 times with the Copic Refill Container
• Copic Marker – can be refilled about 9 times with the Copic Refill Container

My Favorite Color Combos

• Skin – E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13
• Cheeks – R32, R30
• Dark Blonde – E44, E43, E42, E41
• Light Blonde – E55, E53, E51, E50
• Brunette – E29, E25, E21
• Pinks – R81, R83, R87, R89 or RV00, RV32, RV34 or R30, R32
• Blues – B91, B93, B95, B97, B99
• Blue/Green – BG72, BG75, BG78
• Green -YG91 YG93, YG95, YG97 or G20, G21, G24, G28
• Orange – YR15, YR14, YR12, YR00 or E99, E97
• Purple- V17, V15, V12, V01, V000, V0000 or V91, V93, V95, V99
• Red – R32, R35, R37, R39, R59
• Yellow – Y21, Y23, Y26
• Crisp White – N0, N1, N3 and a tiny bit of N5
• Vintage/Shabby Chic White – W00, W1, W3, W5 this is mostly what I do for my spotted backgrounds.
• Black – N9, N7, N5 a little N3

Want to learn more about Copic Markers, blending, Color Combos, Copic Care, fixing mistakes and more..

Join my FREE Beginner Copic Training Course!

 

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Most Popular Struggles with Copic Markers

 

Blending

 If you’re having trouble blending make sure your paper is Copic friendly, I use either Copic Xpress. When you start coloring try not to go back over the dark colors with the light, repeatedly. This causes your darker color separate and make your coloring look blotchy. Another thing that might be happening is you’re not adding enough color to the paper. So, if you’re using V12, V15, V17 (a coordinating family of purples) to color and it’s not smooth. Add another layer in that order exactly how you laid the color down the first time so you can get those colors moving and blending together, while the ink is wet. Once it dries it’s harder to get the colors to blend. So it’s always good to finish a section before taking a break.

Here’s a great video to show you how to blend 2, then 3 and then 4 colors.

Light Source

If creating Shadows with your Copic Markers isn’t your strong point – try thinking of your image in a fully lit room. Where would shadows make sense? If she was wearing a hat there would be a shadow on her forehead. If you’re coloring a dog with big floppy ears, it will be darker under those ears and onto the sides of his face where the ears are casting a shadow on it.It’s easier to start by doing this rather than focusing on a certain direction where the light is coming, while you’re still learning. It will soon just come to you and you will color without thinking.

Check out this post – STOP trying to find the light Source!

 

Coloring Skin and Hair

There’s only one Copic Combo I use for all my skin tones E15, E13, E11, E00, E000, E0000 and W5. Depending on how light or dark I want the skin will determine how much of the dark or light I use. My cheek colors are R20 and R22 or R30 and R32. I will usually start darker on the outside of the face and under the eyes and then work my way out with each lighter color flicking in towards the face.

Hair is one of my favorite things to color. I never blend the hair solid.. I always keep the lines.. it’s HAIR! It should look like hair.. so don’t blend it all the way through. That alone really helps people to not overthink coloring hair.. because it is intimidating. Also remember where-ever the hair gathers together so if it’s in a pony tail or at the twist of a curl.. that’s going to be the darkest point. I usually start at the darkest point and flick the tip of my Copic Marker, following the lines and leaving white space between. Then Once I do that with a few coordinating colors E44, E43, E42, I’ll then take one lighter color, E41 and do one swipe over filling in the white gaps. This blends the colors together some but leaves the definition of the lines to create a hair texture.

Check out my post All About Skin Tone using Copic Markers

 

 

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FREE Coloring Pages and Digi Stamps!

We all love a getting freebies to color. Well how would you like to get access to all of the digi stamps and coloring pages in My Creative Library? I know you want in!!! So sign up! Everyone who joins My Creative Library will get free digis in their email a few times a month, then I add those digis in there later on in the month. 🙂

 

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Tutorials

 Why not check out some of my tutorials? Here’s a few of my favorite!

Different Styles of Coloring with Copic Markers

 

Creating Gradient Backgrounds using Copic Markers

 

How to Create Water Step by Step Tutorial + FREE Digi Stamp Otter

 

Soft No Line Coloring Step by Step Tutorial

 

Coloring Hair Step by Step Tutorial + FREE Digi Stamp Download

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Copic Marker Classes

I love Copic Markers and coloring it is relaxing to me. I have had the opportunity to teach class all over Southern California, Las Vegas and even Puerto Rico! When I would go to my classes I would bring a little information packet about how I color using the flicking technique, how I use grey tones to enhance the depth of my coloring and I have the color list I listed above in this information packet. I’ve created a FREE Copic Marker Class E-Course for you! You will get 6 days of tips and tricks, tutorials, PDF’s, E-Book and access to my Private Facebook Group!

Join my FREE Copic E-Course!

If you are looking for some Online video more detailed Copic Marker Courses you can check out my paid classes.

 What if I could walk you through how to color a beautiful image and create a gorgeous scene using techniques you will be able to use over and over again?

Sign up for one of my Online Coloring Classes here!

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Are you interested in starting your own Creative Blog or looking to get serious about Blogging?

Check out my Creative Blog Business Posts!

Creative Blog Resources • Using Pinterest to Drive Traffic to your Creative Blog

 

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If you have any questions don’t hesitate to email me and I’ll help you as best as I can!

♥Mindy
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