Mary 3 of 12 - Joseph Holds the Baby

I like their expressions and the feeling of connection among them. But some of the arms are too long! More practice needed. I used an ellipse template (plastic with many ovals cut out of it) to make the halos.

Copic colors used: Halos Y26; Baby BG000,32, E00,25,37; Mary E21, B41,45, R02; Joseph E04,29,37,41, YG91,95,97

Mary 2 of 12 - Mary and Baby

She looks uncomfortable. Maybe she's thinking, "now what?"

Generally, I don't draw people. So when I decided to attempt a Mary series (see yesterday's post), I went to my local art supplies store and bought 2 manikins. Fortunately, I was on vacation with time for drawing.

This was my first drawing with the gray plastic manikins. It helped a lot with proportion and angles. But ouch, that left hand! A lot more to learn and practice.

Copic colors used: Bench YG91, W3; Baby R00, RV11, Y000,15; Mary B01,05, E29,41, Y15, R02, C3

Mary 1 of 12

The verse reads: "But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19"

For a whole month, I was doing small images, including the Thanksgiving prayer drawing. So for this drawing, I thought I would do a large abstract something, lines & shapes, just get myself back into the larger scale & wider hand-arm movements. My only plan was to use some orange, which I didn't use in my Advent calendar.

I started with a few swirly lines and patterns. Then I turned the paper a different way & saw the beginnings of a face with scarf or hair or maybe both. Along with other shapes that didn't seem to fit. I kept on drawing and coloring, and in a little while, I saw that it wanted to be Mary, pondering. Not what I expected. Definitely not anything that I planned to draw! I don't draw people usually, and if I had set out to draw "Mary pondering," it would have been shadowy and mysterious. Not like this.

This is Mary 1 of 12 because, when my friend Sybil saw it, she said, why not draw the "Twelve Marys of Christmas." (Like the Twelve Days of Christmas, December 25-January 5.) So that's what I did.

Copic colors used: YR04,09,14, E04,21,37, BG000,72,75, Y38, R32

Advent Calendar 2008

During Advent, I drew something every day in my calendar, a Word table that I created and printed. Each day's space is 1-3/8 x 1-5/8".

It was a wonderful experience for me. If you're interested, click here for what I learned from it. Colors, words, and sources of quoted words are listed here.

Added November 27, 2010:
Click here for my 2010 Advent calendar drawings. Click here for 2009.

The "animals and people" labels are for 12/25. The "from life" label is for 12/7, where I drew a pressed-glass candlestick that is on my dining room table. The "still life" label is for the Sunday candle drawings.

In addition to Copic markers and multiliners, I used Copic Opaque White (12/7 & 12/15), colored pencil (a touch of white on the candles 12/7), gold Sanford Uniball Gel Impact pen (12/16, 12/23 & 12/24), and white gel pen (lace 12/14). Click here for details about the Copic colors used. The pine branch for 12/15 is drawn from Marianne Walker's tutorial on coloring palm and pine branches (her I Like Markers blog) - used with her permission.

Embroidered Ribbons

When I started with Copic markers, I knew I would want some colored multiliners, because I had enjoyed drawing with colored Pilot Razor Point pens. (Which do not work with the alcohol-based Copic markers.)

So, along with a set of black multiliners, I started out with four colors of Copic 0.3 Multiliners - wine, sepia, cobalt blue, and cool gray.

Then I decided to get the other eight Multiliner colors- yellow, orange, pink, purple, sky blue, olive green, turquoise, and red. When they arrived, I did this drawing. I was thinking of embroidered lace.

I did a similar pattern for the 12/16 drawing of my 2008 Advent calendar.

Copic colors used: Background C1; Colored multiliners- cobalt, yellow, red, purple, sky blue, and turquoise
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Three Drawings from Sybil

In December, my friend Sybil sent me an e-mail with three of her recent drawings. (Used with her permission.) Here's some of what I liked about them (from my reply to her):

• The patterns instead of solid colors - I should try more of that
• The shapes that pull away from the main shape, like puzzle pieces that could fit back together
• The curvy lines with dots or circles out at their far ends
• The graceful lines that make emphatic shapes
• The colors and patterns that almost repeat, but don't
• The lines parallel to each other that make new shapes
• The color combinations, bright but harmonic
  
• I feel myself pulled into them - it is very meditative

I Am Thankful For... (Thanksgiving 2008)

Little by little, over a long Thanksgiving weekend, I made this prayer drawing. Very satisfying to do, and a great way to pay attention to what I'm thankful for.

I especially like the slice of pie (drawn, then eaten), the family quilt, and the dog. I used Copic Spica glitter pens in a few places, like the top surface of the pie and the book's edges.

Flowing Blue and Purple

This drawing started as a doodle, just flowing lines. It made me think of flowers - maybe morning glories. So I added leaves. This is one of my favorite drawings.

Copic colors used: B41,45, YG63, G21,V15, Cobalt multiliner
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Grape Ivy 2008

My grape ivy plant #3, a cutting of a cutting of my plant #1 from 1970. I love its leaves and its knobby stems and its survival skills. I drew plant #2 in 1983.

I drew this in pencil, then scanned and printed it before coloring. (In other words, I didn't color my original pencil drawing.) On the copy that I was coloring, I also added some lines in cool gray Copic multiliner. The pot is a very dark brown in real life, but for this drawing, I made it blue and gray.

My original background (YR21 and BG000) looked too intense to me, so I faded it out by coloring over & over with colorless blender, pushing the excess color out the back. And the paper didn't even pill. About this drawing I wrote, "It's such a pleasure to have markers that make nice colors, don't blob all over the paper, and what's more, can do interesting effects that I never knew could be done with markers."

Copic colors used: The clay pot is base color R02 with E09 rim & E09 applied on the R02 marker to give it the streaks & splotches. The leaves are base colors of G12, G21, YG03, YG23 with various layers of darker greens applied on the lighter markers. When it was all done, I added some white colored pencil on the potting soil to make it less of a solid dark color.

Flowers in Shallow Bowl

It was a lot of fun to layer the colors in this drawing. The flowers started with very light base colors. Then I added many different bits of darker with the blender brush tip. The table and bowl were also done that way. See below for details on the technique.

To try this, perhaps with simpler coloring, click here.

Copic colors used: Bowl C5 base, C9, Black 100 on 0 brush tip; Leaves YG03 base, YG63, G9; Wall G40, between flowers G21; Flower base colors W1, R0, BG000, then for the petals, added many colors on 0 brush tip (B06,29,39,45, E04, BG05,45, R24,29,32,59, BV08, RV14,29) and for the flower centers, added Y26,38, YR09; Table base color E33, streaks of E29,44 on 0 brush tip.
Technique: I used the palette technique: picking up the color from a clear plastic CD case cover, as follows: Color with a dark marker onto the plastic, then pick up the color with the blender & gently dab onto the paper. The color dries on the plastic, but you can still easily pick it up with the blender. When done, clean up the plastic with alcohol (hand sanitizer works great) and kleenex. (See Marianne Walker's palette blending explanation on her blog I Like Markers for more info.)
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Basket Weave

After struggling with drawing some basket weave, I decided to teach myself how to draw it. I found an example to study on the internet. Then I drew a test card (below) until I had the idea.

It is rather hypnotic to draw, but you can't think about it, you just have to do it. The finished drawing (above) is what I learned.

Copic colors used: B06, BG45, R24, RV29, E33,37,41,44, Plus E21,25,29,49, B39 for splotches and shading
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Cat on a Sofa; Flower Basket; Abstract

One night I colored some bright, abstract shapes. (Below at right.) Then I was stumped for how to finish it. So I made three color copies (they look faded, next to the original, but that's probably a good thing.) I finished them in different ways.

The flower basket (below at left) made me realize that I didn't know how to make it look basketlike, so I did another basket weave project after this. The abstract (below in center) is kind of map-like.

My favorite is the cat on the sofa (above). I thought my color blob looked kind of sofa-like, and that was easy to draw. Then I struggled with the cat shape, but I still like how it turned out.

Animal Mask

This is a doodle, but it looks like an animal mask or headpiece. A goat? A dragon?

I used Spica glitter pen in some sections, but it doesn't show up well on the computer screen.

Copic colors used: BG000,45, RV11,29,32, E00, BV04,31, YG03,91, C1; Copic Spica in gold, silver, clear, and black

Orchid Flower

My brother was visiting, and he wanted to see me draw something. So I drew a few lines, then a few more lines, then decided to turn it a different way, colored some, drew some more, then I had a flower, so I made it look more like a flower.

That's often how I draw, when I'm not drawing something specific.

Copic colors used: YR21, RV14,32, G17,28, YG03, C5,7,9, E41,44

Starfish Doodle

I think they are probably starfish, but they might be flowers.

This doodle is very busy! But I couldn't stop elaborating. I do like the colors.

Copic colors used: W1,3, B06,29,32, Y11,19, YR04,09, V04, YG95, Streaks of 0, Wine multiliner

Hilly Landscape 1

I drew the right side first, just lines and colors. Then I wondered what the left side would be like, so I thought about that and drew it. I like both sides, separately and together. When I look at it now, I find myself feeling pulled into the wilderness-y right side, like I want to go walking there. Then maybe go to the house on the left side for tea.

Each is drawn on a Crane's ecru card. I like the pebbly, mottled texture that Copics make on this card in this color. It shows up very well in this drawing.

A few months later, a friend asked me to draw a version for her - see Hilly Landscape 2.

Copic colors used: Y15,19,38, YR21, V09+C7, B41+BV31, B14,29,32,39,41, W1,3,5,7, YG23+B41, YG91+G21, G07+G17, G07,28, BG000,05,32,45, YG23+W3, YG95,97,99, E21,33,44, E41+BG000. Note, the "+" means that one color was colored on top of the other, making a new color.
Paper: ecru Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Purple Flowers in Vase - Splotching through Paper

This drawing is all about "splotching through paper." First I drew a rough sketch on a piece of ordinary paper - probably 20 lb all-purpose copier paper. Then I colored "splotchily" and heavily on the paper, with my actual drawing card underneath it.

This is a somewhat random/ unpredictable process, and I wouldn't recommend it when you're "almost done" with something that you don't want to ruin. Also, as you can imagine, it wouldn't work with markers that need refilling.

When I was happy with what I saw, I outlined it with sepia and cobalt blue Copic Multiliners. Then I kept on coloring, blending, and splotching. The vase is accented with clear Spica glitter pen, which is hard to see on the computer screen. It adds a subtle sparkle in real life.

Copic colors used: Table E33,37; Mat B06,39; Vase W1,7, YG03,23,95,97,99, V04,09; Flowers and leaves BV00, V04,09, YG95; Shadows W1; Sepia and cobalt multiliners, Spica clear
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6" with part of the bottom cut off (I had "too much table" before I cut it off)

Abstract with Gray and Colors

This is on an ecru Crane's card with cool gray Copic multiliner. I like the flow and the color combination. Crane's ecru (unlike Crane's white) has something in the surface that makes a mottled appearance. I think it's a nice effect.

Copic colors used: C1,3,5, BV000,04, B06, Y13,19,YR09, R02, G07,12

Spiky Abstract

Just lines and colors. At the time, I wrote, "feeling the movement of the pen & kind of rhythmic. My form of dance maybe."

Copic colors used: BV00, R02, C1, G12, B32

Sybil's Iris Drawing

After I sent my friend Sybil a scan of my iris drawing, she felt inspired to do one of her own. Her drawings, also done with pen and markers (usually Copic), are very different from mine. I love the colors, lines, and detailed patterns in this one. (Used with her permission.)

Iris Bouquet 2

I used one of my line drawings from 1983 for this. (Photocopied the line drawing, then colored it.) The bouquet was from my garden. In real life, the iris were the old-fashioned purple type, and I think the other flowers were spirea (red-violet with green leaves.)

For some of the iris flowers, I used "splotching through paper" for the mottled effect.

Edited Dec. 2009: Click on the "iris" label, below or in the label list to the right, to see a later version with softer coloring, and also the original line drawing.

Fruit Bowl 1

This is a bowl of plastic fruit on my dining room table, where I draw. I used some white colored pencil on the gourds and grapes. Otherwise, it's all Copics. I used "splotching through paper" to make the uneven coloring.

I did this about one month after I started using Copic markers. Shows how easy they are to work with. The back of the paper is also nice in its own way (below).

Edited October 11, 2009: See Fruit Bowl 2 for a later, sketchy version of this subject.

Yellow and Red Banner

A sketchy drawing. The bar and the banner tips are glittery with Copic Spica gold and black, though it doesn't show up well in the scan.

Copic colors used: I didn't write them down.
Paper: small piece of sketch paper, lightly textured, approx. 3.5 x 4.25"

Tea Strainer 2

Tracing around the tea strainer handle again. See below for the actual object. This drawing used partial shapes, but in an earlier drawing I used the full shape.


Copic colors used: probably RV11, R02, W3, G12,17,21, Y19, E33, B14,32
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

To try this, click here.

Ribbon Doodle 1

Ribbons of color. Almost always, I make a line drawing to color. But this was done with just the markers.

Copic colors used: B06, YR24, RV29
Paper: white Crane's card, approx. 4x6

Pair of Abstract Drawings

The top drawing was the original. Drawn with sepia multiliner, then colored with Copic markers.

When I finished it, I saw that the next layer of paper was interesting too. I rotated it 180 degrees, added some lines with cobalt blue multiliner, and touched up the coloring in a few places. That became the bottom drawing.

It also gave me the idea for "splotching through paper" as a technique, using 20 lb. or lighter weight paper as the top layer.

Copic colors used: Sepia and cobalt multiliners, G21, V09, B32, R02, RV11
Paper: 20 lb. all-purpose copier paper.

Landscape with Round Animals

Still experimenting with my new Copics, as the streaky coloring shows. The round shapes are animals, I think, but I'm not sure what kind of animals, or even which way they are facing.

Copic colors used: I didn't write them down
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Geode - First Drawing with New Copics

When I received my first order of Copic markers, this is what I drew. Sometimes my drawings are bright inside, dark or plain outside. Like geodes, someone told me.

Copic colors used: I didn't write them down
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

To try this, click here.

My First Copic Drawing

My first drawing in years. Such a good feeling. My friend Sybil was visiting, and she brought some Copic markers. She wanted me to try them, so I drew this and colored it.

Wow. First of all, the marker caps went on and off easily... no small thing, compared to the Bad Markers. Then, the colors went on smoothly - no bleeding or blotching. Beautiful, transparent colors! I bought some the next week. And I Like Markers, Marianne Walker's blog, told me everything I needed to know about them. See Bad Marker Disclaimer.

Copic colors used: Probably Y13, YR14, BG14.
Paper: 20 lb multipurpose copier paper.

Sybil's Cat Drawing

My friend Sybil's drawing. Mysterious and very cat-like. (Used with her permission.)