pencils over markers class

8/16/2019 Pencils Over Markers Class

1/4

FOR : ELIZABETH LANDICHO ROBLES

FROM : ANGELO NIÑO CACHO

RE : FEEDBACK REPORT ON PENCILS OVER MARKERS CLASS

DATE : APRIL 11, 2016

This has reference to the workshop entitled Pencils Over Markers, a coloring technique by Ms.

Vermailene Barrios held at New Horizon Hotel, Mandaluyong City on March 19, 2016. The workshop was

organized by the abovementioned herself. It was conducted inside a hotel suite, room 515. The

organizer was assisted by her husband who remained at the back most of the time to assist the

participants and document the workshop.

We were only expecting 12 participants as there were only 4 rows of narrow tables (approx. 15in x 60in)

with three seats on each in the activity area of the room. There is a flat screen television facing the

participants which was placed at the other end of the room with the window as its background.

Adjacent to it is a display of other samples of their work using the technique taught in the seminar.

There’s also a counter for refreshments such as coffee and/or water placed at approximately two

meters apart from the activity area.

Each participant was provided with a kit. The kit is placed inside a brown envelope with the name of the

participant written on it. Each comes with its own sticker nametag and a coffee coaster as well. The

materials were neatly organized on the right hand side of each workspace. Each participant was

provided with the following:

(1) lead pencil

(1) pencil sharpener

(1) small container (for pencil remnants)

(1) 12-piece 3.8 Premium Stabilo colored pencils

(1) 24-piece Fibre Tip Stabilo colored markers,

(1) 24-piece No. 775 Colleen colored pencils,

A 12-piece assorted neon Stabilo colored markers.

The workshop started 10 minutes past 1pm to give way to the participants who were delayed. The

organizer at the beginning of the seminar began by giving a background of herself, as a statistician for

Nielsen, and made a disclaimer as she is not a Fine Arts Graduate, and that the workshop held was an

introduction of a new coloring technique she discovered and has not been formally introduced in Fine

Arts schools.


2/4

As part of the prelude, there was a short discussion about different coloring pencils and markers, their

brand, quality, and availability in the local market. She also introduced Stabilo and Colleen which were

her preferred brands and the ones used in her workshop. Discussing the quality is crucial as other

markers show streaks after overlaying or fade over time at room temperature or light exposure.

The initial part of the activity includes a review of the color wheel, primary colors, secondary colors, andcomplementary colors. A preview on shading and choosing the right colors to express the beauty of the

artwork has been discussed. She elaborated that in order to highlight a specific subject, warm colors

must be used on the subject while cool colors must be used on the background. Also, shading using

complementary colors can be used to emphasize dimension and depth on the subject. It may also be

used to highlight shadows and give a 3D effect on the art. This emphasizes the use of markers as the

base color of the subject, and the use of the coloring pencils to give depth and create an illusion of

shadow and 3D effect on the edges and corners of the subject when necessary. Thus, the base has to be

the lightest color in a set of complementary colors to be used.

The organizer connected his mobile phone to theflat screen television before doing the exercises.

Using her phone’s camera, she is able to

demonstrate what to do in the exercises by

projecting what she is doing on the television

screen. Thus, this guides the participants to

properly do the

exercises.

The first exercise is to identify the levels of shade the participant can

create. Each participant was asked to pull out page one from the kit.The paper consists of boxes of 5 rows and 5 columns. Using the first

row, the participants were asked to choose one color pencil and shade

the first box the lightest that they can. The technique used is creating

horizontal strokes heading to one direction only. This is identified as

level one. On the next box of the same row, the participant was asked

to do the same technique but creating a heavier and a darker shade.


3/4

This requires control as the shading should be done in moderation since the remaining three boxes

should contain shades going darker one after the other. This exercise practices the control of the hands

to produce different weights.

The second exercise is to familiarize the hands with the different

lengths of strokes. The participants were asked to pull out page twofrom the kit. The paper consists of 5 bars, where the next bar is longer

than the other. To consume the rest of the paper, the adjacent side has

been consumed using the same pattern. The participant was asked to

choose on color pencil to be used in each set of bars. With the same

technique of coloring – creating horizontal lines heading into one

direction – the exercise practices the control of the wrists to produce

longer lines for coloring larger images. However the organizer

recommended using level 3 based on the first exercise in order to

maintain the weight of strokes in each box.

The third exercise is to find the right source of light. This is crucial when creating a 3D image or placing

the proper shadow on a flat image. The participants were asked to pull out page three from the kit. The

page consists of flat images of an apple, a flower, and a bonfire.

The first part is to give life to a flat image of an

apple using colored pencils only. First is to find

the source of light by creating a kidney shape on

the apple’s upper right corner. This also

emphasizes the curves of the apple. Using

pencil strokes, the organizer created the illusion

by using lines curving from the stem going

vertically leaving the kidney shape white in

order to emphasize light. However this can be

used if the apple should seem animated. Another technique is to use a lighter complementary color such

as yellow and orange to emphasize the light leaving the skin intact and making the image seeming real.

Another point of highlight is the core of the apple as this is always lighter than the rest of the color of its

skin.

The second part of this exercise is to color the petals of a flower. Since the

participants have learned how to identify the source of light and where to put

a shadow when coloring a flat image, the participants were asked to start

using marker as the base color of the petal. The shadows were put on the

edges to give depth to the image. This signifies the overlap of one petal to the

other, and also provides a depth to the petals, giving an illusion of a core.


4/4

The third part of this exercise is coloring bonfire. Coloring fire differs from the

previous exercise as the fire itself is the source of light and a by-product of burning

coal. Thus the shadow is underneath. The base color used is yellow, and black is

ought to give the illusion of transparency and the depth is shown using

complementary colors. The illustration shows only 1 flame completed for

demonstration purposes only.

One of the most challenging images to

color is the human face. Discussing this

exercise almost took an hour to

complete. This was brought up as a

bonus as this maybe the only part in the

coloring page which may not require

markers. As easy as it may seem,

contouring requires three to four colors

in combination (e.g. gold, beige, mocha,

and pink). This provides the illusion of

the bridge of the nose or the cheek

bones.

Also, the eye shadows in a coloring book

shares the same technique as wearing a make-up. Hair color however is a combination of a yellow

marker as the base color, and orange colored pencils to give it body and create a shadow on the hair.

Refreshments (coffee and water) are available at anytime during the workshop. Snack (which was

spaghetti with bread and a glass of orange juice) however were served before the remaining exercise.

The take home kit is a coloring book inspired by Philippine attractions and festivals prepared by the

organizer herself.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.

To incorporate a soft background music while discussing and demonstrating the exercises as it

fills in the silence and provides mood.

2. To avoid an open window as a background for projecting on a television screen as there is too

much outdoor light that the screen could not be seen clearly. Hanging down the curtains will be

a good idea.

3.

To select a well lighted venue as the fluorescent bulbs on the selected venue does not have

enough light necessary for working with colors.

4.

To leave the nametags blank and let the participants write their preferred nicknames.

anuc/rnad/elr

pencils over markers class

Documents