BEGINNER? INTERMEDIATE? ADVANCED?

I'm not a card maker. I'm not a crafter.

Markers used to be a required study for illustration degrees. Because I learned markers in art school in the 1980’s, long before adult coloring was a thing, my approach to coloring is very different than standard coloring classes.

I treat markers like transparent paint.

I don’t blend like a colorist. I layer colors for rich color and realistic results.

I also color large. My personal projects can span up to 30 inches.

Gentle Warning: Even experienced colorists may feel like a newbie in art-based classes.

Only you can judge your coloring skills

I’d love to look at your project and tell you exactly where to start but…

  • I can’t tell how long it took to finish the project

  • I don’t know if you followed a tutorial or if you copied someone else’s project

  • I can’t see how fast you color

  • I have no idea how much you struggled or how many times you started over

Skill isn’t how good one project looks.

Skill is getting the same great look every time you color.

Questions to ask:

Beginner?

Beginners are explorers. They’re busy learning new tools and art supplies.They’re exploring how to control both their body and the markers or pencils.

    • Are you completely new to markers or colored pencils?

    • Can you hold a Copic Marker properly?

    • Can you control the nib and ink flow?

    • Do you know how to flick and how to swish? Do you know when to use each?

    • Can you layer markers in a perfect gradient?

    • Can you color large areas without streaks or blotches?

    • Do you feel lost or out of your safe zone?

    • Do you feel like you’re fighting with the markers or colored pencils?

    • Do you understand why paper is more important than markers?

    • Can you select markers based on chemistry?

    • Are you having fun but you’re also frustrated by the constant fumbling?

Intermediate?

Intermediates need strength training. They can layer colors and can follow most demos, but they still think about “how to color” while coloring.

    • Can you blend smoothly most of the time?

    • Are you comfortable working with all marker and pencil colors from the lightest lights to darkest darks?

    • Are you able to create realistic textures beyond smooth blends?

    • Can you color with invisible, disappearing, or soft gray line art?

    • Can you troubleshoot blending errors as they happen?

    • Do you understand the difference between depth and dimension?

    • Are you looking for a shading process which makes more sense than directional lighting arrows?

    • Are you beginning to play with color, injecting your own taste into standard projects?

Advanced?

Advanced colorists need independence. You’ve exhausted every technique tutorial. Now you’re searching for something more than follow-the-leader projects.

    • Can you color most projects without reading the tutorial?

    • Are you always 2 to 3 steps ahead of the coloring instructor?

    • Have your skills plateaued?

    • Do you make major changes to customize tutorials?

    • Have you considered quitting because you’re bored?

    • Are you frustrated with the lack of realism in your Copic projects versus what you see in other mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, oils, or colored pencil?

SUGGESTED BEGINNER PATH

Click the pic for more info about the course

Beginner marker with a hint of pencil

Beginner colored pencil with easy marker

Then join Color Wonk

because you’re ready for Wonk’s intermediate projects!

MAKE COLOR WONK EASIER

Deep dive on the key techniques we use daily…

1-2-3 Workshops are NOT a substitute for Amy’s beginner courses above (Blend & Point).

These are intermediate level skill-builders for specific techniques used in all Color Wonk projects. These skills are mentioned frequently but not taught at this level of detail in Wonk demonstrations.

Click the pic for more info about these specialty workshops

Intro to cast shadows

Intro to Grisaille shading

Intro to reading references

After all three workshops, you’ll have an insider’s advantage on advanced projects!