Almost every artist I know loves to color. Anything. Everything. I'm no exception. Coloring your own images is great. But so is coloring someone else's. Really. It's something I learned in a drawing class in college. If from time to time you take the time to color an image drawn by someone else, you'll find yourself working in curves, spaces, crevices and other areas that are new and uncharted territory, and you'll have to do what artists do best: Make decisions. Decisions that you wouldn't encounter if the image was your own, with your own preconceived idea of color placement.
The image above was drawn by Tammy Vitale. If you've been arting around the web for a season or two, you may remember when Tammy's Wylde Women Award was being presented to artists online. Take a peek at my right sidebar. My Wylde Women Award is there. What you may not know is that Tammy has a coloring book in .pdf format that she'll send you for free, and I really suggest you take her up on it, and color! What a fabulous release. Coloring! Good to un-stick your muse if she's stuck; Easy to take along if you're on the go. Stay in the lines. Or don't! Use any media. It's all good. Just color! Click the award or any of the links above and they'll take you to the .pdf. Just do it!
There's one other person I must mention. If you like the smooth gradients in the coloring, you should know that they're done with Prismacolor Premiere pencils only, without blending tools or fluids of any kind, and this technique which in reality (but not as much in this blog photo) resembles flat airbrushed gradients, is taught by an incredible artist, Terry Medaris. You need to take a look at his website, so click on his name and get yourself there. And if you ever have the opportunity to take a class from him, do it. You will be privileged. He is an amazing artist and an equally amazing teacher.
Oh Barbara, this is lovely! I can't believe these are pencils that have blended so beautifully... What a stunning "colouring"!! xoxoxo
PS, thanks for the link to Tammy - going to get that pdf right now!!
Posted by: Rosie | January 11, 2011 at 12:24 AM
Barbara, thanks so much for the links. I can't wait to explore. I've always loved "coloring"! It's a very zen thing for me. I'll have to check out the Prismacolors too. Hugs, Terri xoxo
Posted by: [email protected] | January 11, 2011 at 07:34 AM
wow. I mean really really WOW!!!! I LOVE your take on this coloring page! Pencils, hmmm? The color really is spectacular....tho I definitely would miss the crayon smell part of the experience! Thanks for the shout out!
Oh. There are more pages to color if you go to my blog http://www.tammyvitale.com/weblog and look to the right where my old posts are. I put up some new ones under AEDM 2010 (the first 4 or 5 days) that you can download. Or you can download them from my FB pictures. There's an AEDM album there (search for TammyTVitale to fin dme on fb).
Posted by: Tammy Vitale | January 11, 2011 at 07:38 AM
Gave you a shout out over at my blog today!
http://tammyvitale.com/the-gifts-of-play/
Posted by: Tammy Vitale | January 11, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Thanks Tammy! More pages, YUM! You can be sure I'll be coloring those, too!!
Posted by: Barbara Hagerty | January 11, 2011 at 02:49 PM
Thanks so much Tammy!! XOXO
Posted by: Barbara Hagerty | January 11, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Rosie, you need to sign up for her Wylde Women quotes too, if you haven't already! Great getting words of wisdom in your inbox everyday, and good material for art journaling, too!
Posted by: Barbara Hagerty | January 11, 2011 at 03:07 PM