Coloring Reddish-Brown Hair with Copics
I know you can’t believe it… neither can I, but I have the first tutorial ready to go. I really apologize for the delay with this. I tried to do this a couple of times with my larger digital SLR camera and it’s just to big to work with when I’m trying to color at the same time so I switched to our smaller Canon Powershot. You can see the image quality isn’t quite as nice but it really is much easier for this application. Now that I’ve got that worked out hopefully you’ll see more tutorials soon. 
As, I worked on this today I didn’t realize I was losing daylight as I went and the pictures gradually got a bit darker so hopefully they aren’t too dark.
I’m starting with the Ed special edition digi from The Greeting Farm. You can find a similar version here called Dressy Ed.
I’m going to start with Copics E08, E35, E29 and E37. You can see I’ve already colored his face with E00 and E02. It’s a little streaky as I’m in desperate need of an E00 refill.
When I start coloring I start with the lightest value of brown (E35) and I sweep it up from the hairline to about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up the streak of hair that I’m working on. You can see I did all three of the streaks that are next to each other in the image below because the space was small.
Next I put a layer of E37 (the next darkest brown) right along the hairline as hair is darker where it grows out of the head.
Next I blend the two colors together with E35 sweeping the color up from the hair line to the tip of the hair and I cover the part I previously left white. If at all possible I only go over the part I left white with one stroke of ink so it stays lighter than the rest of the hair.
Now I’m going to add just a bit more darkness at the hair line since it’s not quite as dark as I like so I’m going to add just a bit of E29. Notice that I made it a bit streaky so it looks more naturally like hair.
I use E35 over the top to blend this in, again sweeping up from the hair line.
Now to make the reddish streaks I use E08 to add red highlights. For this I stay within one hair section and sweep down from the tip into the darker base.
I continue doing this through each clump of hair making sure the the base where the hair grows out of the head is the darkest part. And I try to keep the streaks of red random otherwise it will look very tiger-stripish and un-natural.
As I’m doing the hair I don’t worry to much about making a highlight that goes across the hair from left to right. I concentrate more on making it blend from root to tip. It’s kind of a personal preference thing for me. But, it looks good either way.
And this is how the hair looked all finished up:
And this is Edward all finished…
Ed’s not part of a card yet but he will be soon.
So there you have it, my first Copic tutorial. I’d love feedback… too many pictures? Need more instructions? Less? And if you’d like to see more tutorials I’d love to hear that too… especially if you have something specific you’d like to see.
Tags: coloring reddish brown hair with Copic Markers, Copic Marker tutorial, The Greeting Farm
The Greeting Farm, Tutorials | 
Jen | December 21, 2009
Comments
Other Links to this Post
-
Stamp Happens » Naughty or Nice? — December 22, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
-
deconstructing jen » TTIC #59 – *Sparkle* — January 8, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
By Alyssa S, December 21, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
This looks amazing! Thanks for the tut! Merry Christmas!
Alyssa S´s last blog ..Mojo 116 – Teenish Thank You ~
Reply
By margie c, December 21, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
How cool is this! Thanks so much for posting these colors!
Makes me feel so much better that our coloring styles are so close
Happy Holidays to you and your family :*)
~ margie
margie c´s last blog ..A Picture Wallet Tutorial at Die Cuts R Us!!!
Reply
By Mindy Baxter, December 21, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Awesome Tutorial Thank you!
Reply
By sarabeth, December 21, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
i love it! thanks for sharing this toot! i’m such a newbie to coloring hair and still working on my copic collection and this is right up my alley!
happy holidays!
xoxo
sarabeth
sarabeth´s last blog ..Sew Many Cards NEWS!
Reply
By Tonya, December 21, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Jen, naturally you did an excellent job with this. Personally, I like have step by step photos because I can take my time looking and studying them. Videos are nice but I linger longer than that so photos are my personal preference. I would be interested in seeing you color skin. I know many people feel the E00 is too dark but it’s the color I use. I’ve not experimented with others. I know doing these tutorials takes a lot of time and I just wanted to thank you for your dedication.
Tonya´s last blog ..Let it snow!
Reply
Jen Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I agree about the video vs. photo but I wasn’t sure what people like. I prefer the photos as a user of a tutorial. As soon as my refills come in I’ll get together a skin tone tutorial. I do agree to some degree that E00 is too dark but it depends on how you apply it and what the image is. For a sparkly vampire I’d agree it’s too dark and too pink for me but I don’t mind it for every day use.
Jen´s last blog ..Coloring Reddish-Brown Hair with Copics
Reply
By Jennifer O., December 22, 2009 @ 1:01 am
GREAT tutorial. I need some Copics. I would love to try your tutorials.
Reply
By Rachel, December 22, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Fantastic tutorial AND I think I have most of those colors! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Ed never looked to good. Well, except in the movie of course ;0)
Rachel´s last blog ..Miss Madelynn
Reply
By Leigh Ann Baird, December 22, 2009 @ 7:38 am
Thank you! As soon as I get rid of this Tendonitis/carpal tunnel stuff and can color again I am going to try this out! I bought the dressy Ed image.
Leigh Ann Baird´s last blog ..Gifts
Reply
By Lisa Foster, December 22, 2009 @ 9:38 am
WOW Jen!!! Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial!!! WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! I love Edward and the way you color his hair is absolutely PERFECT! Thanks again for sharing!!!
Hugs,
Lisa
Lisa Foster´s last blog ..Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty
Reply
By Laura, December 22, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
Thanks so much for posting this! This is exactly the kind of thing I need to see. I also would love to see how you color the skin. Thank you for taking the time to do this!:)
Laura´s last blog ..DCRU’s Epic Six Giveaway!
Reply
Jen Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I think skin tones will be next.
Jen´s last blog ..Coloring Reddish-Brown Hair with Copics
Reply
By Dina, December 22, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
Great tutorial, your coloring always totally rocks!!
Dina´s last blog ..You Rock My World
Reply
By Dani, December 22, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
This is perfect! I love the details you show with all the pictures, it really does help so much!!!
Thank you!!!
Dani´s last blog ..Update to: I saw the Pioneer Woman!!
Reply
By Juanita, December 22, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
Awesome tutorial, it is perfect the way you did it
.
Juanita´s last blog ..Sweet 16 Centerpieces
Reply
By Angie, December 22, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Thank you so very much for this! It didn’t have too many pictures at all. I would love to know the marker numbers for the clothes you used as well!
Angie´s last blog ..A Very Vivi Christmas
Reply
Jen Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Thanks!
For the jeans I used B23, B24, B29 and for the shirt I used E33 and E35 and for the shoes I used E47 and E49.
Jen´s last blog ..Coloring Reddish-Brown Hair with Copics
Reply
By Steph, December 22, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
LOVE it Jen,
soo, if I follow all these directions, is it guaranteed to look as awesome as yours ?
I think you did a great job and broke it down in the perfect number of steps..there can never be too many. Some of the tutorials I’ve seen capture colouring in 2 steps and I feel lost.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Can’t wait to see the next one!
Now lets hope Santa put some Copics in my stocking;)
Thanks Jen!
Merry Christmas
Steph
Steph´s last blog ..An Early Twilight Christmas
Reply
By Yvette, December 22, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
Awesome tutorial Jen!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for us!
Merry Christmas!!!
Yvette´s last blog ..
Reply
By Jodi, December 22, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
Your tutorial rocks, your coloring rocks, and most of all, YOU rock!
Jodi´s last blog ..It’s a TSG Sale Hop!
Reply
By Michele B, December 23, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Great tutorial – thanks! Perfect amount of pictures. I recently took the plunge and purchased my first copics, but I have no idea how to use them. Thanks.
Reply
By Leigh Ann Baird, December 29, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Jen, I am trying to get used to my Copics again and would love to see a tutorial on coloring Laurel. You know, you are so awesome you should do some copic tutorial videos.
Leigh Ann Baird´s last blog ..Introducing Perfect Presentation
Reply
By Jacquie, January 2, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
I am finally commenting on all your posts ;D Your tutorial turned out absolutely perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing!! Thank you for your creative genius and posting this hun!!! *maybe* someday I can get close to your skill with copics
YOU ROCK!!! LY!
Reply
By Jamie, January 5, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
Wowsers Jen!!! Thank you for this!! I am so new to copics and feel like I’m fumbling in the dark! Great tutorial!! Ed rocks and so do you!!! Well done:)
Reply
By Mrs Weyremaster, January 7, 2010 @ 11:52 am
Awesome tutorial Jen, i love to see how different people colour, and your colouring is gorgeous. I use Letraset Promarkers, rather than Copics, mainly because they were easier to get hold of here, and a little cheaper. I might change over to Copics once my promarkers start to run out
So your tutorial will help me with initial colour choices, Many Thanks
Suzi
xxx
Reply
By Terry, January 10, 2010 @ 11:55 am
Great tutorial Jen ! I would not change a thing. I would love to see more tutorials on other hair colors using blondes,black and so on. Your coloring is amazing. Thanks for letting us enjoy your work !
Terry
Reply
By April, January 26, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
Jen, I think I would actually consider committing a crime to get a card with that beautiful of an Edward on it. Your skills awe me! I haven’t been brave enough to put the cash into copics yet, but you keep tempting me. Ungh…I just love that digi too…such a fabulous little character. You rock, Jen!
April´s last blog ..Valentine’s Shaker Box
Reply