The Dowager's coloring page in our "Farewell to Downton" Art Journal Swap has swags of roses around the banner at the top. There are also some on the pillow of her chair. Here are some tips for tinting them.
First rule:
Do NOT feel like you have to color inside of the lines!
Be free and easy with your colors, don't try to be perfect.
See what I mean?
I take a medium pink, and kind of messily add color to the centers of the flowers.
Then, fill them in with a light pink. Notice how some white of the paper still shows through? Those little "skips" add sparkle and life to the page.
Now, you can be really arty and make sure the skips are intentional and placed exactly where a highlight would hit the petals. Or, you can just be scribbly and not color the full petal in, either way, you get a pretty feel.
Over the two lighter pinks, I like to dot a dollop of darker pink into the centers of the blooms.
For my leaves, I have only used two colors of green, my typical way of doing these things is to use three tones. But this worked too. Color all the leaves the lightest color of green that you are using, Then add a darker tone to some of the leaves. If you'd like, add a third darker shade to some other ones.
One thing all of my finished pages have is highlights done with a white opaque pen, like you see on the umbrella and on the feathers.
I also like to use a white opaque marker to soften and blend, like over the brown of the hat.
Metallic pens add dimension, and are even prettier if done over a previously colored area. The umbrella handle is grey marker with silver ink over it.
And one more thing that makes a picture look complete, I have re-outlined some of it in black ink again. Not the whole thing, some lines are left soft. Here, I drew around the outside of the umbrella, but not all the small details. Also, around the top banner and words, not the flowers, around the outside of the chair, and her jacket, again not the small details.
If you'd like to do your own, these pictures are included in the Farewell to Downton swap. Details here.
Speaking of Downton, I'm off to meet Beth and have yet another Downton adventure! This one is with Deb Hodge, who I have always admired and wanted to meet. We are attending her retreat on Coronado Island. But first, I'm spending some Cali time with Sugarwings and my handsome husband. Please do sign up for the swap, and I'll catch up with the lists and record keeping when I return.