There are four main coloring techniques with your Copic markers (and I have provided instructions in four easy steps each). They include: marker blending, feather blending, pointillism, and cross hatching. There are many ways to blend colors with your Copic markers. Personally, my favorite is the feather blending. You can get a nice, even soak while blending three or more colors smoothly.
Marker Blending - Blending with Circles
This is the most common blending technique. It works well for larger areas with similar colors. Start with lighter colors and then blend with darker colors. Step One: Color in circles evenly with your lightest color (V04) while soaking the cardstock. Step Two: Add your darker color (V06) to one side by lifting up at the end of the stroke. (3) Go back over your darker color with your first color (V04). Step Three: Add your darkest color (V09) to one side, but less area than your middle color. Step Four: Use your first color (V04) to blend the three colors together.
Feather Blending - Feathering/Flicking
This method is used to color long, slightly narrow areas. As I mentioned before, this is my favorite technique. Be sure to use the brush side and remember to layer your ink in one direction. Step One: Stroke the first color (YR04) using the side of the brush and lift up at the end of each stroke. Step Two: Add your second color (YR07) to one side about half the way using the same technique in step one. Step Three: Add your darkest color (YR09), still using strokes, about one-third of the way. Step Four: Go back over your second and third colors still using the strokes with your lightest color (YR04). I have left a part of the circle white to show you what the strokes should look like.
Pointillism - Dots
This technique is a little more difficult in that it is hard to get "perfect" dots. Don't worry if you don't get it the first time... just continue to practice and, trust me, you'll be very happy with the results. This technique is great for backgrounds. Step One: Cover the entire surfance in "dot" form using light pressure with your lightest color (R81). Step Two: Add your second color (R85) using the "dot" technique to the outer part of the surface. Step Three: Add in your darkest color (R89), again, using the same technique. Step Four: Use your lightest (R81) color to go over the dots one final time.
Cross Hatching
This is a great technique to add texture and dimension to your project. Step One: Gently draw lines across your image with your lighest color (B91). I use a combination of thin and thick lines. Draw both horizontal and vertical lines. Step Two: Use your second color (B95) to add more hortizontal and vertical lines covering about half the image. Step Three: Use the darkest color (B99) to do the same. Step Four: Blend with your lightest color (B91) by drawing lines. My example is very basic to show you the lines. The more blending you do, the more "even" it will look.
When you first try these blending techniques, use lighter colors, given that darker colors quickly get too dark. Once you are comfortable with blending, it will be easier to add in darker colors. Note that using colors too far apart on the color system makes the blending more difficult. Keep your colors within the same family and within 2 or 3 digits.
