Inspire Me Monday: So, You've Taken a Class, Now What?

 

Hello, colorists! The last time I was here, I talked about taking a class to help you get past creative block. Well, perhaps you've taken a class or two...or three! But, are you saying, "Now what, Gloria?" since you've finished your class?

That is a good question! We often take a class and enjoy ourselves very much. We come away feeling that we've learned a lot. But, then we get back to our desks and studios and...have no idea what to do next! It seems as if all that wonderful information has leaked right out of our brains!

I took THIS class from Vanilla Arts in which we were to color the Bowl of Beauty image. I learned how to shade green leaves with pink (yes, pink!) and how to color glass, and a host of other things. My project turned out fantastic, if I do say so myself.

I also took THIS class where we were to color the Tree Peony image. I learned about distress ink backgrounds and how to add interest to leaves, plus how to make light colors look deeper and darker while still being pale colors. Oh, and a host of other cool stuff. 

I confess, I "failed" at a few of the concepts and wanted to work on just those tasks again. I did not return to my desk and try to recreate each of these pieces! I really did not want to simply copy Amy's project a second time. I wanted to move forward, meaning I did not want to re-take the class or re-color the same images! 

I wanted to use what I'd learned. But, how? It all seemed very overwhelming. I feel that I am a seasoned colorist, but I still felt that I had information overload! What to do?!

Since one of the concepts I wanted to try again was coloring a two-toned flower, I decided to print the Rose All Day image onto printer paper. Yes, I said that. I just printed it onto plain old printer paper! 

The image is about 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", which means it is on the larger side. I printed it on 8 1/2" x 11" paper and then trimmed the paper down and matted with black cardstock once I was finished coloring. 

You are now asking, "Why did you print on such terrible paper?" Well, I wanted to try out some new pencils and I always test them on various papers, even plain printer paper! (These pencils are called Schpirerr Farben oil-based pencils, which are a budget-friendly oil pencil.)

Not all pencils work on all papers, so I always do some test coloring on various papers before I judge the quality of the pencils. This brand is a creamy, oil pencil, and seems to like ALL papers. And, let's face it. Sometimes I just want to color for fun with no plan to make something out of the finished project!  

As I was coloring, the pencils were doing very well on the printer paper, so I just kept going! As I colored, I had a list of techniques to try next to me. It helped me focus on a few things, rather than trying to focus on EVERYTHING. I ended up trying the leaf technique from one class and the flower technique from another, and the next thing...the picture was finished!

Don't be afraid to "waste" paper and printer ink trying new techniques or new tools! Sometimes you need to make some mistakes to learn! This picture is FAR from perfect, but I learned new things and had FUN!

If you are new to coloring digital images, this project is proof that you don't need all the bells and whistles to get started! If you have paper for your printer and something to color with...get going! (I will say, if you plan to color with alcohol markers or watercolors you do need a type of paper suited for those mediums, but if you plan to try colored pencils, try them on printer paper if that's all you have at the moment!)

Also, don't think every image you print must be small and fit on a card. This finished picture is 8 1/4" x 8 1/4". Far too large for a card. When learning new techniques, a larger picture will help you to have more space to "stretch out"!

Plus this large image is perfect to put in a frame or stand on an easel, or even attach to the front of a scrapbook or journal! 

Once you have taken a class, go back to your desk and try ONE technique that you learned from class. The more you use your new skills, the more likely you are to have these techniques at your fingertips every time you color.

And don't forget to have fun!