Monthly Coloring Series - April

Hello, coloring fans! It is time for the April coloring project! And that is no April Fool's joke! I am not sure what just happened to March! It just started...and wham! It's over! 

For those of you just joining me, I have been coloring one image each month, using the Power Poppy digital flower images, found HERE. If you missed any of the previous projects, see the links at the end of the post.

It took me a long time to get started with this project. I love columbine and know that there are so many color variations! I also know it's a complicated flower and was wondering how to achieve a nice, fairly realistic look, with my markers and pencils. I finally chose a color combination and set to work! I am very pleased with how it turned out. 

The Cup of Columbine digital stamp set I used for my April image is currently a $6 download. It comes with the bird and egg or without, and with no-line versions. You can also find this as a clear stamp set, called Cheerful Columbine, for $18.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I created my panel at about 5 1/4" x 5 1/4". I rotated the image slightly and sized it at approximately 4 1/2" tall. 

The finished panel is 6 1/8" x 6 1/8". I have used a stitched square die to cut out the main image panel (which measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"). My plan is to display each monthly image at my desk, as shown below.

I am using "Great Vibes" as the month word font, which I sized at about 45pt. I printed the panel onto Hammermill 100# cardstock with my Epson ET-3700 using black ink. (So far, I have had excellent results using Copics with this printer ink and paper combination.)

My image is colored with a combination of Copic Markers and Prismacolor Pencils. I first lay down the Copic markers, and then go back and add depth and highlight with the pencils. I finish with more highlights using a white pencil or a gel pen.

Here are the color combinations I have used for the finished project (listed in this order: Copics, then Prismacolor Pencils by name):

Columbine: B60, B63, B66, BV04, BV08, C00, C1, Y04, Y15, Y19; Indigo Blue, White; Multiliner Pen Sepia 0.3
Columbine leaves: YG03, YG17, YG21, YG23, YG25, YG67, G99
Miniature Hosta leaves: YG17, YG21, YG63, YG67, G99, C3; Chartreuse, Olive Green, White
Cup: YR15, YR27, Y32, Y38,  C1, C3; Spanish  Orange, Mineral Orange, 70% Cool Grey, White; Multiliner Pen Sepia 0.3
Napkin: C00, C3, B60, Colorless blender; 70% Cool Grey, White
Background: C00, C1, C3, C5, BG0000, BG000, Colorless blender

My cardstock panels are black, blue, and green. I added a few flat-backed pearls around the edges of the image.

I started this project series back in September 2018. If you missed any projects click the month below. We have three more months to go - May, June, July, and August! Stay tuned to the first of each month to see the rest!

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER. 

OCTOBER.

NOVEMBER.

DECEMBER

Thanks for stopping by! 

Digital image: Power Poppy Cup of Columbine
Cardstock: Hammermill 100# Digital Color Copy; green (unknown); WorldWin Papers Midnight, Belgian Blue
Markers: Copic (see list above)
Pencils: Prismacolor (see list above)
Pen: Copic Multiliner Pen Sepia 0.3
Pearls: Want2Scrap
Die: Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Squares
Adhesive: ATG tape