Tips for Coloring Dark Skin With Copics

Coloring dark skin with copics takes a little more time and patience than lighter variations, typically there are more layers of ink, they are heavier by nature with not as much alcohol solution in the mix. So it takes a little more practice and a lot more mistakes to get images where you would like them to go.

You know me I am always up for a good challenge! So when Rubbernecker asked if some of the design team members would help showcase the new images featuring women and men of color I said sure I’ll give it a go!

Base the skin in an Earth tone E11
Use a mid-tone and shadow to add shape and depth to the face E13 and E15
Blend the colors together going in reverse, E13 and E11
Add small touches of a blue violet into the deepest shadow areas BV23
Fill the lips with E04 and small touches of E09 for shape
Color the head wrap and top in a series of reds R81, R83, R85
Add squiggled lines over the hair area of the image with darker colors E47, E49, C9 * note you could leave the hair alone the stamp actually stamps the hair black, I always feel like it needs a little more texture and richness. It is very subtle but effective.
Fill the pupil of the eye with a warm Earth tone, E35
Use a layer of E50 to fill the background and then go over the entire area with W1, this helped match the background to the patterned papers I have chosen

Here are the steps to create the card:

Trim a light piece of patterned paper to 4.25 x 5.5 and attach it to a card base
Use a scalloped rectangle die to cut a large rectangle from a blog patterned paper and stamp the lower corner with the “Live On Your Terms” sentiment stamp
Using the nesting circle dies cut two circles from coordinating patterned papers, attach these together and then use foam tape to pop them up on the card base
trim the image using an oval from the nesting die set and use foam tape to pop it up in the center of the circles