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Thursday 3 February 2011

Copics tutorial on blonde hair for Quixotic Paperie

Hello all!  Get yourself a cuppa and settle down for a longer post than usual!  As I promised [nervously] last Thursday, here is my very first ever tutorial!  I have had lots of requests for how I do blonde hair (you can see an example here) so that seemed a good place to start.  I should first say that I haven't had any Copic classes - I'm self taught (which is how I like to do things!) and I'm sure there are other techniques that work just as well (if not a lot better, lol!!).  If you are interested in what type of cardstock I use with Copics see my post here where I have experimented with a few brands (albeit mainly with UK supplied ones).  Okay, so onto the tutorial...

Today I am using Kenny K's Download Diva.  I use Memento Tuxedo Black ink which won't smear as it is non solvent (unlike StazOn).  As you can see below, for blonde hair I use colours E50, E51, E53, E57.  By varying the amount of colours I use in each, I can create different coloured hair, as I will explain later.


Step 1

I start with the lightest colour E50 and use light feather strokes to cover the whole hair area.  Some people use small circle movements but I'm not bothered at this point to be too precise with coverage.

 
Step 2
I now think about where the light and shadows are on the image but I don't get overly over hung up about it because in reality light sources come from several places. I do this step in two ways. First is determining where the main light source is coming from. For this image I've actually chosen from behind and left of her. Secondly, I consider where it is most natural for light to catch. In this case, because she has curly hair it is likely to be on the outer edges of her curls. It also tells me where the darkest shadows will be and in this case it is within the curls and shadows from the head and body. With this in mind, I take E51 and use feather strokes from the darkest areas out to the lighter areas. I feather up to the areas towards where I expect the light to hit the most.



Step 3
As in the previous step, I use E53 to feather from the darkest areas outwards, but go less farther towards the lightest areas. If I want her hair to be lighter, I would restrict the feathering of E53.


Step 4
I now blend the 3 colours together with E51 using small circle movements over the entire hair area. I try not to saturate the card too much (especially if I'm not using the optimum card for Copics!) at this point otherwise it can cause bleeding outside of the lines. Once blended I might go back with E53 and use feather strokes to add more to the shadows, blending again with E51. If I wanted her hair to be a light blonde, I would finish at this point. However, if I want a darker blonde I go on to the next step.




Step 5
I now use E57 to create a darker blonde. I control the darkness by controlling how much E57 I use. The more feathering I do with E57 the darker the blonde will be - it's as simple as that! In this photo you can see that I have used very little E57.




Step 6
I then blend with E53 just over the E57 to soften it and finally blend all over the hair area with E50. Voila! and here is the finished hair.





And here she is in her full glory!  

 

 I used my trusty Bazzill kraft cardstock, the sentiments are from the CC Designs Handy Additions sentiment set and I highlighted it with some 4mm flat backed pearls.  The DPs are from the Crate Paper Paper Doll collection kit - it's 50% in Quixotic Paperie so get over there quick before I buy up the last of the stock!  Lastly, I made the sweet border with my Sew Easy tool - now I've got the hang of it, I love it!  Saves me so much time prodding the holes through myself!  I'll do my next tutorial on this handy tool! 

Thanks for your patience and I hope that was useful! Feel free to ask questions and leave your tips on how you do your blonde hair in the comments section - you know I love to hear from you!

As indicated above, the products I've used are available from Quixotic PaperieElaine has lots of new arrivals - all EIGHT of the yummy new Prima 6x6 pads, the new TGF release (lovin' the new Cheekies!) and new Marianne D papers and dies.  She also has the Sew-Easy is back in stock, along with all accessories - I will be doing a tutorial on this little tool very soon!


I am also entering this card into the following challenges:


26 comments:

Lisa Jane said...

Fab tutorial Mary - thank you.. Love it!!
Lisa ;)

pinky said...

Brilliant tutorial Mary, I always struggle with hair:( Gorgeous card too.

pink lady said...

Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog Mary. What a useful tutorial, I always avoid blonde hair because it never looks right! Gorgeous card too, love the simplicity of the layout and the stitching detail at the bottom...hugs Shelly x

Pöydän kulmalla näpertelijä said...

Beautiful colouring and a gorgeous card! I've been thinking about getting a sew easy myself so I'm looking forward to your tutorial.

Pami said...

Thanks Mary this is brilliant, although I will need to read it a couple more times for my stupid brain to understand! I need to get a copic/promarker convertor, which search google today. Fabulous card as well hon! Keep the tutorials coming. Can't wait for the sew tool one I am still dithering about whether to buy it. Pami x

Liz Armstrong said...

Just stopped by to say Kung Hei Fat Choi Mary J!
Fabulous first tutorial by the way : ) Love Copics.

Liz
xx

Silli said...

Many thanks MAry... great tuto..;-) Love your coloring and love your sweet card!!!

Cindy Haffner said...

FABULOUS Mary!!

Sally said...

Thanks for the tutorial Mary it was great and well down well with a cuppa!!! Love the finished result and the card is fab.

Hugs Sally xxx

Anita said...

Fantastic tutorial Mary. Thanks for sharing.

Elena said...

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! :D thank you dear for this tutorial, you've helped me a lot, and now, for next time I'll make blonde hair, I'll follow your sweets suggestions :)
Thank you very much for have made me happy and for passed from my blog, every time I wait your comments with big pleasure!! ^____^

Hugs, Elena

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial Mary, love the finished card too!
Helen x

Sue said...

Hi Mary
fabulous card, awesome colouring, thank you for the tutorial, im rubbish at doing hair, sue,x

Lorraine said...

Beautiful card and gorgeous coloring! Thank you for the tutorial - I usually do brunettes, so this will help me, lol!

Sue U said...

Great colouring Mary, thanks for the tutorial :-) Love the finished result too
Sue xx

Nic aka The Sticky Elf said...

Fab tutorial Mary. Can't wait to see the sew easy one. It's on my wish list.
Nxxx

mrsk06 said...

hey mary! totally awesome tutorial its looks so easy ill have to give it a go with my promarkers! I have a award for you on my blog! Hugz xx

CraftyC said...

Beautiful card Mary and a fab tutorial!
Clairexx

Tamara Morton said...

Hi Hun, thanks for the mini tutorial, will be giving this a go later. As always a stunner of a card. I will have to invest in a few Kenny K stamps and I must admit that this one is my favorite. Hope you are keeping well..
Hugs
Tamara

Highland Handmade said...

WOWEEE!!! you are so clever, think I will have a try and see if I can make blonde hair lool ... well blonde not just a dirty mess! LOL ... love your card, love how you have rounded off the bottom 2 corners!! thanks for the tutorial xxx

Norma said...

WOW!! amazing coloring:) Love the card so CUTE. Have fabulous weekend!

valenbergia said...

Здорово получилось!!!;)

Helen Ann said...

Brilliant thank you, blonde hair has always kind of stumped me when colouring xx

Anne said...

Great tutorial, lovely card. Thank you for taking the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge, hope you’ll join us again!
Hugs
Anne

Unknown said...

Sweet card, Mary! Your tutorial is wonderful.. love her hair!

Kathleen said...

elaine pointed me in the direction of your great tutorial and just wanted to say i have put it into practice (changing a couple of the pens to suit what i have!) and you can see my efforts here

thanks again
kathleen mc xxx

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