Mix and match techniques to maximize your drawing’s punch. For these images I mixed using eye-shadows for a soft smooth blending with water color pencils and gel pens for added definition and pop.
For this combo-technique approach you will need powdered eyeshadow, lots of cotton swaps, water color pencils and metallic gel pens.
I begin by coloring everything in with the make-up. The effect you are looking for determines what make up to use. Most make-up is actually a bit greyer on paper than it is on skin, keep this in mind when picking your colors. This is a great use for all that old make-up that is no longer hygienic to use (make up, especially eye make-up should be replaced every 6-9 months for sanitary reasons, they collect germs and bacteria). You should not use make up for coloring and arts and crafts and then use the same make-up on your face. Once you designate make up for crafting, it should stay as crafting make-up.
Coloring with make-up gives an image an over all soft effect. The choice of colors also impacts the soft feel.
I used old every day use make-up, and it gives this octopus and sea image a very soft greyed out appearance. I used intense colors on the star scape for a more dramatic nebula effect. If you aren’t sure how your colors will look on paper, give them a test before applying to your image.
Apply the make up using a cotton swab. Switch the cotton swap as needed, it will take quite a few. To blend the colors, simply rub one color of another. Make-up blends very well.
Once the image is completely colored in with make-up, select areas for emphasis, areas you want to stand out. Using the water color pencil, outline the area. Using more than one color I outlined the water surrounding each octopus, and I selected colors to highlight inside each octopus. On the stars I highlighted the nebula cloud areas in different colors.
Using a clean, damp cotton swab follow the lines to spread the water color pencil lines. A damp swab will spread the lines just a bit, creating a soft gradation along one edge. Being damp, it will also not cause your paper to pucker from getting too wet.
Once all the water color lines are smudged, I go back over small areas to highlight with gel pens. For the octopus image it was their eyes, for the nebula it was the stars.
Brands
- Make-up assorted drug store brands
- The bright make-up palette is Elf brand
- Crayola water color pencils
Octopus image from When Octopods Dream
Nebula image from Celestial Love Song
Coloring with make-up is not my original idea, and I don’t claim it to be.