Dea, that's just beautiful. You make it easy to follow & understand what your goal is for the finished look. Looking forward to your other background ideas, too. Thankyou
Love Bokeh backgrounds - great tutorial. Watched it in a couple of sessions. I'd look very to see other backgrounds, clouds come to mind, and abstract areas that blend into on each another.
Haha, I love Prisma white. I bought 3 open stock just so I'll always have one on hand and a backup and I'll replace them ASAP when they start to wear down. I use it to blend no matter which pencils I am using to color. It is so amazing!
FernCurtis I have a total of 5, but 2 of them are from sets and are pretty worn down lol. I like prisma white more than blending pencils because they work so well for highlights and as long as you don't burnish, you can go back over the white with colors if you get certain areas a little too white. It's very important for me to be able to go in and clean things up a bit, lighten or darken certain areas as needed and Prisma white allows me to do that better than any other white I've ever used. You can layer under or on top of it. It's awesome. ☺
Very good video Dea. I think I will try this. I'm not much of a white pencil blender but I like what you achieved. Background are my least fav to do of any pic. I seem to always default to pastels which are so easy to apply. Great work my dear!
I love these colors and you are amazing and again thank you for full version.your full videos and tutorial helped me so much in making illustration in my drawings.
I think I remember you writing about flowers--here is a list of flower videos: th-cam.com/play/PLJKTWpW8n3ivx7md1xbvsyZJL96TCYBWo.html I hope you enjoy them xo
I have been searching for a good Bokeh thank you so much it has turned out really beautiful and the instructions that you gave us were so helpful I am in heaven xoxo
Thank you Dea, this was really good info to have, I need to try this technique. And love that your going to do different types of clouds. Would also love to see how to do sunsets, skies in general that don’t look “flat” or dull. And also galaxy type backgrounds with various colors and stars etc. Thanks for being willing to show these things its so helpful! 👏🏼❤️🌹
Tracy I love doing it--thank you so much for the input--it is so helpful to know what you like, don't like, and what you want to see more of! xo More backgrounds coming up!
Dea Lenihan , awesome! And if I could add one more request. Not background. But really need more water ideas. Still water, sunsets reflections on water, waves- little ripples and big rolling ones. That would all be awesome too. 😉😉😂❤️❤️
Great bokeh vid! I might actually try it now 😂 I'm not very patient with backgrounds but this tutorial is tempting me. I have Penelope's Garden in PDF and haven't colored a page yet. Maybe I will try this image and do the background like yours
Oooo love your ideas !! I have to work on northern lights--seeing them in person is a bucket list thing for me. And I have a galaxy coming up actually! Thank you so much for the suggestions. xo
It never occurred to me to draw bokeh! I take photos, too. I can apply this to the landscape I’m working on. (Multi-colored Conté, 80# white paper, winter scene. For Drawing II class.) I’m finishing up a botanical project and have used blending techniques that you showed instead of my instructor. 🤫lol ❤️ I also learned something neat: those old-fashioned type-writer erasers (remember? White, slightly abrasive, pencil, black plastic brush on the other end) can be used to erase colored pencil. Whether burnished, or just light color, you can just sand it off. If you have really good paper, it won’t be noticeable. They also work on charcoal, Conté, and micron pens.
FernCurtis I found mine at Michaels. It came with two pink pencil erasers-the kind you sharpen, like the type-writer ones. I use the pink to get super clean lines on the sharp sides in cubism drawings. ❤️
Mary Nelson, Thank you! - Could you please explain sort of where at in Michaels? Sometimes locating something in there can be a pain unless you specifically know where to look!
FernCurtis I had to look hard for them! Near the graphite and mechanical pencils. If you see white sliding polymer pencil-like erasers, you’re close. Near the higher end drawing stuff. I hop that helps. I’ve also found them on Amazon.
Dea, I found you here on TH-cam late last night and I've spent most of the night watching your videos. I love all of them and this one, demonstrating BOKEH, is amazing. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with others. I am curious about where to purchase the Guanghui Hero set of 168 pencils you mentioned in another video. I checked Amazon but, sadly, only found the 120 pencil set. Any suggestions?
I've only been adult coloring for just barely over a year, it's only been the last couple of months that I've really seen a difference in my coloring-getting the results more or less that I want. I too have heard over and over, "oh you can only get so many layers with Prismas". "You can't layer and blend Crayola pencils." I say "flewy blewy" to that. I could be completely wrong, but I truly believe that it is a case of one of three things going on. 1) Some people are too impatient to sit there and do layer after layer after layer of pencils, they just want the picture done so they can move on to the next. 2) Some people are just naturally "heavy handed" and while they may not be impatient, have a horrible time getting the layers. (I know of one person who has taught herself to hold the pencil back further, so that she can get the lighter layers). 3) Some people have not taken the time to learn how to layer and blend. Like I said, I could be be wrong, but those are the reasons I think some people just can't get the results they want. I say that because I can get (depending on the effect I want) 6-8 layers with either set of pencils and that is without using a blending agent like Gamsol. I think that if you REALLY want to learn how to do something with your coloring you will and if you don't, then you make excuses as to why it doesn't work out. The other thing I did hear one artist who actually makes a living that way say, is that she can't get get more than 8-10 layers with the Prismas. I think that is a completely different "ball of wax", IF you are making your living with your art -then yes your work does depend on layers. But with coloring for pleasure, who needs 10+ layers? Sorry for the "venting", I am starting to get to the point where this subject doesn't bother me as much as it use to. Realizing we all color differently is helping with that. The only paper that I seem to be having trouble getting the blending and layers that I'm use to, is create space paper, so that could be a 4th reason too-if all a person has used is that type of coloring book, then yeah I can see why they can't layer and blend like they may want to.
Flewy blewy....haaaaa!!! :D Yes I have heard others have trouble with the Createspace paper too. I actually don't mind it at all, except for the fact that it is too thin. I like the tooth and I find I have no issue blending, just can't really use anything but colored pencils or pastel--no watercolor or markers. Although I did use gel pens with a TIIINY bit of water and they blended fine without warping the paper. As for layers, being an artist I get what they are saying--the pencils are thicker and creamier in texture, and that is why they blend so nicely...but I think all pencils get to a point where they layers are TOO thick to color over in the same way as when you first started the picture...you are no longer coloring on paper--you are coloring over the top of the pencil because the paper is completely covered. So far I love Prismas--those colors!! LOVE.
Dea Lenihan ❤️, I agree-there does come a point where you just can't add anymore layers with any type of pencil. Not going to give up on the Createspace paper! Feel like I can't - one of my sister-in-laws, who I love dearly sent me 4 coloring books via Amazon, all but one of them is on Createspace paper. So, it may take me time, but I WILL figure out how to color on it and get the results I want, even if that means I need to break down and get Gamsol, the Mona Lisa thinner or something similar! Was looking at the prices of those type things yesterday at Michaels, when I had to be in town.
Dea, you may want to put that question into the main comment area-not sure how many will see your question since it is in a "conversation" under a different comment (they would have to click on see replies under each person and I just don't know how many people do that unless something is said in the main comment that interests them!)
Yes! I LOVE pastel--I'll have to get a back ground together for that--great idea Crystal thanks. I use Conte pencils and I love them. They are very dry and dusty but soooo bright and intense.
Dea Lenihan The bokeh turned out really beautiful. I'm a bit of an amateur photographer myself and I'm actually excited when they show up in photos whereas some people think they ruin the photo. I love the color streaks too that sometimes show up in dark photos. Those sort of remind me of colored laser beams. Sometimes I'll take photos in a moving vehicle just to try to get streaks or bokeh effects. I really like the blurred appearance and soft edges. You're right! Its ethereal! 😍 oh, I'm in love lol.
Dea Lenihan Oh Dea, you should see the photos my daughter took of the solar eclipse back in August. It was absolutely stunning. We witnessed the "diamond ring effect" and full darkness at 2:00 in the afternoon. It was absolutely breathtaking! I am crazy about the sky in general. Everything about it just fascinates me to no end. The sun, the moon, clouds, stars, comets, meteor showers, everything. I often speculate that perhaps I was an assistant to Galileo in another life haha. My one and only wish for Christmas when I was about 15 was a high-powered telescope and my step-dad made sure I got it. I cried like a baby and the first time I used it, I was soooo excited. I was able to attach a 35 mm camera to the lens and take pictures of the craters on the moon's surface. I had such a grand time. I truly felt like I was on an amazing adventure and to this day, my heart still picks up its pace when I gaze into the night sky and see stars speckled throughout the galaxy. I can identify a few of the constellations, but I think my son has a much keener eye than I do. It's something I've just always enjoyed immensely.
Maybe you WERE Galileo! You should join my FB group so we can pass these pix around. I'd LOOOOVE to see the eclipse pix...you are so lucky! I was out on a cliff last month for the supermoon and got some terrific (IMHO) shots. Love love love. My Dad taught me so much--and they were both up there on the cliff with me freezing...they are in their 80s!! Too fun.
I would also suggest that the colors of the circles be in the same family or analogous to the background color. I tried it with complimentary colors and it looks terrible. I used blue for the background, and yellow and orange for the circles. Looks lousy.
I just saw a coloring tutorial of background color with dry/soft/Conté pastels. The effect is identical to yours, Dea, but she used stencils and cotton wads to add it. She put down a circle stencil, took a piece of cotton round on her finger, dabbed into the dust, then rubbed it into the circle. The color was soft and glows around the edge. Then she moved the stencil to overlap the color, chose a different color, and rubbed it over the top. It looked just like yours! I thought of you right away with your bokeh background and the pastel pencils you’ve used in other videos. I had to tell you. ❤️ th-cam.com/video/fPwXR5c1sIs/w-d-xo.html
Ah! Yes I am sure pastels would be muuuuch easier, and I will probably do a vid with those also. Many use pencils exclusively, so I tend to stick with them for my vids--but I really need to branch out more! Thank you for telling me! xo
Dea, that's just beautiful. You make it easy to follow & understand what your goal is for the finished look. Looking forward to your other background ideas, too. Thankyou
Thank you Dawn--I am so glad you like the videos. xo
Love Bokeh backgrounds - great tutorial. Watched it in a couple of sessions. I'd look very to see other backgrounds, clouds come to mind, and abstract areas that blend into on each another.
Oooo Kim I am doing a night sky soon--I can't wait--many different shades of blue and purple with celestial bodies...fun stuff!
Dea Lenihan I can't wait, night skies that aren't just black an white will be wonderful.
Kim Richmond oh good! Looking forward to it too. I may add some acrylics paint too
Hello Ms Dea! Ty for Bokeh thoughts & art. Wonderful. My scratch paper bokeh is coming along...practice practice! Ty again.
Yes! Bokeh is not easy! Have fun. ❤️
Pleased to have found your site, which I have saved . Thank you for an interesting tutorial. Your 'talk' is so good to listen to. Cheers.
Thank you! Will definitely add this to my To Color list☀️☀️☀️
Oh great to hear it D! I'd love to see when you're done! If you are on Facebook you can join my Coloring Gallery if you like! I'd love to have you. xo
Haha, I love Prisma white. I bought 3 open stock just so I'll always have one on hand and a backup and I'll replace them ASAP when they start to wear down. I use it to blend no matter which pencils I am using to color. It is so amazing!
It really is! You're smart--I should do this too--I can see where I am going to need more quickly. Thanks for the idea Crystal!
Dea Lenihan Any time, my friend. ☺
Lol, I have 3 White's as well-bought 2 open stock long before I bought my 72 Prisma Premiers, then of course the set has one.😀
FernCurtis I have a total of 5, but 2 of them are from sets and are pretty worn down lol. I like prisma white more than blending pencils because they work so well for highlights and as long as you don't burnish, you can go back over the white with colors if you get certain areas a little too white. It's very important for me to be able to go in and clean things up a bit, lighten or darken certain areas as needed and Prisma white allows me to do that better than any other white I've ever used. You can layer under or on top of it. It's awesome. ☺
Very good video Dea. I think I will try this. I'm not much of a white pencil blender but I like what you achieved. Background are my least fav to do of any pic. I seem to always default to pastels which are so easy to apply. Great work my dear!
Thank you thank you! White pencil is a pain! Especially in a big area--but sometimes it's worth it! xo
I love these colors and you are amazing and again thank you for full version.your full videos and tutorial helped me so much in making illustration in my drawings.
Thank you so much for telling me Jasmine! xo
I think I remember you writing about flowers--here is a list of flower videos: th-cam.com/play/PLJKTWpW8n3ivx7md1xbvsyZJL96TCYBWo.html I hope you enjoy them xo
Thank you for playlist i will watch them and color in my drawings like that
Have a great week Jasmine. xo Thanks for watching. Is there anything else you've been looking for i videos?
Dea Lenihan yes can you make video how to color in butterflies.
This looks so cool. Love different techniques you show.
Thank you
Thank you so much Connie! What backgrounds would you like to see in the future?
Your choice would be perfect I'm sure
Thanks Connie. xo
Thank you so much for doing this video. Learned so much. Please, please, do more backgrounds, love them.
You're so welcome! More backgrounds coming soon! xo
Just beautiful! Thank you for the tutorial. Looking forward to the sky video.
Thank you Olga--coming soon! xo
Another great video! Thank you, Dea!
So glad I found your channel - I am loving your videos. Thanks for sharing your time and talent!
You're welcome Kathy! So glad you are here. xo
I have been searching for a good Bokeh thank you so much it has turned out really beautiful and the instructions that you gave us were so helpful I am in heaven xoxo
Thank you so much Jeni! Tell me what else you'd like to see. xo
This is beautiful! Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us.
Thank you so much Lynne--it is my pleasure. xo
Thank you Dea, this was really good info to have, I need to try this technique. And love that your going to do different types of clouds. Would also love to see how to do sunsets, skies in general that don’t look “flat” or dull. And also galaxy type backgrounds with various colors and stars etc. Thanks for being willing to show these things its so helpful! 👏🏼❤️🌹
Tracy I love doing it--thank you so much for the input--it is so helpful to know what you like, don't like, and what you want to see more of! xo More backgrounds coming up!
Dea Lenihan , awesome! And if I could add one more request. Not background. But really need more water ideas. Still water, sunsets reflections on water, waves- little ripples and big rolling ones. That would all be awesome too. 😉😉😂❤️❤️
Sure Tracy! Thank you so much for the great idea! xo
Great bokeh vid! I might actually try it now 😂 I'm not very patient with backgrounds but this tutorial is tempting me. I have Penelope's Garden in PDF and haven't colored a page yet. Maybe I will try this image and do the background like yours
Oooo I hope you do--I'd love to see! Oh--you should join my FB group so I can!
Dea Lenihan I am in your group 😄
Oh good! It gets confusing--some names overlap and some are different--glad you're there!
Wonderful tutorial, love the Bokeh effect 🤗
Thank you so much! Are there any other backgrounds you would like to see?
Dea Lenihan oh yes, I have a few 😂 Would love to learn a northern lights and Galaxy type background 🤗
Oooo love your ideas !! I have to work on northern lights--seeing them in person is a bucket list thing for me. And I have a galaxy coming up actually! Thank you so much for the suggestions. xo
It never occurred to me to draw bokeh! I take photos, too. I can apply this to the landscape I’m working on. (Multi-colored Conté, 80# white paper, winter scene. For Drawing II class.) I’m finishing up a botanical project and have used blending techniques that you showed instead of my instructor. 🤫lol ❤️
I also learned something neat: those old-fashioned type-writer erasers (remember? White, slightly abrasive, pencil, black plastic brush on the other end) can be used to erase colored pencil. Whether burnished, or just light color, you can just sand it off. If you have really good paper, it won’t be noticeable. They also work on charcoal, Conté, and micron pens.
Ooohhh that is great to know about those erasers! Thank you so much. Good luck with that drawing! I feel honored that you are using my technique. xo
screamingmimi90 ❤️Thank you so much for that tip, didn't realize they still made them!
FernCurtis I found mine at Michaels. It came with two pink pencil erasers-the kind you sharpen, like the type-writer ones. I use the pink to get super clean lines on the sharp sides in cubism drawings. ❤️
Mary Nelson, Thank you! - Could you please explain sort of where at in Michaels? Sometimes locating something in there can be a pain unless you specifically know where to look!
FernCurtis I had to look hard for them! Near the graphite and mechanical pencils. If you see white sliding polymer pencil-like erasers, you’re close. Near the higher end drawing stuff. I hop that helps. I’ve also found them on Amazon.
in 2020 Feb and this is a superb tutorial.
Thank you so much! xo
Amazing coloring very lovely finish, looks awesome!!! Great tones :D :D
Kiss My Art thank you than you! 💕
Thanks for the tutorial. One to save.
You're welcome Kim--thanks for saying. xo
Oooooohhh so happy you did this and I don’t have time to watch today, baaahhh, lol. But I will catch it soon. Awesome! Thanks Dea! 😁👏🏼🌹🌹
YW Tracy! Tell me what you think when you do. Anything else you'd like to see as far as backgrounds go?
Dea, I found you here on TH-cam late last night and I've spent most of the night watching your videos. I love all of them and this one, demonstrating BOKEH, is amazing. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with others. I am curious about where to purchase the Guanghui Hero set of 168 pencils you mentioned in another video. I checked Amazon but, sadly, only found the 120 pencil set. Any suggestions?
wow this is nice and really helpful thank you
Anne Hettiarachchi so glad you like it and thanks for telling me it was helpful! What other backgrounds are you interested in doing?
Cool! I have to try that!
Yes! Tell me how it goes--what other backgrounds would you like to see?
Dea Lenihan I sure will! :)
:D
Hello beautiful work but where can you buy prisma colored pencils open stock
Here is a place online! Good luck! www.artmaterialsonline.com/pencils-colored-pencils/prismacolor-premier-colored-pencils-open-stock/
I've only been adult coloring for just barely over a year, it's only been the last couple of months that I've really seen a difference in my coloring-getting the results more or less that I want. I too have heard over and over, "oh you can only get so many layers with Prismas". "You can't layer and blend Crayola pencils." I say "flewy blewy" to that. I could be completely wrong, but I truly believe that it is a case of one of three things going on. 1) Some people are too impatient to sit there and do layer after layer after layer of pencils, they just want the picture done so they can move on to the next. 2) Some people are just naturally "heavy handed" and while they may not be impatient, have a horrible time getting the layers. (I know of one person who has taught herself to hold the pencil back further, so that she can get the lighter layers). 3) Some people have not taken the time to learn how to layer and blend. Like I said, I could be be wrong, but those are the reasons I think some people just can't get the results they want. I say that because I can get (depending on the effect I want) 6-8 layers with either set of pencils and that is without using a blending agent like Gamsol. I think that if you REALLY want to learn how to do something with your coloring you will and if you don't, then you make excuses as to why it doesn't work out. The other thing I did hear one artist who actually makes a living that way say, is that she can't get get more than 8-10 layers with the Prismas. I think that is a completely different "ball of wax", IF you are making your living with your art -then yes your work does depend on layers. But with coloring for pleasure, who needs 10+ layers? Sorry for the "venting", I am starting to get to the point where this subject doesn't bother me as much as it use to. Realizing we all color differently is helping with that. The only paper that I seem to be having trouble getting the blending and layers that I'm use to, is create space paper, so that could be a 4th reason too-if all a person has used is that type of coloring book, then yeah I can see why they can't layer and blend like they may want to.
Flewy blewy....haaaaa!!! :D
Yes I have heard others have trouble with the Createspace paper too. I actually don't mind it at all, except for the fact that it is too thin. I like the tooth and I find I have no issue blending, just can't really use anything but colored pencils or pastel--no watercolor or markers. Although I did use gel pens with a TIIINY bit of water and they blended fine without warping the paper.
As for layers, being an artist I get what they are saying--the pencils are thicker and creamier in texture, and that is why they blend so nicely...but I think all pencils get to a point where they layers are TOO thick to color over in the same way as when you first started the picture...you are no longer coloring on paper--you are coloring over the top of the pencil because the paper is completely covered.
So far I love Prismas--those colors!! LOVE.
Dea Lenihan ❤️, I agree-there does come a point where you just can't add anymore layers with any type of pencil. Not going to give up on the Createspace paper! Feel like I can't - one of my sister-in-laws, who I love dearly sent me 4 coloring books via Amazon, all but one of them is on Createspace paper. So, it may take me time, but I WILL figure out how to color on it and get the results I want, even if that means I need to break down and get Gamsol, the Mona Lisa thinner or something similar! Was looking at the prices of those type things yesterday at Michaels, when I had to be in town.
I am looking to get some of my books printed on fancier paper with spiral binding...is that something that colorists are interested in?
Dea, you may want to put that question into the main comment area-not sure how many will see your question since it is in a "conversation" under a different comment (they would have to click on see replies under each person and I just don't know how many people do that unless something is said in the main comment that interests them!)
Good point! Thanks! xo
This is very useful, thank you for taking the time!
You're very welcome Alexandra! xo
Love this! Thanks Dea! Do you ever do pastel backgrounds? I'm thinking of getting a set of oil pastels.
Yes! I LOVE pastel--I'll have to get a back ground together for that--great idea Crystal thanks. I use Conte pencils and I love them. They are very dry and dusty but soooo bright and intense.
Dea Lenihan The bokeh turned out really beautiful. I'm a bit of an amateur photographer myself and I'm actually excited when they show up in photos whereas some people think they ruin the photo. I love the color streaks too that sometimes show up in dark photos. Those sort of remind me of colored laser beams. Sometimes I'll take photos in a moving vehicle just to try to get streaks or bokeh effects. I really like the blurred appearance and soft edges. You're right! Its ethereal! 😍 oh, I'm in love lol.
Meeee tooooo!! I LOVE them. I like little orbs and any kind of light effects. I use an older Nikon also--I am also kind of obsessed with the moon. xo
Dea Lenihan Oh Dea, you should see the photos my daughter took of the solar eclipse back in August. It was absolutely stunning. We witnessed the "diamond ring effect" and full darkness at 2:00 in the afternoon. It was absolutely breathtaking! I am crazy about the sky in general. Everything about it just fascinates me to no end. The sun, the moon, clouds, stars, comets, meteor showers, everything. I often speculate that perhaps I was an assistant to Galileo in another life haha. My one and only wish for Christmas when I was about 15 was a high-powered telescope and my step-dad made sure I got it. I cried like a baby and the first time I used it, I was soooo excited. I was able to attach a 35 mm camera to the lens and take pictures of the craters on the moon's surface. I had such a grand time. I truly felt like I was on an amazing adventure and to this day, my heart still picks up its pace when I gaze into the night sky and see stars speckled throughout the galaxy. I can identify a few of the constellations, but I think my son has a much keener eye than I do. It's something I've just always enjoyed immensely.
Maybe you WERE Galileo! You should join my FB group so we can pass these pix around. I'd LOOOOVE to see the eclipse pix...you are so lucky! I was out on a cliff last month for the supermoon and got some terrific (IMHO) shots. Love love love. My Dad taught me so much--and they were both up there on the cliff with me freezing...they are in their 80s!! Too fun.
Very helpful,thank you.
YW Adriana! xo
How do you like Prismacolor premier pencils?
I love them. They are SUPER creamy and blend like crazy. They do not a hold a sharp point for long because they are so soft. The colors are gorgeous.
I would also suggest that the colors of the circles be in the same family or analogous to the background color. I tried it with complimentary colors and it looks terrible. I used blue for the background, and yellow and orange for the circles. Looks lousy.
Yup--I am not a big fan of the multi colored version either. I'll be doing a yellow/black version soon--like you see in night photos. xo
I just saw a coloring tutorial of background color with dry/soft/Conté pastels. The effect is identical to yours, Dea, but she used stencils and cotton wads to add it. She put down a circle stencil, took a piece of cotton round on her finger, dabbed into the dust, then rubbed it into the circle. The color was soft and glows around the edge. Then she moved the stencil to overlap the color, chose a different color, and rubbed it over the top. It looked just like yours! I thought of you right away with your bokeh background and the pastel pencils you’ve used in other videos. I had to tell you. ❤️
th-cam.com/video/fPwXR5c1sIs/w-d-xo.html
Ah! Yes I am sure pastels would be muuuuch easier, and I will probably do a vid with those also. Many use pencils exclusively, so I tend to stick with them for my vids--but I really need to branch out more! Thank you for telling me! xo