... Read moreAs a fellow colorist, I know how exciting it is to dive into a new book, and 'Girl Spaces' by Southern Lotus has truly captured my heart! If you're wondering what it's like to color these beautiful pages, let me tell you my experience. This particular colorful page, featuring four distinct panels, offered so much creative freedom. I was immediately drawn to the whimsical depiction of a girl with a camera and those absolutely stunning sunflowers – they just begged for bright, cheerful colors! I decided to lean into a palette of bright blue and yellow tones to really make the artwork pop, and I’m so happy with the lively result.
When I started on the 'Girl Spaces' page, I reached for my trusty Ohuhu alcohol markers for the base layers. They are fantastic for laying down smooth, even color, especially when you want to achieve vibrant gradients in larger areas like the sunflower petals or the flow of the girl's blue dress. The blending capabilities of these markers make it easy to create depth without harsh lines, which is crucial for Southern Lotus's intricate illustrations. For those smaller, more precise details, like the delicate lines on the envelope or the subtle highlights on the girl's camera, I layered Artecho acrylic paint markers. These markers are a game-changer for adding opaque accents and crisp details that really stand out against the alcohol marker base. It’s a combination I highly recommend if you want your 'Girl Spaces' pages to have that extra dimension and professional finish!
One valuable tip I've picked up while coloring Southern Lotus's designs is to truly immerse yourself in the narrative of each panel. For instance, with the 'girl with a camera' panel, I imagined her capturing a sunny day, which influenced my choice of bright yellows for the sunflowers. For the panel showing a girl's lower body in a blue dress surrounded by more sunflowers, I focused on making the dress feel light and airy, using varying shades of blue to give it movement. The way Southern Lotus illustrates elements like sunflowers offers so many opportunities for shading and highlighting; don't be afraid to experiment with different shades of yellow, and even a touch of orange or brown, to create realistic depth and texture.
Beyond the individual elements, the overall theme of 'Girl Spaces' is so enchanting. It celebrates everyday moments and beautiful details, making each page a delightful story to color. Whether it's an envelope hinting at a secret message or the cheerful presence of sunflowers, there's always something to inspire your color palette. If you're a discerning colorist looking for high-quality coloring pages that are both relaxing and creatively challenging, Southern Lotus's books are an absolute must-try. They provide hours of artistic enjoyment and the satisfaction of bringing such charming artwork to life. Happy coloring, everyone!
this is so lovely!