Coloring Fur Tutorial and A Give-a way!

Welcome!  

It's a Give-a-way!

As you know, it is National Card Day!    

I will be giving one lucky commenter  on my Blog   

the  entire Beary Fun Retreat Stamp and Die  Collection!   

You will have from September 24 - October 3rd to comment.  

The lucky winner will be posted on here on my October 4th.   

If you see YOUR name posted on October 4th, please email us with you address  at  

socialmedia@heartfeltcreations.us   

  Arrangement have been  made  and  Heartfelt Creations will send  the 

entire Very Beary Retreat Collection to you!   

 How great is that!

And now for the tutorial!    Have you ever wondered how people get that fun furry look on the cute little bears they color?   Well - there are  a variety of ways!   I will show a quick sample of 4 ways to accomplish that furry look and a quick video  tutorial on how to do the terry cloth technique!  I actually filmed all techniques but it made for a long video so I cropped it to show only one technique.      I hope this inspires you to try this!   

I am using Copic Alcohol Ink markers for today's tutorial.  I used the same  Taupe color combo on all the techniques.  I like to keep my mid-tones about 70% of the image unless I am wanted a dramatic lighting effect.   

Shadow - E47

Dark mid-tone - 44

Light mid-tone - E42 

Highlight - E40    

Video Using Terry Cloth and 70% Alcohol

Let's take a closer look at each technique.

Add Texture with a Terry Cloth and 70% Alcohol

• The video shows step by step how I created the texture using  a terry cloth and 70% alcohol.   It is a fun technique that I really love.   It's always a bit of a surprise when the cloth is lifted off the image! 
• Color the image with your shadow, mid-tone and highlights using short flicking strokes.   It is very difficult to add this dimension after you have added texture.
• Do not color the rest of the image until you are finished texturizing and your image is dry.   If you colored the cup, ground and donuts first, the color may bleed into your brown fur.  
• When you are finished coloring your image and pleased with the dimension, select a terry cloth and fluff it up with your fingers so all the little bumps stand up and aren't flat. 
• Apply some 70% alcohol to the cloth.   You will want to make sure it is damp but NOT sopping wet.  
• Place  the palm of your hand over the terry cloth and hold for 4-5 seconds.  Lift and allow to dry. Tip_  70% alcohol is best.  90% alcohol will evaporate too fast. 
• For a final touch, take a small corner of the cloth with a little alcohol and dab for 4 seconds at any area that needs more texture.   
• Take your lightest marker and place small stipple dot over any area you feel is too light.   You may not need to do either of two last steps.  It often turns out perfect without the additional steps!

Adding Texture to Fur with a Copic Colorless Blender

• Another great way to add texture to fur is with a Copic Colorless Blender.   I find this technique to appear like a soft fur and makes you want to run your fingers through it.   It is more subtle that the other techniques.   An important thing to remember is that a  Copic Colorless Blender is not a blender -   It is a "mover" of color.   That makes this perfect for establishing texture.  We will use this technique to move some of the color and creating a subtle texture. 
• Use the same Taupe  color combo on this image
• Lay down a base coat of the lightest color - E40.   Color the entire image using a very light touch.   Avoid going over the image more than once.   Every time you color over an image, you lay down one more layer of pigment and the image will become darker.   You want to preserve your highlight so easy does it! 
• If you are happy with your shadows, use your E47 and color over the top of your shadow area with small flicking strokes.  Continue with your mid-tones  - E44 and E42 and your highlight - E40.
• When you are happy with your shadows and highlights, it's time to start texturizing the fur.     Use the tip of the brush when using Sketch or Ciao markers or the nib of original markers for this technique.   Touch the tip to your colored image and hold some for 3-4 seconds and others for 4-5 seconds.   This will allow a variety of texture.  Repeat the process until your image has the texture you want.   
• Avoid holding the colorless blender on the edge of the image.   As the colorless blender spreads, the ink moves and you may have color spill over the edge of your image.   Start a little inside until you get a feel for how much the ink will spread. 
• Tip:  The color will become lighter as it dries.  It's best to work methodically over the image and then return to areas that are dry if you want more texture.    

Adding Texture to Fur with a Stippling Technique

• Stippling is a fun technique.   It can give some great texture!    
• Use the same Taupe color combo on this image. 
• Lay down a light single coat of your E40, your  highlight color.   This will retain your highlights and yet wet your image and that will allow your colors to blend easier. 
• Stippling is when you place the tip of your nib on the paper and then lift. It creates a dot.  The tip can remain on the paper from 1-4 seconds.   The longer the nib remains on the paper, the larger the dot will be.   It's good to alternate the time so the fur has interest and a lot of texture. This can be fun and relaxing!  
• Stipple with the mid-tone over the shadow area.  This will just map the area until you are sure you are happy with the shadows.  If satisfied, stipple the shadow, E47 over the top of your mapped shadows.  
• Continue to stipple with the dark mid-tone, light mid-tone and highlights.    You will be creating dimension and texture to the fur. 
• Tip:  In order to get the stippling to blend between colors,  start the next lighter color slightly over the darker and continue to stipple outward.   This technique bridges the two colors.  

   

Adding Texture With a Scumbling Technique

• Scumbling can sometimes be described as a random, scribbled texture.  This can often be done in figure eights and concave movements that create a coarse, dramatic texture.  This scribbling technique was used to add dimension  to the bear and texture to the fur.
• I used the same Taupe  color combo on this image.
• Lay down a very light single coat of E40 - your lightest highlight.
• Create random scribbling over the areas you want to be in shadow with your mid-tone.  If you are satisfied with the shadows, Scribble in small figure eights or concave shapes with your E47 directly over the shadow area.
• Continue to scumble with the next lightest colors until you finish your highlights.
• It will be important to start the scumbling over  the outer edge of the darker color - overlaping the colors  slightly.  this will allow your colors to blend.   If you need a little more help with blending the colors, you can use the tip to tip technique I discuss in my video.
• I hope this has been fun and helpful to you.   Don't forget to comment on Marie's Blog  for a chance to win this adorable stamp and die set and check back to see if you were the lucky winner on October 4th.   

Beary Fun Retreat Paper Collection, HCDP1-282

Beary Fun Retreat Cling stamp set, HCPC-3797

Beary Fun Retreat Die Set, HCD1-7151

Happy Time Treehouse Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3798

Happy Time Treehouse Die Set, HCD1-7152

Fleur Border Basics Die, HCD1-7120

Sunflower Accents Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3799

Sunflower Accent Die Set, HCD1-7153

Classic Sunflower Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3626

Classic Sunflower Die, HCPC-3626

Classic Rose cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3752

Classic Rose Die, HCD1-7110

Small Classic Petunia Cling stamp set, HCPC-3785

Small Classic Petunia die, 7139

Memento Desert Sand Dye Ink, TSMP-804

Memento Dye Ink - Tangelo, TSMP200

Memento Dye Ink - Rich Cocoa, TSMP800

Memento Dye Ink - Bamboo Leaves, TSMP707

ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inkpad - Lime Pastel, 71026

ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inkpad - Guacamole, 71058

Designer Dries Clea Adhesive, 159723

Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST-401

Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board, 173842

Stack & Store Daubers, HCDA1-449

Vagabond 2 with Solo-Wafer Thin Die Adapter, 532423-kit

White Cardstock, HCPP2-451

Metal Adhesive Tip, 352854

Glue Pin, Pin6

Rajni Chawla's Frosting Powder, PGM15015

Vagabond 2 with Solo-wafer Think Die Adapter, 532423-kit

Reversible Scor-Mat Self Healing, 389322

 

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and learned a new technique that you are interested in giving a try!   I hope you comment because some lucky winner will be announced on October 4th.   Good luck!