How to Render a Lampshade in COPIC
- 1). Stamp the outline of the lampshade using a nonblending ink made specifically for working with Copic markers. Use a paper or card stock with a strong finish; usually these will look glossier or smoother.
- 2). Insert a piece of white paper inside a clear CD or DVD jewel case. The white paper allows you to see the actual color of the ink. Place your palette next to your drawing paper.
- 3). Sort your Copic markers by number. You should have a 1 and a 9 marker for each color you want to use. The number is the third number on the cap of the Sketch marker. If you have a lot of markers print out a Copic chart from their website on the type of paper or card stock you use and color in the spots with the markers you own. This will give you a good reference for how the colors look on the paper you are using.
- 4). Save money by only purchasing the 1 and 9 markers in any color group unless you have a lot of field to color using an in-between color. For a lampshade stamp, select the color you want for the shade and a yellow family color set for the light below the shade.
- 5). Separate your markers by groups: the 1 group and the 9 group. Open the cap on your lampshade 9 color and fill in a 1-by-1-inch square on the clear plastic DVD cover. Close the cap. Open the cap on your yellow 9 color and fill in another similar square. Don't allow the squares of color to touch each other.
- 6). Open the small end of your Copic marker 1 lampshade color. You will use this as a brush. Pick up the dark lampshade color on the DVD cover. Drag the tip of the marker through the dark color three or four times. Start in a top corner of the lampshade stamp and color in circles. The dark color will mix with the light color to create a medium to dark color that fades as you use up the dark color. Go back to the DVD cover (your palette) and pick up more color. As you go over areas, they will darken. You will quickly see how the pen lifts and blends giving you excellent control of the tapering color.
- 7). Color around the edges of the lamp working toward the center. The outer edges should be the darkest and the lampshade should get lighter as you move to the center. If you accidentally get too dark near the middle use the blending tip of the blending brush to lift off color. Use the multi-liner pen to fill in any areas of the black stamp lines that are incomplete.
- 8). Color the yellow light below the lampshade using the same technique. Open the 1 yellow pen and use the dark yellow on your palette as paint. Work from the bottom of the shade down, allowing the yellow to fade out.
