30
Dec2009
Hobbies: Copics Haul 2009
So you already know I'm a big pens fanatic. If I had more money, you'd know just what I'd buy. XD;;
My favorite non-digital medium are Copic Markers. I've used them since 1995 and have been slowly amassing my collection over the past 15-or-so years. I started off with basic skin/earth tones and some grays -- my early favorites being E00 (Skin White), E11 (Barely Beige), and E51 (Milky White). In fact, they're still my go-to colors today. XD
The thing I like *best* about these markers are that the colors and ink flow are predictable. They also react to different types of paper differently, so if I use one type of illustration board they may appear slick and shiny, a different type of paper renders them akin to watercolors.
In fact, my favorite type of paper to work is hot-pressed watercolor paper.
Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Paper
I found this at Dick Blick during one of our business trips to California and fell in love with this paper. (I used this particular paper for the winter commissions~!) Unfortunately, none of the shops here in Hawaii sell them, so grah - I think I need to special order more, or wait 'til Fanime.
Arches Hot Press Watercolor Blocks
I also like Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Blocks as back-up, but the colors come out a little darker.
Certainly markers aren't a small investment. I can't really *mix* colors like I can with paints as some colors may interact with each other -- particularly violets. I also can't lighten colors, like say - adding water to watercolors to thin out the pigment. So either you improvise or wait for new colors to arrive.
And that's exactly what happened!
This past summer, Copic released a whole slew of ultra-light colors in their EX-4 set.
These are super-light colors, meant for blending, as you can see with the swatches below:
These colors are perfect for some of the softer, watercolor-y works I've been doing these past few months. (Namely commissions from the Holiday sale.)
Like so~
Lined with brown colored pencil and colored w/ Copics
To round things out, I also got a few extra colors -- just a few micro-shades darker than the ones above. The E0000 (Floral White) is the primary skin tone used for the pups in the drawing above, built up in layers and slightly darkened with E51 (Milky White) -- I think.
Luckily, I can get my markers from my local go-to art shop, Hawaiian Graphics. (I'm told they're owned by .Too? Which is why they can special order direct from Japan.) W00t!
Can't wait to get started on something with these pens! :D
Colorful images like these always make me smile! Hope 2009 was good for you and that 2010 will be even better!
Gambatte, ne!
Sankies~! And Happy New Year to you and your family as well! :D
Eh. Mah. Gawsh. I LOVE YOUR COLLECTION! I started using Copics not too long ago and started with the basics like red, blue, yellow, etc. What are the best shades for skin tone and colours for bases?
In my opinion, the best skin tones are E00 (Skin White), E21 (Baby Skin Pink), E51 (Milky White), E53 (Raw Silk), YR00 (Powder Pink), and YR20 (Yellowish Shade). They run the line for lighter skin tones - some are more pinkish, others more orange or yellow. Depends on the look you're going for~
I use E11 (Barely Beige) as my go-to skin shadow color. It's a little peachy, but can be blended in nicely with all the previous colors.
If you'd like to go for tonal shadows - like say, blueish hued shadows, I suggest Cool Grey 1 or BV31 (Pale Lavender) and blend quickly. What I mean by that is swipe an area you'd like to put the darkest shadow, then grab your lightest color and color over it to get a gradation while the ink is still wet. It's all about working very quickly in sections to keep the paper wet.
So beautiful. I wish I had the money to buy all those markers too. ^_^
Interestingly enough, half of the collection was Scott's markers from waaay back in the late 80s-early 90s. And most of them still work. O_O!
I bought most of mine when our local shop sold them at practically cost. (about $3 at the time.. in the mid-late 90s~) 90% of my Ciao markers were purchased in Japan... and a smattering of pens within the past 5 years. :D
Can you imagine, I'm still missing a lot of colors still? T_T;;
Wow, it's amazing how long copics will last. I just got a new set of PrismaColor colored pencils, and I wonder how long they will last as well... O.O
I'm surprised how long they last as well -- the colors I use the most, I have replacement nibs and refill inks for, so I don't have to rebuy the pens. It's saved me a ton of money over the years. :D
Prismacolor pencils last FOREVER. I still have my set from 1992, albeit most are kinda stumpy short. I've only replaced a couple colors -- primarily black and peach.
This is just a cold reminder that I need to buy some before going back to the mainland! UHHG. Did you see the copic markers at Japan Town? $6 a pen + that cursed 8% tax! At least at Hawaii Graphics I can get that student discount thing... if its still around. GOTTA GO BUY!
....how do you keep them so organized?...O.O