COPIC Colorless Blender Marker and Solution Ideas

This is going to be a LONG post - so grab yourself something to sip on, a warm blankie (at least here in the NW) and put your feet up for a bit of a read :D

Now that you have had a basic introduction to the airbrush system I want you to play with it and develop different ways of using it, but another question that seems to be pressing is "What on earth do I do with my blender marker and that colorless blending solution?" Hopefully tonight's post will share just enough to get your mind's racing and help you begin to explore the amazing things that can be done with these awesome tools.

Do you remember how I used rubbing alcohol to clean up my "spray" mess? Well Joan B, you got it - rubbing alcohol can do amazing things to and with alcohol inks. If rubbing alcohol, which has a lower alcohol content, does cool things - then the real deal, colorless blending solution, will achieve even more striking effects. So let's begin!

I'll begin with the texture on the left that is labeled rubbing alcohol (see second picture below). This first texture was created by wrapping a paper towel in a tight circle, applying rubbing alcohol to the end and then just lightly pressing it against the airbrushed paper. I opted to use a dark to light color progression so that you could get a fairly good vision of the effect that can be created.

You can create so many types of effects just by using your creativity and a variety of textured products. Give this a try with burlap, cotton balls, linen - whatever you can dampen with alcohol you can use to change the texture of the surface colored with alcohol inks! The next line over was created using Colorless Blender Solution instead of rubbing alcohol. As you can see the more powerful strength of the Colorless Blender removes more color than the rubbing alcohol did. So depending upon the look you would like to achieve pick the solution that is best for that application. Another medium that Marianne shared with me that creates some wonderful "splotchy" effects when dotted in "globs" on your paper is Purell hand sanitizer. Now just watch the stock prices inflate on this stuff - LOL! I didn't have any on hand to show you the effect, but trust me - it is so worth trying.

You can create these wonderful effects on "regular" colored work as well. I used the airbrushed example, being we had been talking about airbrushing and it was a quick and easy way to create a colored background to play with these different effects.

Next I showed some incredibly simple texture ideas using the colorless blender marker. By placing the chisel tip side by side in a step by step progression you can easily construct a brick-like texture. The brush tip can be used to created symmetrical, even dots or pressed randomly and repetitively on your colored work to create unique textures. I also wanted to demonstrate the resilience of the brush tip. The first time Marianne showed me her "texturing" technique I caught my breath.

If I had done this with my previous markers I would have never been able to color a small space with them again. Not the COPIC's :D Did I say resilient? These tips are so incredible!

If I work for a prolonged period of time squishing the tip into my work, I then just "roll" the tip back out on a spare piece of paper and voila - back to it's perfect point. This is one of the features that helped me realize the quality materials these markers are made of.

Next I played with some cool masking techniques. In creating for last month's Paper Trey release I airbrushed a flower similar to the one below. I used one of the hot new items in Nichole's store - the wonderful Maya Road sheer blooms. I really wanted to have a soft beautiful flower and so I pulled out my airbrush system to change it's color. The flower below was done in the exact same manner. What I realized in creating the project last month was that it created an awesome reverse image as well.

Once again I used temporary adhesive to hold the flower in place. I then placed the flower on a sheet of white paper.

After airbrushing the flower, I removed it to expose the reverse image now on the cardstock.

Next I experimented by wetting a paper towel with colorless blending solution and placed it over the image.

Briefly touching the dampened paper towel to the surface provided very interesting results. I do believe that next time I will use something else to apply light pressure to the entire surface at once so that I do not leave finger imprints in my piece of artwork - LOL 

Just imagine the variety of different masked and blended effects you can create. I am thinking that a collage would be wonderful to create - using different colors and different shapes, stamping, coloring - oooh la la - it's endless!!!

I am now going to end with a delightful series of pictures. These were created by Marianne Walker who teaches many of us novices, for COPIC, here in the U.S. She is the one who has taught me so much about their product. As per usual I didn't think before I shot these pictures. I was so fascinated by the texture that she created in her coloring that I didn't think to capture these pieces in their entirety. Perhaps she will allow me the honor of taking better pictures at some point when we meet again. So without further ado may I present Marianne Walkers fabulous texture examples - please double click on the images for a larger, closeup view!

Notice the beautiful bamboo texture created on the surface of these sandals.

Once again the texture on these boots is fabulous - look closely.

This last picture is my favorite. There are SO, SO many different textural areas in this piece of artwork that Marianne has created. I look at it for inspiration constantly - just studying the different areas and analyzing and wondering how it is that she has created the look simply with markers and only markers. I hope this little piece will inspire you to experiment! Experimentation is the key to unlocking the doors of your own creativity. Have no fear - just forge ahead! I'll be back to share a little card that I have created using the above picture to inspire my experimentation. Don't forget to add your words of wisdom to the previous post to be included in a drawing for the awesome Cargo alphabet! The deadline is tomorrow night! Happy creating!!!

Comments

[Julie]

FANTASTC! love those sandals!,Julie.x

[Marikris]

I'm sooo glad I stumbled on this blog. I just got some copics and the small air brush system and have been looking for creative ways to use them.

Do you think this effect will work on Illustration Boards like the Strathmore 500 Lightweight? From what I've been reading, many stampers use glossy card stock, but I am not a stamper so I am not sure how it will work with Bristol boards =(

[Juanita]

W O N D E R F U L L L L L L L L!!

TFS.

[Debbie Olson]

Ellen, thank you so much for showing Marianne's work! This certainly gives new ideas for possibilities that I didn't "get" until you showed us the pictures. :-D

[t498]

Beautiful, just wish I had half as much talent!

[Jan Hunnicutt]

Wow! I have one Copic marker and a blender pen. I've wanted to expirament before making the investment. Thank you so much for all the info and fotos, Marianne's artwork is wonderful! The shading, just wow! Thanks for sharing~

[CatherineH (kiko)]

Another wonderfully informative post! The effect from the rolled up paper towel reminds me of Roses in Winter. Very cool! Marianne's work is just dazzling. Thanks for sharing all your great tips with us!

[Cathrine]

Sorry - forgot to mention I have another blog sample that uses Prismas and Copics together.

http://cathystclair.blogspot.com/2007/09/frog-in-my-throat.html

Now I need to decide which Copic colors to get to go with my existing Prismas!

[Cathrine]

Very cool - I'll have to play more. I saw someone at a stamp convention using the reinkers in a similar way as you would use alcohol inks. Interesting look with very brilliant color.

I'm just starting to get the hang of blending - still a long way to go!

[Rose Ann]

Wow, wow, and wow! Thanks once again for the tips! Such amazing possibilities! Marianne's samples are incredible as well!