Copic Markers

Just what I needed during this stupid dry spell I've been in- something fun.  My daughter, Katie Kellogg, has been making some wonderful art with her Copic markers and, after seeing some of her pieces, (which I'll show as soon as I can con her into sending me images of them) I knew I had to give them a go.  The cotton gin which has stood in this valley for decades is being torn down and I've been wanting to capture some images of it before it's gone.  I figured this would be the ideal subject to try the markers with.  

This photo was taken at night in my studio, thus the yellow tone of it.  I got the perspective wrong on the lower edge of the main building, a fact that I couldn't see till I'd photographed it.  

The basic tenant of these is to mix color and create value ranges with graduating hues and saturation levels that are provided for in separate markers.  Unlike paints, where one usually mixes colors on the palette, these are to be mixed on the paper.  They stay vibrant and don't tend to go muddy like watercolors can when too many colors are layered.  I enjoyed this first project am anxious to mess around with them some more.

Taken in morning light, the colors of this are more accurate.  I tried to correct the mistake I made last night with increased shadow along that line and it worked, to some extent.  

The down-sides of Copics are their price ($5.00 + a marker!) and the fact that they are not light-fast.  Yet.  However, for work that is going to be digitized, they are perfect.  Journals are also a natural fit for their properties since their pages won't be exposed to long hours of sunlight.  I've used many different kinds of markers over the years and always been frustrated by the intensity of their colors.  With the graduated hues of these, I can get a more painterly look with them.  So, I'm willing to spend the money and plan to use them often.  I just can't resist!   

Thanks for stopping by- Alice