Eye Candy

just some eye candy for your viewing pleasure.......all colour pencil on paper.

Making a Mandala Part 3

Part 3

Adding colour

**Part 1 Click here**

**Part 2 Click here**

Now that you have the design all worked out and inked up, it is time to add some colour!!!

I have to admit that I am really rather fond of colour pencils - there are so many different ones that can achieve so many different effects. I like to use good quality pencils that give clean solid colour and blend well.

I have two favourites at the moment.  

The ever popular Derwent Artists (the best Christmas present ever) High quality, strong colours and they blend so well.

And, somewhat surprisingly, Faber Castell Classic Colours.  I say 'surprisingly' because they are great value for money.  I get them from K-Mart in a pack of 36 for around $20.  Great colour range, lovely colours and they blend well.  I will be using them to colour this mandala.

There are any number of tutorials on how to achieve shading with colour pencils on the Internet. I am not an expert, I just know what works for me. 

Start by colouring the entire shape in with the lighter colour.  Then add lines radiating out from one point, in the darker colour.  The darker colour only covers 2/3 of the shape, leaving the lighter colour showing on the other 1/3.  Where the two colours meet, lightly go over the area in the darker colour.  This will soften line between the light and dark colours. 

Because the designs of the Mandalas can sometimes be complicated, I like to keep the colour range simple.  The pic above only has 3 colours.  Light green (361), dark green (357) and mid blue (349).  I like to do one set of colours at a time.

The are also only 3 colours in the next set of colours as well .  Light purple ( 339), mid purple (337) and dark purple (341) 

The shading effect is achieved in this step by colouring each shape entirely with the light purple. Then add lines radiating out from one point, with the mid purple.  The mid purple should cover 1/2 of the shape, leaving the lighter colour showing on the other 1/2.  

Add radiating lines out from the same point with the dark purple to cover 1/2 of the mid purple.

Once the pencil colouring is done, it is time to add some dots.  

I use acrylic paint and an assortment of different size stylus, and white pigment ink.

Click here to link info.

All finished.......

I hope you found my 3 part tutorial entertaining, enjoyable and a little bit informative.

As with most things worth doing, Mandalas take time, patience and practice, but are a whole lot of fun!

The opinions expressed in this tutorial are my own and are completely unsolicited
All products mentioned are judged on their value and performance to me personally.

Sugar(bird) Skull

skulls? no, I don't draw skulls, why would I?

Oh, with patterns and flowers and swirls....well of course I can give it a try!!

Citrus Doodle Bird

Oh I do so like doodling birds...........

 

 

Floral Heart

A floral heart commission and how it all came together.  This was one with fine line markers and colour pencils.  Blue and yellow are not my normal colours, but I think they came together rather nicely.  I hope you like it.

2014 Meow

Happy happy happy me!!!!  Yes, it is that time of the years again - no not spring or x amount of weeks until Christmas........calendar and diary making time!!!!!!

Here is the latest one and how it all came together.

2014 Diaries are here!!!

Would you like a 2014 Diary with an original Sugarbird drawing on the cover?

Here are the first five and they are available for sale on the Sugarbird facebook page.

They are A in size and a week to an opening.  They are also made with vegetable inks, recycled paper and cardboard.  So not only will you get an original work of art, but you will be helping the environment - how good is that!!  They are $18.00 each plus $3.00 postage (Aus)

Mice for 2014

My first 2014 calendar!!!!  Wow is this year going by so fast!!

Meow 2014

Hello my poor little neglected blog.  I have been very busy drawing up a storm for my 2014 dairy covers and here is one of my favourites and how it came together.....

I have also started working on A4 calendars

Happy happy me :)

Hoot Hoot

I love drawing and colouring owls, so the 3rd of 30 just had to be an owl and here he is........